2000 Kentucky Derby

126th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
LocationChurchill Downs
DateMay 6, 2000
Winning horseFusaichi Pegasus
JockeyKent Desormeaux
TrainerNeil Drysdale
OwnerFusao Sekiguchi
ConditionsFast
SurfaceDirt
Attendance153,204
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2001 →

The 2000 Kentucky Derby was the 126th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 6, 2000.[1] There were 153,204 in attendance. The winning horse Fusaichi Pegasus, ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux, was the first betting favorite to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979.[2] This was the last Kentucky Derby race to be broadcast on ABC, ending a 25-year association with the network; NBC took over the broadcast rights the next year and has broadcast the race since then.

The purse was split between the top 5 finishers. The first-place winner received around $1.86 million which is more than 60% of the total purse.[3]

Background

Statue of Fusaichi Pegasus

Fusaichi Pegasus was known as “the most expensive racehorse of all time.”[4] Fusaichi Pegasus was born to mare Angel Fever, who was purchased from Bob McNair and Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm for $525,000. Fusaichi Pegasus was sold at the 1998 Keeneland July yearling sale to a Japanese businessman, Fusao Sekiguchi, who purchased the yearling at $4 million--the most expensive sale in 13 years. Fusaichi Pegasus was named after the last four letters, “ichi” which means “best” and “Pegasus'', which refers to the winged mythical creature.[5] After Fusaichi Pegasus' winning debut at the Kentucky Derby on May 6, 2000, Fusaichi was sold by Sekiguchi for a record of $70 million. This record-selling horse went to Coolmore Stud in Ireland, and he's held the title of "the most expensive horse in history" all the way through to his retirement of stud duties at Coolmore Stud in Kentucky during 2020.[4]

Payout

The 126th Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule
Finishing Place Program
Number
Horse Name
Odds[6] Win
Place
Show
1. 12 Fusaichi Pegasus 2-1 $6.60 $5.60 $4.00
2. 5 Aptitude 11-1 - $9.80 $5.80
3. 1c Impeachment 6-1 - - $4.00

Full results

Finished Post Horse Jockey Trainer Owner Time / behind
1st 15 Fusaichi Pegasus Kent Desormeaux Neil Drysdale Fusao Sekiguchi 2:01.12
2nd 2 Aptitude Alex Solis Robert Frankel Juddmonte Farms
3rd 14 Impeachment Craig Perret Todd Pletcher Dogwood Stable
4th 9 More Than Ready John Velazquez Todd Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio
5th 3 Wheelaway Richard Migliore John Kimmel Caesar P. Kimmel & Philip J. Solondz
6th 11 China Visit Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing
7th 18 Curule Marlon St. Julien Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing
8th 7 Captain Steve Robby Albarado Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram
9th 8 War Chant Jerry Bailey Neil Drysdale Marjorie & Irving Cowan
10th 6 Deputy Warlock Mark Guidry Ken McPeek Select Stable, Inc.
11th 5 Trippi Jorge Chavez Todd Pletcher Dogwood Stable
12th 16 Exchange Rate Calvin Borel D. Wayne Lukas Padua Stables
13th 1 Anees Corey Nakatani Alex Hassinger The Thoroughbred Corporation
14th 10 The Deputy Chris McCarron Jenine Sahadi Team Valor & Gary Barber
15th 17 High Yield Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Robert B. & Beverly J. Lewis, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor, et al.
16th 4 Hal's Hope Roger Velez Harold Rose Rose Family Stables Ltd.
17th 12 Commendable Edgar Prado D. Wayne Lukas Robert B. & Beverly J. Lewis
18th 19 Ronton Brice Blanc Vladimir Cerin Jaltipan, LLC.
19th 13 Graeme Hall Shane Sellers Todd Pletcher Eugene & Laura Melnyk

Race description

Fusaichi Pegasus broke to the inside left of the field at the start of the race, saving ground along the backstretch. Trippi takes the early lead, with Hal's Hope challenging early on. Aptitude won along the backstretch, easing outside Fusaichi Pegasus nearing the final sixteenth. When rounding the clubhouse turn, Hal's Hope is in the front, following Trippi on the outside in second place. At the 1/2 mile mark, Fusaichi Pegasus finds room in the back towards the inside, having a lot of ground to make up, being eight links from the front. On the far turn, Hal's Hope is continuing to lead the way on the inside. By the 3/4 mile mark, Hal's Hope and Trippi are neck and neck of one another. We then see in the middle of the track that Captain Steve and Wheelaway have made advancing movements, and can see Fusaichi Pegasus in fifth place. Wheelaway takes lead by a head, with More Than Ready following in line. Fusaichi Pegasus comes flying on the outside, passing and taking the lead. Fusaichi Pegasus wins the Kentucky Derby by a leg and a half, with Aptitude following just behind.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kentucky Derby History, 2000
  2. ^ "Flying away: Fusaichi Pegasus wins 126th Kentucky Derby". May 7, 2000. Sports Illustrated
  3. ^ Vega, Nicolas (2021-05-01). "2021 Kentucky Derby: How much prize money the winning jockey will earn". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  4. ^ a b Amanda Vlietstra (2020-11-11). "The world's most expensive horse, plus 4 other price busters". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  5. ^ "Hype, Luck and Mystery: The Story of Fusaichi Pegasus and the Most Valuable Horse Race in History | The Action Network". Action Network. 2020-05-06. Archived from the original on 2020-05-11. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  6. ^ "ESPN.com - Triple Crown 2000 - 126th Kentucky Derby results". www.espn.com. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  7. ^ "2000 Kentucky Derby Results Tables" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  8. ^ "2000". www.kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved 2021-12-03.