After the Kentucky Derby

The dust, or rather mud, has settled on Churchill Downs racetrack.

Millionaires Row is empty. The 136th running of the Kentucky Derby has passed into history. What will history show?

The Derby has been known for surprise winners. It had one this year. With pre-race favorite Eskendereya scratched from the race, WinStar Farms-homebred Super Saver took his place.

Co-founder of WinStar Farms, Kenny Troutt said he had a pretty good feeling when his horse entered the starting gate. It helped that his 9-year-old daughter Savannah told him she felt Super Saver was going to win, as reported by the Associated Press.

History will also show the owners taking home the $2 million dollar purse, and a stallion that is now a possible Triple Crown winner for this year.

The race brought Todd Pletcher, a well-known and respected trainer, his first Kentucky Derby win. Pletcher was the focus of some serious teasing prior to the race for his record of 0–24 runs for the Derby.

Calvin Borel, a Cajun-riding magician, earned the unique distinction of piloting Kentucky Derby winners in three of the last four Derby races. He rode the winners in 2007 on Street Sense, 2009 on Mine The Bird—a $9,500 colt—and 2010 on Super Saver.

Borel’s ride was textbook, he made the race look easy as he kept Super Saver to sit well behind a fast pace and wait for the right time to make his bid for the lead.

Second Jewel

Now, all eyes have turned their focus to the second jewel in the Triple Crown. The 135th running of the Preakness, which will take place on Saturday, May 15, at Pimlico.

Super Saver with Calvin Borel up, is making a bid to go down in racing history as the first winner of the Triple Crown since Affirmed won it 32 years ago.