Justify won the 2018 Kentucky Derby. The favorite has now won in the Derby in five of the last six years. Always Dreaming was the second favorite horse in 2017. The last time a huge long-shot won was Mine that Bird in 2009, who went off at 51/1 odds!
The next winner will be lined up for a potential run at the elusive Triple Crown, but it’s an extremely rare occurrence. It had been since 1978 and Affirmed, but in 2015 American Pharoah broke through for the Triple Crown. There had been other close calls in recent years. In 2012, I’ll Have Another would win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness before having to withdraw at the last second from the Belmont Stakes due to injury. California Chrome won the first two legs in 2014 as well, before coming up short at the Belmont.
I’m going to take a look at the last several Kentucky Derby winners and give a brief story on each. I have also made a list of the all-time Derby winners at the bottom of this article dating back to 1875.
Justify was the odds-on favorite the morning of the race, as well as at post time. He ran from the front on the sloppy track and finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead of second place finisher Good Magic.
Justify was also the first horse since 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year-old. The win broke the so-called “Curse of Apollo”, named after the last horse to win under those circumstances.
This victory also gave legendary trainer Bob Baffert his 5th Derby winner.
Always Dreaming was one of the favorites heading into the big race, but was not technically the odds-on favorite (Classic Empire was), so he finally broke the run of favorites taking home the Derby crown.
Nyquist made it four straight favorites to win the Derby. This horse was in it from the beginning and held off a late charge by Exaggerator, who started back in 15th place but closed fast at the end. Nyquist was the eighth undefeated winner in Derby history, the first since Big Brown back in 2008.
Yet another favorite taking first in the race. In fact, this horse carried it’s way through the Preakness and Belmont as well to win the Triple Crown. Not only that, but he brought home the Breeders’ Cup Classic to become the first horse to win the “Grand Slam” of American horse racing.
California Chrome made it back-to-back favorites to win the Kentucky Derby in 2014 following Orb’s performance. He won at 5/2 odds with a time of 2:03:66. He would go on to win the Preakness Stakes with a legitimate shot at winning the Triple Crown, but fell just short in the Belmont Stakes.
This was one of the rare favorites to actually win the Kentucky Derby. Jockey Joel Rosario positioned the colts toward the rear in the early stages of the race. Orb would be just behind the leaders heading into the final turn, and he caught them and then pulled away down the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Opening at odds of 15-1 in what was an unusually strong field, I’ll Have Another surprised many in front of a record crowd of 165,307. He closed strong to catch the front-running Bodemeister just before the finish line to win by one and a half lengths. I’ll Have Another became the first horse in the history of the Kentucky Derby to win from post position 19.
On the morning of the Derby, Animal Kingdom had odds of 30-1, and by post time they dropped to 21-1. Many bettors were skeptical of this horse because it would be the first time that he would run on dirt. Out of post 16, Animal Kingdom torched the field, winning by 2 3/4 lengths.
Calvin Borel became the first jockey to win the Derby three times in four years aboard Super Saver in 2010. This was also the first win for legendary trainer Todd Pletcher in 25 entries at the Derby. Super Saver opened with morning odds of 15-1 before settling on 8-1 by race time.
Following overnight rain, Churchill Downs was sloppy for the 2009 Kentucky Derby. After having trouble out of the gate, Mine That Bird was left about eight lengths behind the field. He remained so far back down the backstretch that NBC’s announcer Tom Durkin at first didn’t see him. Using his ground-saving, rail-skimming technique, Calvin Borel charged past PioneeroftheNile and cruised to a six-length victory as a ridiculous 50-1 longshot. A $2 win bet returned $103.20.
Big Brown ran the 134th Kentucky Derby just as you would expect a 2-1 favorite to. He became the first horse since 1929 to win the race from the 20th starting gate, blowing past the field to a 4 3/4 lengths triumph. He posted an incredible 109 Beyer Speed Figure en route to victory.
