That was, for all intents and purposes, the Derby. Knowing he was on a horse that had shown a lot of fight in a couple races already, he set a decent but measured pace, got a little breather on the turn for home, was head and head with Mandaloun as they straightened out for the drive and thanks to a colt that has a lot of heart simply out-gamed him as well as Hot Rod Charlie and Essential Quality to the wire.

2nd - Mandaloun. Broke great and asked for some speed by Geroux who pointed him inside but then took just enough of a hold to let Medina Spirit get the lead as he sat down on the rail. He stayed there drafting behind the leader to the turn but seemed on hold and wanting to do more for quite a while down the backside. Geroux pushed the button on the turn and Mandaloun got right on even terms heading for home and looked at that point like a sure winner every time I watched the replay but he never could get by ‘Spirit the length of the stretch. Geroux only whipped lefthanded and Mandaloun did appear to want to drift in towards his rival but, again, couldn’t get past him. Tremendous effort, saved all the ground, might have lost something while being held back down the backside but had every chance and failed to go by. VERY nice horse.

5th – O Besos. The 6 horse broke well, moved down to the rail very nicely, tucked in a decent position about 10th, stayed on the rail gambling that a hole would open and jock Marcelino Pedroza won that gamble. Turning for home he was able to roll right on by somebody, stay on the rail and had dead aim on the front four but simply wasn’t good enough to run any of them down finishing a clear 5th and adding serious value to the Super Hi 5.

Next up are the really good but "what if" trips

3rd – Hot Rod Charlie. Broke well, but a touch to the outside and might have had a little contact with Midnight Bourbon...so Prat could no longer/decided not to go for the lead….and that will always be the question with this ride/race. As a result he got in pretty tight going into the first turn behind the winner and in between Mandaloun to his inside and Helium coming in from the 12 hole, had to check a little, wait and got shuffled back just enough to make a difference, especially when you only get beat a length. Once things sorted themselves out he had a perfect trip and ride; he sat fifth in the clear just behind the leaders inside of the favorite, maneuvered out nicely turning for home (cornering better than the favorite to his outside) and had dead aim on the two leaders but could not get by either. Very nice horse with a big future.

4th – Essential Quality. The undefeated favorite broke ok, but veered out a little and quickly bumped into Rock Your World, went a little sideways and bounced off #13 Hidden Stash and lost some momentum. Saez then made a nice move to regain his flow staying outside while a group of horses passed him, hustled him to move up passing the wire and was fifth and in the clear heading into the first turn, but damage had been done. He had clear sailing from there, but was wide throughout, especially turning for home where it appeared he just didn’t corner too well and went 5-6 wide while Hot Rod Charlie surged up inside him. He still had dead aim on the top three once rolling home but stayed out wide and didn’t have any juice left for the final 100 yards, probably due to the rough start and all the ground (he covered 68 feet more than the winner!) he lost going wide every step of the mile and a quarter. We’ll see him in the Belmont.

7th – Keepmeinmind. The gates opened and this colt just stood there, not moving for about a second and his chances were finished. Dead last for the first half of the race he rallied strongly going into the final turn for a patient David Cohen but from there everything has to go perfectly to have any chance to hit the board and it didn’t. When really rolling he was floated 6-7 wide turning for home by the move of Midnight Bourbon, kept coming down the lane, passed five horses late and missed nailing ‘Bourbon for 6th by a nose. He’s got some guts and talent and is one to watch next time.

Oh yeah, just for fun; the top four in the Derby, miles ahead of the other 15 runners, were trained by:

Baffert
Cox
O’Neill
Cox

Just sayin’