2018 Kentucky Derby
Kan-Tuc-Kei is an Algonquin word that means “Dark and Bloody Ground” and is what the Native Americans called the region before the white settlers arrived. For last Saturday’s 144th Run for the Roses at Church Hill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky was the dark and muddy ground. The 2018 Derby saw a record amount of rainfall for the event as spectators and participants alike sang “Who’ll Stop the Rain?”
Justify was the favorite at 3-1 on race day morning. The horse had only three previous starts but had won all three by double digit margins. The chestnut colored horse was foaled on March 25th 2015 at Glenwood Farms in Kentucky. His breeder was veteran John D. Gunther. His sire was Scat Daddy and his dam was Stage Magic Win. Star Farms and the China Horse Club partnered to purchase Justify for $500,000 at the 2016 Keenland September Yearling Sale. A big horse, Justify pulled a muscle in his initial training at Keenland. After recovering he was sent to Santa Anita and Trainer Bob Baffert.
Justify caught a great deal of attention because he is “a big, strong, beautiful looking horse who is light on his feet” as his trainer told reporters However as Derby Day approached and the rain was forecast, it was feared by his owners that he might slide in the mud and lose his advantage. Justify proved to be as fast in the mud as he was on the dry tracks. The race was for second place. Justify dominated from start to finish and beat second place Good Magic. Audible finished third. Justify won $1,432,000 for his owners.
Indianapolis Grand Prix
Practice and qualifications for the fifth running of the Indianapolis Grand Prix on the IMS road course inside the track will be this coming Friday May 11th. The race will be run Saturday May 12th at 3:30 p.m. Penske drivers Will Power and Simon Pagenand share two wins each in the previous four starts. Pagenand won the first running in 2014, driving for Sam Schmidt. Defending series champ and current series point leader Josef Newgarden is considered the favorite at this point. The 27 year old Tennessean is Penske’s top driver and has two wins already this year.
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