Monarchos exploded down the stretch yesterday to win the 127th Kentucky Derby, leaving a host of strong contenders in his wake and finishing with the second-fastest time in race history.
The gray son of Maria's Mon, who did not even make his racing debut until October 7, roared over the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59 4/5 seconds, behind only the 1:59 2/5 for the legendary Secretariat in 1973.
With Jorge Chavez aboard, Monarchos raced past Invisible Ink as the horses headed for home, blowing past Congaree to win easily.
But Chavez, trainer John Ward Jnr and owner John Oxley had to wait a few more agonizing moments after John Velazquez, who was aboard Invisible Ink, claimed he was fouled at the quarter pole and sought the first disqualification for such a foul in Kentucky Derby history.
"He moved inside of me. He tried to shut me down," Velazquez said.
But the stewards ruled Monarchos did not bump Invisible Ink and was not close enough to force him to slow down. The results stood: Invisible Ink second and Congaree third.
"I think I was clear. My horse was exploding," said Chavez, an Eclipse Award winner who won his first Kentucky Derby in his fourth try. "I didn't go inside of anybody. I didn't even see him."
It was also the first Derby win for Ward, the only Kentucky-based trainer in the race, and Oxley.
"There is nothing like winning the Kentucky Derby. It's like leaving the planet and going into a new orbit," Oxley said.
Baffert's Point Given, the overwhelming favorite, made a move at the top of the stretch but soon faded. He never was a serious factor and finished fifth. AFP