In the run up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the Thorobros took a good hard look at the past 20 years of Derbys and tried to rank the top twelve. We were able to arrive at this highly scientific ranking through a complicated logarithm that generated a foolproof list of the best Kentucky Derbies of the past two decades. This year’s renewal of America’s most famous horse race looks to be particularly strong – perhaps we will have a new addition to these rankings come May 2, 2015.
Number 11: 2012 I’ll Have Another
The 2012 Kentucky Derby will always rank highly on Thorobros’ personal lists. It marked the first and only time that all three of us were together at Churchill Downs for the race. It was an awesome weekend–although not entirely profitable. Unfortunately, as described in more detail below, each of us was scared away from playing winner I’ll Have Another on top, but I’ll Have Another, as he did time and time again in 2012, proved his doubters wrong.
Prelude
When he loaded into the starting gate at Santa Anita on February 5, 2012, about to run in the Robert Lewis, I’ll Have Another was not on anyone’s Kentucky Derby radar. In the 8 horse field, I’ll Have Another was an ice cold 43-1, and for good reason. The horse was purchased for a mere $35,000 as a two year old. He had not run in six months; since finishing 6th in the Hopeful at Saratoga. His jockey, Mario Gutierrez, was a relatively unknown kid who honed his skills racing at the bullring of Hastings in Vancouver. His trainer, Doug O’Neill, was often immersed in controversy, accused of violating various states’ pre-race medication regulations, And I’ll Have Another was lining up against Liaison, who the California masses had anointed as the sport’s next star. But as he would do in every race of his three year old campaign, I’ll Have Another proved the public wrong and scored a convincing victory.
As an aside, after this victory, I placed two Kentucky Derby futures wagers–one on IHA getting nearly 40-1–and the other on an untested Baffert trained maiden winner named Bodemeister at 30-1.
In the Santa Anita Derby, I’ll Have Another faced California’s new “it” horse, Creative Cause. I’ll Have Another showed his resolve, winning the duel to the wire.
Meanwhile, in Arkansas, Bodemeister delivered a dominating victory, stamping his ticket to Churchill and ensuring I’ll Have Another would be overlooked again.
The Race
In addition to Bodemeister and I’ll Have Another, Derby 138 also featured 2yo champ Hansen (a Thorobros favorite), undefeated Gemologist, and perhaps the most accomplished horse in the field, Union Rags. It was an incredibly deep field which caught the attention of D. Wayne Lukas. who stated “let me tell you, this is a hell of a group.”
The group was so deep in fact that the Santa Anita Derby winner was creeping up towards 20-1 on the tote board. Again, however, there was justification for public doubt. Gutierrez had ridden IHA beautifully in both starts, but this was the Derby. Others argued he was out-posted, especially given his preference to sit a stalking trip. And finally, there was the horse chiropractor. That’s right, if you weren’t previously scared off–Doug O’Neil flew in IHA’s own personal chiropractor to treat the horse during his stay at CD. The move set off as many red flags as seeing a horse trot out with first time front wraps up to his neck. Sadly, the news of the chiropractor was enough for me, a member of the IHA bandwagon for the past three months, to only use the horse underneath.
When the gates opened for Derby 138, Bodemiester rushed to the lead, and to the surprise of many, cleared speedster Triniberg before the first turn. Bode ripped through an opening quarter of 22 and 1 and a half of 45 and change. IHA settled in a good spot about two wide and mid pack . As the horse turned for home, Bode opened up by five. But IHA was bearing down, passing Bode a few jumps before the wire, and ahead of fast closing Dullahan. The horse with the no name jockey, who was 40-1 in his first Derby prep, and brought his own back doc to Louisville, had won the Derby. Bode was second. Both of my future bet horses ran 1-2, and I didn’t cash a ticket (other than my futures win bet on IHA).
The Aftermath
Two weeks later, Bodemeister entered the stretch of Pimlico with a three length lead. But IHA again bore down and got Bode at the wire. I’llHave Another was 2 for 2 and headed to NYC for a chance at immortality. However, sadly, he never got his chance. On the eve of Belmont. I’ll Have Another scratched due to a tendon injury. For once, he would have been a heavy favorite.
Here is Doug O’Neill’s unfortunate announcement on the Dan Patrick show.
He became the third horse to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown yet not compete in the Belmont. Although vets believed IHA would recover from the injury and could race again, Paul Reddam retired him and sold him to stud in Japan.
Union Rags won a very slow Belmont Stakes, leading many to believe that if HA wasn’t injured, he would have won the race.
