2005 Kentucky Derby


The 2005 Kentucky Derby was the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 7, 2005 and was won by Giacomo, a longshot at odds of 50-1. Another longshot, Closing Argument, finished second, resulting in an exacta payout of $9,814.80. A crowd of 156,435 was in attendance.

Contenders

The 5-2 favorite for the race was Bellamy Road, winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes. Afleet Alex was the second choice based on his win in the Arkansas Derby. Other leading contenders included Wilko, High Fly and Bandini. Giacomo, whose only win was in a maiden race at age two, was one of the longest shots in the field at 50-1. He had finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby in his previous start.

Results

Spanish Chestnut went to the early lead and set fast opening fractions of 22.28 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 45.38 for the half. Closing Argument sat a few lengths behind and gradually improved his position, taking the lead in mid stretch. Meanwhile, Giacomo broke slowly and settled near the back of the field, carried five wide around the first turn. Still in 18th place after three-quarters of a mile, Giacomo started to make up ground while moving six wide around the turn. He ran into traffic problems entering the stretch but finally found racing room and closed steadily to win by half a length.
"He had to overcome some pretty tricky moves. In the first turn, he got carried out. I had to ease him back, jump heels, save all I could save," said jockey Mike Smith. "Then I saw a little seam turning for home. I got him to the outside, and he just kept grinding and grinding and wouldn't stop until he got it."
It was the first Derby win for all of Giacomo's connections: jockey Smith, trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss. The payout on Giacomo was $102.60 for a $2 bet, at the time the second highest payout in Derby history to Donerail in 1913.
FinishPostHorse NameJockeyTrainerOddsMarginEarnings
110GiacomoMike E. SmithJohn Shirreffs50.30$1,639,600
218Closing ArgumentCornelio VelasquezKiaran McLaughlin71.60 length$400,000
312Afleet AlexJeremy RoseTim Ritchey4.501 length$200,000
417Don't Get MadTyler BazeRonald Ellis29.20 lengths$100,000
520Buzzard's BayMark GuidryJeff Mullins46.30 lengths$60,000
614WilkoCorey NakataniWallace Dollase21.70 lengths
716 Bellamy RoadJavier CastellanoNicholas Zito2.60 lengths
82Andromeda's HeroRafael BejaranoNicholas Zito57.30 lengths
97Flower AlleyJorge F. ChavezTodd Pletcher41.30 lengths
1011High FlyJerry BaileyNicholas Zito7.10 lengths
119Greeley's GalaxyKent DesormeauxWarren Stute21.008 lengths
125Coin SilverPat ValenzuelaTodd Pletcher38.60 lengths
138Greater GoodJohn McKeeRobert Holthus58.40 lengths
144Noble CausewayGary StevensNicholas Zito12.30 lengths
153Sun KingEdgar PradoNicholas Zito15.70 lengths
1613Spanish ChestnutJoe BravoPatrick Biancone71.00 lengths
171Sort It OutBrice BlancBob Baffert61.90 lengths
1819Going WildJose Valdivia, Jr.D. Wayne Lukas59.5029 lengths
1915BandiniJohn VelazquezTodd Pletcher6.80 lengths
206High LimitRamon A. DominguezRobert Frankel22.50 lengths

Track condition: Fast
Times: mile – 22.28; mile – 45.38; mile – 1:09.59; mile – 1:35.88; final – 2:02.75.
Splits for each quarter-mile:
Source: Equibase Chart

Payout

;The 131st Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule
Program
Number		Horse Name
Win
Place
Show
10Giacomo$102.60$45.80$19.80
18Closing Argument-$70.00$24.80
12Afleet Alex--$4.60

Giacomo's only win after the Derby was in the Grade II San Diego Handicap. Two horses went on to record Grade I wins:

Sires of Classic winners

Flower Alley
Afleet Alex
Bellamy Road
Sources: , , ,