Street Sense was a great story for the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Coming in as the favorite to win the race, it didn’t look good for Street Sense early, as he came out of the gates towards the back of the pack. Street Sense was then able to kick it in gear and was able to edge Hard Spun for the victory. Street Sense became the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner to return in the spring and win the derby, after 23 previous horses had failed to complete the task. It’s also good to note that Street Sense is only the 3rd favorite to win in the last eight years.
Barbaro just might have been the best horse many of us have ever seen, as he simply dominated a very strong field to win the Kentucky Derby by 6 ½ lengths. Many people thought that Barbaro was destined to win the Triple Crown, but things took a tragic turn at the Preakness when he jumped the gates and ended up injuring himself so badly that it ended in a very sad death in the beginning of 2007.
Here is the last big upset to take place at the Kentucky Derby, as Mike Smith rode Giacomo at 50/1 odds to a victory at the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby. Giacomo made a lot of people happy as his odds gave a lot of better a very nice payday. This wasn’t an easy win for Giacomo as he only one by a slim 1 ½ lengths. Giacomo gives hope to all the horses that don’t come in with a great background, and keeps fans from closing in on just a few horses to have a shot to win the race.
Smarty Jones has got as close as you could get to taking home the Triple Crown. It all started with an impressive win at the Kentucky Derby. Then he went on to win at the Preakness, but fell just short of the Triple Crown with a 2nd place finish at the Belmont.
Here was another horse that came in and won the Kentucky Derby, then followed it up with a win at the Preakness. Needing a win at the Belmont for the Triple Crown, Funny Cide just didn’t have it in him and would up finishing 3rd, for a very strong performance in the big 3 race series. The thing that made Funny Cide so interesting was that he came from New York, where no horse had even been bred and go on to win the Derby. Funny Cide also didn’t have a big time trainer, as a group of small-time owners trained this horse to a historic run in 2003.
Year | Winning Horse | Jockey | Time |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Justify | Mike Smith | 2:04.20 |
2017 | Always Dreaming | John Velazquez | 2:03.59 |
2016 | Nyquist | Mario Gutierrez | 2:01.31 |
2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | 2:03.02 |
2014 | California Chrome | Victor Espinoza | 2:03.66 |
2013 | Orb | Joel Rosario | 2:02.89 |
2012 | I’ll Have Another | Mario Gutierrez | 2:01.83 |
2011 | Animal Kingdom | John Velazquez | 2:02.04 |
2010 | Super Saver | Calvin Borel | 2:04.45 |
2009 | Mine That Bird | Calvin Borel | 2:02.66 |
2008 | Big Brown | Kent Desormeaux | 2:01.82 |
2007 | Street Sense | Calvin Borel | 2:02.17 |
2006 | Barbaro | Edgar Prado | 2:01.36 |
2005 | Giacomo | Mike E. Smith | 2:02.75 |
