By BETH HARRIS (AP Racing Writer)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Two extra horses died within the hours earlier than 15-1 shot Mage gained the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, capping a rocky stretch during which seven in all died and casting a shadow over the 149th version of the world’s most well-known race.
Mage had just one victory in three earlier races earlier than holding off 9-1 shot Two Phil’s within the stretch. The colt, who didn’t race as a 2-year-old, ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.57 beneath Javier Castellano.
The 45-year-old Hall of Fame jockey, who hasn’t been as in-demand recently, snapped an 0-for-15 skid within the Derby. He and coach Gustavo Delgado are from Venezuela.
“I never give up,” Castellano mentioned. “I always try hard to do the right thing. It took me a little while to get there. I finally got it.”
Mage joined Canonero II as Derby winners with Venezuelan ties. Canonero II gained the Derby and Preakness in 1971.
“Turning for home, he had a lot of heart,” Castellano mentioned. “He’s a little horse with a big heart.”
Forte, the early favourite, was scratched within the morning with a bruised foot, one among 5 horses that dropped out within the run-up to the race. That left 18 3-year-olds vying to put on the garland of pink roses.
Two Phil’s was second and 4-1 favourite Angel of Empire was third in entrance of a crowd of 150,335 on a heat and partly cloudy day at Churchill Downs.
Mage paid $32.42, $14.58 and $9.08.
Two Phil’s returned $10.44 and $6.52 at 9-1 odds. Angel of Empire paid $4.70 to point out.
Earlier within the day, Chloe’s Dream, a 3-year-old gelding, and Freezing Point, a 3-year-old colt, have been injured of their races and later euthanized, turning into the sixth and seventh horses to have died on the monitor in latest days.
The string of horse deaths was on the thoughts of some Derby-goers on a largely cloudy and heat day.
“It’s concerning, and I hope they’re quickly trying the best they can to correct whatever’s going on,” mentioned Michael Freeze, who alongside together with his pal dressed up as jockeys. “They need to do whatever is best for the horses, and the sport in general.”
Chloe’s Dream received harm within the second race Saturday. The horse was taken off in an equine ambulance with a proper entrance knee damage and was euthanized, coach Jeff Hiles confirmed to The Associated Press.
“He just took a bad step out there,” Hiles mentioned. “They could do the same thing running in the field as they could on the track. So it’s very unfortunate. That’s what we deal with.”
Freezing Point suffered a left ankle damage within the Pat Day Mile and was euthanized, coach Joe Lejzerowicz instructed the AP. He mentioned Fort Bragg, who completed third, came visiting and slammed into Freezing Point through the race.
“He just got bumped in the backstretch,” Lejzerowicz mentioned. “He never took a bad step or bobble. He had a big heart.”
New antidoping and drugs guidelines enforced by a central governing physique of the game are scheduled to take impact May 22.
“There’s something going on,” mentioned Pat Murtha, who was attending his first Derby. “They need to find out, and set some rules and regulations to protect these animals.”
Hall of Fame coach Bob Baffert, a two-time Triple Crown winner, is nearing the tip of a two-year ban issued by Churchill Downs Inc. One of his horses, Medina Spirit, crossed the end line first within the 2021 Derby and failed a post-race drug take a look at. The horse was disqualified and Baffert was punished.
In 2019, over 30 horse deaths occurred at California’s Santa Anita racetrack, rattling the business and resulting in security reforms. Kentucky Derby-winning coach Rick Dutrow had his license revoked in 2011 for 10 years by New York officers. Regulators discovered syringes loaded with unauthorized treatment in a desk in his barn. Dutrow re-opened his steady final month.
The horse deaths included Derby contender Wild On Ice. Two of the horses have been skilled by Saffie Joseph Jr. He was indefinitely suspended by the monitor, though investigators have but to find out a trigger for the deaths of his horses.
Four horses have been scratched — Practical Move, Lord Miles, Continuar and Skinner — in latest days. Practical Move and Skinner had fevers, whereas Continuar wasn’t in peak situation, in keeping with his Japanese coach. Lord Miles was Joseph’s Derby horse.
Disarm was fourth, adopted by Hit Show, Japan-based Derma Sotogake, Tapit Trice and Raise Cain, Rocket Can, Confidence Game, Sun Thunder, Japan’s Mandarin Hero, Reincarnate, Kingsbarns, King Russell, Verifying, Jace’s Road and Cyclone Mischief.
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AP Sports Writer Gary B. Graves and AP National Writer Claire Galofaro contributed to this report.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com