Race description
Monarchos, bumped by Point Given at the start and forced in on Jamaican Rum, was outrun for six furlongs. He raced five or six wide, commenced a sweeping run five abreast on the second turn to come out a bit further entering the stretch. Monarchos caught Congaree approaching the final sixteenth and drew clear under steady left-handed encouragement. Invisible Ink, unhurried to the far turn, moved up between foes approaching the stretch and angled outside the winner to secure room in the upper stretch. Invisible Ink couldn't menace Monarchos, but closed with good determination to wear down Congaree for a second. Congaree, in hand early while tracking the leaders four or five wide, accelerated to the front about the five-sixteenths pole, and settled into the stretch with a clear advantage. Congaree showed the way into the final furlong but weakened gradually thereafter.[5]
Thunder Blitz, bumped at the start when Balto Star came out, was outrun to the far turn while along the inside. He angled between rivals soon after while advancing, split foes approaching the final quarter, then improved position with a mild late run. Thunder Blitz returned bleeding from the mouth. Point Given broke to the inside bumping the winner, moved up steadily to gain a striking position five wide on the backstretch. Point Given made a threatening run on the second turn, but then flattened out when straightened for the drive.[5]
Jamaican Rum, bumped at the start and squeezed back. Jamaican Rum was outrun for seven furlongs while racing well off the inside, leaned in while advancing six wide tightening it up on Dollar Bill at the three-eighths pole, then closed some ground while not a threat. A P Valentine, in behind rivals while unhurried into the backstretch, was checked when bumped by Talk Is Money at the half-mile ground, steadied between foes and was shuffled back at the three-eighths pole and rallied belatedly.[5]
Express tour settled in a striking position while near the inside between foes on the backstretch, and made a menacing run after angling out slightly on the second turn. Express Tour then failed to sustain the needed momentum. Fifty Stars, outrun until the stretch while in behind rivals, angled out at the eighth pole but wasn't a factor. Startac failed to reach contention and was eight wide on the second turn and into the stretch. Millennium Wind, forwardly placed along the rail, was checked behind Songandaprayer, about the five-sixteenths pole and failed to threaten thereafter.[5]
Arctic Boy, squeezed a bit at the start, failed to threaten. Songandaprayer was hustled to the front along the rail soon after the start, and made the pace under pressure to the second turn, then tired from the effort. Balto Star forced the pace between rivals for seven furlongs and gave way. Dollar Bill, angled in behind horses soon after the start, eased out a bit on the backstretch, and was forced to take up sharply. Dollar Bill then lost his action at the three-eighths pole when in tight quarters and was finished. Keats pressed the leaders three wide to the far turn and gave way thereafter. Talk is Money exchanged bumps with A P Valentine leaving the half-mile ground, gave way soon after and was distanced before going a mile and eased through the stretch. A foul claim by the rider of Invisible Ink against the winner for alleged interference at the quarter-mile ground was disallowed.[5]
Monarchos finished 4 3/4 lengths in front of Invisible Ink, who was a nose ahead of Congaree. Thunder Blitz ran fourth.[6]
It was the second-fastest winning time in the Kentucky Derby, and the first year time was extended to hundredths instead of fifths. The 1:59.97 would have been equivalent to a 2:00.0 time in previous years.
