| 117th Kentucky Derby | |
| Class: | Grade I stakes race |
| Horse Race: | Kentucky Derby |
| Location: | Churchill Downs |
| Date: | May 4, 1991 |
| Winning Horse: | Strike the Gold |
| Winning Jockey: | Chris Antley |
| Winning Trainer: | Nick Zito |
| Winning Owner: | Brophy, Condren, Cornacchia |
| Conditions: | Fast |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Attendance: | 135,554 |
| Previous: | 1990 |
| Next: | 1992 |
The 1991 Kentucky Derby was the 117th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 4, 1991,[1] with 135,554 people in attendance.[2]
Heading into the Derby, it was seen as a wide-open race with multiple horses having a chance at victory.
Fly So Free had an impressive resume coming into the race. He won the Grade-3 Tremont Breeders' Cup Stakes, the Grade-1 Champagne Stakes, the Grade-1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the Grade-2 Hutcheson Stakes, the Grade-2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Grade-1 Florida Derby. Through these wins, he had already defeated most of the field in various races.[3]
Best Pal also had an impressive resume with multiple wins at the Grade-3 1990 Balboa Stakes, the Grade-2 Del Mar Futurity, the Grade-1 Norfolk Stakes and the Grade-1 Hollywood Futurity. He also finished ahead of Sea Cadet at the 1991 Santa Anita Derby.[4]
Hansel had won the Grade-3 July 1990 Tremont Breeders' Cup Stakes, the Grade-2 September 1990 Arlington-Washington Futurity Stakes, the March 1991 Grade-2 Jim Beam Stakes(where he defeated Wilder Than Ever) and the April 1991 Grade-2 Lexington Stakes.[5] However, he was defeated soundly twice by Fly So Free.
Strike the Gold had won the April 1991 Blue Grass Stakes defeating favorite Fly So Free by a half-length after finishing 2nd to Fly So Free at the 1991 Florida Derby.[6]
Green Alligator captured the April 1991 Grade-3 California Derby in his only stakes win.[7]
Quintana was victorious at the March 1991 Grade-3 Rebel Stakes winning over fellow 1991 Kentucky Derby competitor, Corporate Report.[8]
Alydavid won the Grade-3 April 1991 Derby Trial Stakes[9] and was a half-brother of Strike the Gold.
Sea Cadet won the January 1991 El Camino Real Derby and the March 1991 San Felipe Stakes, placing multiple positions ahead of Green Alligator.[10]
Mane Minister picked up smaller victories in the January 1991 listed Santa Catalina Stakes and the 1991 listed Pirate Cove Stakes.[11]
Paulrus, Another Review, Corporate Report, Happy Jazz Band, Forty Something, Lost Mountain, Subordinated Debt and Wilder Than Ever had never won a stakes race and were seen as wildcards.[12]
Dinard won the Grade-2 1991 San Rafael Stakes. He defeated Best Pal in what was called "the single most compelling performance of the year" in the Grade-1 1991 Santa Anita Derby.[13] He was considered an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, but suffered a foreleg injury and was declared out.[14] [15] [16]
Olympio, winner of the 1991 Arkansas Derby, who had traded wins with Dinard, was also seen as a possible candidate for the Kentucky Derby. However, his owners decided to skip the race for the 1991 Preakness Stakes, where he finished 7th.[17]
Cahill Road was also seen as a contender after winning the April 1991 Wood Memorial Stakes, but injured his left front leg in the victory and was retired.[18] [19]
| Finished | Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time / behind | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Strike the Gold | Chris Antley | Nick Zito | Brophy, Condren, Cornacchia | 2:03.08 | |
| 2nd | 15 | Best Pal | Gary Stevens | Gary F. Jones | Golden Eagle Farm | ||
| 3rd | 10 | Mane Minister | Alex Solis | J. Paco Gonzalez | T. McCaffery & J. Toffan | ||
| 4th | 8 | Green Alligator | Corey Nakatani | Murray W. Johnson | Anderson Fowler | ||
| 5th | 1 | Fly So Free | José A. Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | Thomas F. Valando | ||
| 6th | 16 | Quintana | Angel Cordero Jr. | David C. Cross Jr. | Gary Garber | ||
| 7th | 11 | Paulrus | Shane Sellers | Steven C. Penrod | Hermitage Farms | ||
| 8th | 4 | Sea Cadet | Chris McCarron | Ronald McAnally | VHW Stable, Inc. Lessee | ||
| 9th | 12 | Corporate Report | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm & D. W. Lukas | ||
| 10th | 6 | Hansel | Jerry D. Bailey | Frank L. Brothers | Lazy Lane Farms | ||
| 11th | 14 | Happy Jazz Band | Cash Asmussen | Philip A. Gleaves | Straus-Medina Ranch | ||
| 12th | 9 | Lost Mountain | Herb McCauley | Tom Bohannan | Loblolly Stable | ||
| 13th | 13 | Another Review | Art Madrid, Jr. | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | ||
| 14th | 2 | Alydavid | Corey Black | Philip M. Hauswald | David's Farm | ||
| 15th | 3 | Wilder Than Ever | Joe Deegan | John E. Churchman, Jr. | Raymond Cottrell, Sr. | ||
| 16th | 7 | Forty Something | Andrea Seefeldt | Reginald S. Vardon | Sam Morrell |
| Post | Horse | Win | Place | Show | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Strike the Gold | $ 11.60 | 6.20 | 5.40 | |
| 10 | Best Pal | 6.40 | 5.40 | ||
| 7 | Mane Minister | 25.60 |