2004 | Smarty Jones | Stewart Elliott | 2:04.06 |
2003 | Funny Cide | José A. Santos | 2:01.19 |
2002 | War Emblem | Victor Espinoza | 2:01.13 |
2001 | Monarchos | Jorge F. Chavez | 1:59.97 |
2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | Kent Desormeaux | 2:01.00 |
1999 | Charismatic | Chris Antley | 2:03.20 |
1998 | Real Quiet | Kent Desormeaux | 2:02.20 |
1997 | Silver Charm | Gary Stevens | 2:02.40 |
1996 | Grindstone | Jerry Bailey | 2:01.00 |
1995 | Thunder Gulch | Gary Stevens | 2:01.20 |
1994 | Go for Gin | Chris McCarron | 2:03.60 |
1993 | Sea Hero | Jerry Bailey | 2:02.40 |
1992 | Lil E. Tee | Pat Day | 2:03.00 |
1991 | Strike the Gold | Chris Antley | 2:03.00 |
1990 | Unbridled | Craig Perret | 2:02.00 |
1989 | Sunday Silence | Pat Valenzuela | 2:05.00 |
1988 | Winning Colors | Gary Stevens | 2:02.20 |
1987 | Alysheba | Chris McCarron | 2:03.40 |
1986 | Ferdinand | Bill Shoemaker | 2:02.80 |
1985 | Spend A Buck | Angel Cordero, Jr. | 2:00.20 |
1984 | Swale | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | 2:02.40 |
1983 | Sunny’s Halo | Eddie Delahoussaye | 2:02.20 |
1982 | Gato Del Sol | Eddie Delahoussaye | 2:02.40 |
1981 | Pleasant Colony | Jorge Velasquez | 2:02.00 |
1980 | Genuine Risk | Jacinto Vasquez | 2:02.00 |
1979 | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin | 2:02.40 |
1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | 2:01.20 |
1977 | Seattle Slew | Jean Cruguet | 2:02.20 |
1976 | Bold Forbes | Angel Cordero, Jr. | 2:01.60 |
1975 | Foolish Pleasure | Jacinto Vasquez | 2:02.00 |
1974 | Cannonade | Angel Cordero, Jr. | 2:04.00 |
1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | 1:59.40 |
1972 | Riva Ridge | Ron Turcotte | 2:01.80 |
1971 | Canonero II | Gustavo Avila | 2:03.20 |
1970 | Dust Commander | Mike Manganello | 2:03.40 |
1969 | Majestic Prince | Bill Hartack | 2:01.80 |
1968 | Forward Pass | Ismael Valenzuela | 2:02.20 |
1967 | Proud Clarion | Bobby Ussery | 2:00.60 |
1966 | Kauai King | Don Brumfield | 2:02.00 |
1965 | Lucky Debonair | Bill Shoemaker | 2:01.20 |
1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Hartack | 2:00.00 |
1963 | Chateaugay | Braulio Baeza | 2:01.80 |
1962 | Decidedly | Bill Hartack | 2:00.40 |
1961 | Carry Back | Johnny Sellers | 2:04.00 |
1960 | Venetian Way | Bill Hartack | 2:02.40 |
1959 | Tomy Lee | Bill Shoemaker | 2:02.20 |
1958 | Tim Tam | Ismael Valenzuela | 2:05.00 |
1957 | Iron Liege | Bill Hartack | 2:02.20 |
1956 | Needles | David Erb | 2:03.40 |
1955 | Swaps | Bill Shoemaker | 2:01.80 |
1954 | Determine | Raymond York | 2:03.00 |
1953 | Dark Star | Henry E. Moreno | 2:02.00 |
1952 | Hill Gail | Eddie Arcaro | 2:01.60 |
1951 | Count Turf | Conn McCreary | 2:02.60 |
1950 | Middleground | William Boland | 2:01.60 |
1949 | Ponder | Steve Brooks | 2:04.20 |
1948 | Citation | Eddie Arcaro | 2:05.40 |
1947 | Jet Pilot | Eric Guerin | 2:06.80 |
1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens | 2:06.60 |
1945 | Hoop Jr. | Eddie Arcaro | 2:07.00 |
1944 | Pensive | Conn McCreary | 2:04.20 |
1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden | 2:04.00 |
