Some Of The Greatest Horses Who Failed In The Kentucky Derby (part 1 Of 2)

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
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Two horses that failed as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby this century are Point Given in 2001, and more recently, Bellamy Road in 2005.

Point Given served notice in the 2000 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile when he came charging down the lane that he would be a force to be reckoned with as a three year old and he was. He won the San Felipe Stakes easily and then made a mockery of the Santa Anita Derby, drawing off by 5 lengths and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 110, all the while just toying with them. He was so huge that it just seemed he could intimidate his rivals by his mere presence alone.

2001 was not a weak year, however, and his stable mate Congaree and another horse based in Florida named Monarchos were establishing themselves as stars as well. Point Given found himself just a little too close to a blazing hot pace, and by the time they turned into the stretch, it was clear he was out of gas, as Congaree went on and Monarchos eventually ran that one down for the win. Point Given then went on to dominate the Preakness and Belmont Stakes and later the Haskell before succumbing to an injury.

Bellamy ...
... Road came out of nowhere in 2005 to win the Wood Memorial by 17 1/2 lengths with something left, and established a new stakes record of 147.16 in the race, earning an incredible 120 Beyer Speed Figure, which is the highest number of any horse entering the Kentucky Derby since Beyer numbers have been published. Horse racing pundits were saying that this was the most dominant Kentucky Derby prep in the history of the race, which may have been true. Bellamy Road made a move to come up on even terms with the leaders, but could not sustain his bid, faded and finished seventh.

In 1994, Holy Bull failed as the 2-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby. He was made the favorite off the strength of a powerful 5 ¾ length win in the Florida Derby and strong 3 ½ length win in the Blue Grass Stakes. In the Derby, however, he was off slow, in a bit tight at the start and tired badly. The track was sloppy that day, and it is believed by many that he wasn’t grabbing hold off the off going particularly well, a disadvantage that probably compromised his chances. He finished twelfth, beaten 18 lengths.

Alydar closed fast on Affirmed in the 1978 Derby, but could not get to the winner. Alydar was the slight favorite at 6/5 over Affirmed who went off at 8/5. He lost but he lost to a deserving rival, and there is no shame in losing to the #12 ranked horse of all time (according to Blood Horse). Alydar comes in at #27.

Like father, like son, Alydar’s son Easy Goer also had the misfortune of running into a formidable rival, and that came in the form of Sunday Silence in the 1989 Kentucky Derby. Though these two giants were considered the top two horses in the race, Easy Goer was thought to be the more talented horse, and was made the 4-5 favorite, while Sunday Silence went off at 3-1. It was Sunday Silence who got the jump on Easy Goer and never let go of the lead despite a late rally by the latter. Easy Goer is ranked #34 on Blood Horses list of greatest U.S. thoroughbreds of the 20th century, three notches behind Sunday Silence.
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