Always Dreaming wins 2017 Kentucky Derby

It’s part of the Kentucky Derby’s rite of passage, the excitement that builds for the Preakness the moment the victor crosses the finish line at Churchill Downs. That lack of experience some thought might hurt him in the Derby could turn be a plus when faced with the grind of trying to win three Triple Crown races over six weeks. Coming around the far turn, though, it was Always Dreaming taking the lead.

Lookin at Lee finished second from the first post with Battle of Midway third.

John Velazquez rides Always Dreaming to victory in the Kentucky Derby yesterday.

Vinny Viola celebrates after Always Dreaming won the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby. A headstrong horse with a mind of his own.

Then Irish War Cry staggered to an inexplicable seventh-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. “When you have a vision four or five months in advance and it all comes together, it’s especially rewarding”.

McCraken (6-1) won his first four career starts.

Nevertheless, the “new shooters” that look probable for the Preakness include: Cloud Computing (third in the Wood Memorial in his last start); Conquest Mo Money (Arkansas Derby runner-up); Multiplier (Illinois Derby winner); Senior Investment (Lexington Stakes winner); and Royal Mo (third in Santa Anita Derby).

Classic Empire, last year’s champion 2-year-old and the morning-line Derby favorite, was jostled leaving the gate.

More significantly, however, he has now silenced the critics with a second victory in the $2 million contest – and the usually imperturbable trainer admitted he had shed a tear beneath his shades. Patch lost his eye past year after a bout of inflammation.

As always, Tom Brady made the pilgrimage to Louisville for Derby Day, and the Super Bowl-winning quarterback brought along a crew of his New England teammates.

Under the convoluted system employed by Churchill Downs for horses to qualify for their showcase race, Always Dreaming got in with 100 points, tied with Godolphin’s Irish-bred Thunder Snow.

Girvin has battled a quarter crack in his right front hoof that limited his workouts.

Steady rain turned part of the sprawling infield into a muddy pit hours before the Derby. His jockey, Hall of Famer Mike Smith, is the oldest jockey in the field (age 51). After a jaw-dropping performance at the Florida Derby, Always Dreaming earned a winning reputation that stuck with him through today. Lookin at Lee paid $20.20 and $15.20.

Lookin at Lee, the second-place finisher for Steve Asmussen, is looking at the slightly shorter 1 3/16th mile race.

Channing Hill, rider of Fast and Accurate (17th) – “He ran good and he ran his race”.

A jubilant Velazquez said, “This is the best horse Todd (Pletcher) and I have ever come to the Kentucky Derby with”.

Jockeys Kent Desormeaux (Sonneteer) and Victor Espinoza (Gormley) each entered with three Derby winners. As ESPN’s Jeanine Edwards explained, a horse’s peripheral vision is vital, “so that they can see all the way around them, so he basically can only see half his world”.

Going into his 17th Derby, Pletcher saddled the post-time favourite for the first time.

Jockey Javier Castellano (Gunnevera) is a four-time Eclipse Award victor for top jockey.