1942 | Shut Out | Wayne D. Wright | 2:04.40 |
1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro | 2:01.40 |
1940 | Gallahadion | Carroll Bierman | 2:05.00 |
1939 | Johnstown | James Stout | 2:03.40 |
1938 | Lawrin | Eddie Arcaro | 2:04.80 |
1937 | War Admiral | Charley Kurtsinger | 2:03.20 |
1936 | Bold Venture | Ira Hanford | 2:03.60 |
1935 | Omaha | Willie Saunders | 2:05.00 |
1934 | Cavalcade | Mack Garner | 2:04.00 |
1933 | Brokers Tip | Don Meade | 2:06.80 |
1932 | Burgoo King | Eugene James | 2:05.20 |
1931 | Twenty Grand | Charley Kurtsinger | 2:01.80 |
1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | 2:07.60 |
1929 | Clyde Van Dusen | Linus McAtee | 2:10.80 |
1928 | Reigh Count | Chick Lang | 2:10.40 |
1927 | Whiskery | Linus McAtee | 2:06.00 |
1926 | Bubbling Over | Albert Johnson | 2:03.80 |
1925 | Flying Ebony | Earl Sande | 2:07.60 |
1924 | Black Gold | J. D. Mooney | 2:05.20 |
1923 | Zev | Earl Sande | 2:05.40 |
1922 | Morvich | Albert Johnson | 2:04.60 |
1921 | Behave Yourself | Charles Thompson | 2:04.20 |
1920 | Paul Jones | Ted Rice | 2:09.00 |
1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus | 2:09.80 |
1918 | Exterminator | Willie Knapp | 2:10.80 |
1917 | Omar Khayyam | Charles Borel | 2:04.60 |
1916 | George Smith | Johnny Loftus | 2:04.00 |
1915 | Regret | Joe Notter | 2:05.40 |
1914 | Old Rosebud | John McCabe | 2:03.40 |
1913 | Donerail | Roscoe Goose | 2:04.80 |
1912 | Worth | Carroll H. Shilling | 2:09.40 |
1911 | Meridian | George Archibald | 2:05.00 |
1910 | Donau | Frederick Herbert | 2:06.40 |
1909 | Wintergreen | Vincent Powers | 2:08.20 |
1908 | Stone Street | Arthur Pickens | 2:15.20 |
1907 | Pink Star | Andy Minder | 2:12.60 |
1906 | Sir Huon | Roscoe Troxler | 2:08.80 |
1905 | Agile | Jack Martin | 2:10.75 |
1904 | Elwood | Shorty Prior | 2:08.50 |
1903 | Judge Himes | Hal Booker | 2:09.00 |
1902 | Alan-a-Dale | Jimmy Winkfield | 2:08.75 |
1901 | His Eminence | Jimmy Winkfield | 2:07.75 |
1900 | Lieut. Gibson | Jimmy Boland | 2:06.25 |
1899 | Manuel | Fred Taral | 2:12.00 |
1898 | Plaudit | Willie Simms | 2:09.00 |
1897 | Typhoon II | Buttons Garner | 2:12.50 |
1896 | Ben Brush | Willie Simms | 2:07.75 |
1895 | Halma | Soup Perkins | 2:37.50 |
1894 | Chant | Frank Goodale | 2:41.00 |
1893 | Lookout | Eddie Kunze | 2:39.25 |
1892 | Azra | Alonzo Clayton | 2:41.50 |
1891 | Kingman | Isaac Murphy | 2:52.25 |
1890 | Riley | Isaac Murphy | 2:45.00 |
1889 | Spokane | Thomas Kiley | 2:34.50 |
1888 | Macbeth II | George Covington | 2:38.00 |
1887 | Montrose | Isaac Lewis | 2:39.25 |
1886 | Ben Ali | Paul Duffy | 2:36.50 |
1885 | Joe Cotton | Erskine Henderson | 2:37.25 |
1884 | Buchanan | Isaac Murphy | 2:40.25 |
1883 | Leonatus | Billy Donohue | 2:43.00 |
1882 | Apollo | Babe Hurd | 2:40.00 |
1881 | Hindoo | Jim McLaughlin | 2:40.00 |
1880 | Fonso | George Lewis | 2:37.50 |
1879 | Lord Murphy | Charlie Shauer | 2:37.00 |
1878 | Day Star | Jimmy Carter | 2:37.25 |
1877 | Baden-Baden | Billy Walker | 2:38.00 |
1876 | Vagrant | Bobby Swim | 2:38.25 |
1875 | Aristides | Oliver Lewis | 2:37.75 |