The Kentucky Derby always brings out a lot of fans. This year was the 175th time the Kentucky Derby was held. This year, the Kentucky Derby was held on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at, of course, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Medina Spirit, whose trainer is Bob Baffert, won the race.
Top Horses
The favorite for the Kentucky Derby this year was then unbeaten Essential Quality. The favorites after Essential Quality (2-1 odds) were Rock Your World (5-1 odds), Known Agenda (6-1 odds), and Hot Rod Charlie (8-1 odds). [1]
The Race
Medina Spirit’s jockey, John Velaquez, said to a reporter, “I’m going to go as soon as the gate bangs open, I’m going for the lead in the Derby.” [2] And what he said was true. Velaquez got Medina Spirit at the front for most of the 1 1/4 miles.
The Finish
Medina Spirit finished first just 1/2 length ahead of Mandaloun, who finished second. Hot Rod Charlie finished third and Essential Quality finished fourth. [3]
Horse Losses for Baffert
Bob Baffert had lost Life Is Good to an injury and his next-horse-up, Concert Tour, had a disappointing performance in the Arkansas Derby. That left him with Medina Spirit who had one 2 of 6 races. [4]
Multiple Wins For Baffert
This year’s win at the Kentucky Derby marks the seventh win of the Derby for Bob Baffert. This is also John Velaquez’s fourth Derby win overall. [5]
Crowd
The stands at Churchill Downs saw 51,838 fans at the event. That is still far away from the capacity of 150,000 plus fans. [6]
Triple Crown
The Triple Crown includes the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. The Preakness will be on May 15, 2021. Will Medina Spirit win it and go for the Triple Crown?
Notes:
- ^2021 Kentucky Derby date, horses, predictions, odds: Expert who nailed Derby prep races releases bets, picks. (2021, May 02). Retrieved from (go back ↩)
- ^Star-Ledger, J. I. |. F. T. (2021). With Medina Spirit, Bob Baffert’s 7th Kentucky Derby win was his least likely. nj. Retrieved from (go back ↩)
- ^Medina Spirit wins Kentucky Derby; trainer Baffert lands record 7th. (2021, May 01). UPI. Retrieved from (go back ↩)
- ^Star-Ledger, J. I. |. F. T. (2021). With Medina Spirit, Bob Baffert’s 7th Kentucky Derby win was his least likely. nj. Retrieved from (go back ↩)
- ^Medina Spirit wins the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby. (2021, May 02). Retrieved from (go back ↩)
- ^More Than 51,000 People — Many Unmasked — Attended The Kentucky Derby. (2021, May 02). Retrieved from (go back ↩)
