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2002 Kentucky Derby

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128th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
LocationChurchill Downs
DateMay 4, 2002
Winning horseWar Emblem
Winning time2:01.13
Starting price20-1
JockeyVictor Espinoza
TrainerBob Baffert
OwnerThe Thoroughbred Corporation
ConditionsFast[1]
SurfaceDirt
Attendance145,033
← 2001
2003 →

The 2002 Kentucky Derby was the 128th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 4, 2002,[2] and 145,033 people were in attendance.[3] The race was won by War Emblem who led from start to finish.

Race description

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The field was considered evenly matched, especially after the scratch of Buddha, who had won the Wood Memorial. The favorite was Harlan's Holiday, who had won both the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. He went off at odds of 6–1, then the longest starting price for a favorite in Derby history. Medaglia d'Oro and Saarland, who had finished second and fourth in the Wood Memorial respectively, went off at odds of 7–1.[4][5][6]

War Emblem was a relative longshot at odds of 20–1, despite having won the Illinois Derby in frontrunning fashion on April 6. Shortly after that race, he was purchased by The Thoroughbred Corporation (owned by Saudi Prince Ahmed Salman) and was put into training with Bob Baffert. Baffert trained the colt aggressively to build up his stamina, and quipped, "If this horse wins the Derby, it will be the best and shortest training job ever."[4]

As expected, War Emblem went to the early lead, running the first quarter-mile in 23.25 seconds and the half in :47.04. Jockey Victor Espinoza was then able to slow down the pace slightly as the colt maintained a lead of 1+1⁄2 lengths down the backstretch and around the final turn. In the final furlong, War Emblem opened up his lead to four lengths under a hand ride. Espinoza said that he knew no one could catch them as the colt had been moving so easily. He completed the 1+1⁄4 miles in 2:01.13, then the seventh fastest Derby in history. Another longshot, Proud Citizen, finished second, resulting in an exacta payout of $1,300.80 for a $2 bet.[1][4]

Results

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Finished Program
number 		Horse Jockey Trainer Owner Odds Time / behind
1st 5 War Emblem Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert The Thoroughbred Corporation 20.50 2:01.13
2nd 13 Proud Citizen Mike E. Smith D. Wayne Lukas R. Baker, D. Cornstein, Wm. Mack 23.30 4 lengths
3rd 3 Perfect Drift Eddie Delahoussaye Murray W. Johnson Stonecrest Farm 7.90 4+3⁄4 lengths
4th 9 Medaglia d'Oro Laffit Pincay Jr. Robert Frankel Edmund A. Gann 6.90 8 lengths
5th 7 Request for Parole Robby Albarado Steve Margolis Jeri & Sam Knighton 29.80 9+1⁄2 lengths
6th 15 Came Home Chris McCarron Paco Gonzales Farish, Goodman, Toffan & McCaffrey 8.20 10+1⁄4 lengths
7th 14 Harlan's Holiday Edgar Prado Ken McPeek Starlight Stable, L.P. 6.00 12+1⁄4 lengths
8th 1 Johannesburg Gary Stevens Aidan O'Brien Michael Tabor & Susan Magnier 8.10 13 lengths
9th 8 Essence of Dubai David Flores Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing, Inc. 10.00 13 lengths
10th 16 Saarland John Velazquez Claude R. McGaughey III Cynthia Phipps 6.90 14 lengths
11th 20 Blue Burner Pat Day Bill Mott Kinsman Stable 24.20 16+1⁄2 lengths
12th 11 Castle Gandolfo Jerry Bailey Aidan O'Brien Susan Magnier 14.50 17 lengths
13th 19 Easy Grades Jorge Chavez Ted West Desperado Stables 43.80 21+1⁄4 lengths
14th 10 Private Emblem Donnie Meche Steve Asmussen James Cassels & Bob Zollars 22.40 21+1⁄2 lengths
15th 4 Lusty Latin Glenn Corbett Jeff Mullins Joey & Wendy Platts 22.10 26 lengths
16th 16 It'sallinthechase Eddie Martin Jr. Wilson Brown Darwin Olson 94.50 28+1⁄4 lengths
17th 6 Ocean Sound Alex Solis James M. Cassidy K.M. Stable, Jim Ford, & D. Pearson 48.70 31 lengths
18th 2 Wild Horses René Douglas Todd Pletcher Peachtree Stable 58.50 33+1⁄4 lengths

Scratched: Buddha, Danthebluegrassman

Source: Equibase Chart[1]

Payout

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The 128th Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule[1]
Program
Number 		Horse Name
 Win
 Place
 Show
5 War Emblem US$43.00 $22.80 $13.60
13 Proud Citizen - $24.60 $13.40
3 Perfect Drift - - $6.40

Subsequent racing careers

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Several horses went on to record Grade I wins:

  • War Emblem[7] – Preakness Stakes, Haskell Invitational
  • Perfect Drift[8] – 2003 Stephen Foster Handicap
  • Medaglia d'Oro[6] – Travers Stakes, 2003 Whitney Handicap, 2004 Donn Handicap
  • Request for Parole[9] – 2004 United Nations Stakes
  • Came Home[10] – Pacific Classic
  • Harlan's Holiday[5] – 2003 Donn Handicap

Subsequent breeding careers

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Medaglia d'Oro

  • Rachel Alexandra – 2009 Horse of the Year. Preakness Stakes, Kentucky Oaks, Haskell Invitational, Woodward Stakes
  • Songbird – 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, 2016 Kentucky Oaks, Santa Anita Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks
  • Plum Pretty – 2011 Kentucky Oaks, Cotillion, 2012 Apple Blossom
  • Vancouver – 2015 Golden Slipper
  • Talismanic - 2016 Breeders' Cup Turf

Harlan's Holiday

  • Shanghai Bobby – Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Hopeful Stakes, Champagne Stakes
  • Into Mischief – CashCall Futurity

Johannesburg

  • Scat Daddy – Champagne Stakes, Florida Derby
  • Strapping Groom – Forego Stakes

Essence of Dubai

  • Dubai Majesty – Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Sources: American Classic Pedigrees, Equibase, Blood-Horse Stallion Register, Racing Post

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Chart of the 2002 Kentucky Derby". Equibase. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ^ Kentucky Derby History, 2002
  3. ^ "128th Kentucky Derby". Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  4. ^ a b c "War Emblem Wins the Kentucky Derby". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 4 May 2002.
  5. ^ a b "Harlan's Holiday". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Medaglia d'Oro". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  7. ^ "War Emblem". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Perfect Drift". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Request for Parole". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Came Home". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
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