Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505080101
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ED SCHUYLER JR. ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LOUISVILLE, KY. LENGTH: Long
It was his third-stringer, however, Thunder Gulch, who wore them in the winner's circle.
Thunder Gulch, who spent the week overshadowed by Serena's Song and Timber Country, took charge turning for home and won the 121st Derby by 21/4 lengths over Tejano Run on a sunny Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Serena's Song, who heard the roaring cheers of a crowd of 144,110 as she led for about a mile, faded to finish 16th in the field of 19. The crowd was the second largest in Derby history.
Timber Country came on to finish third, a head behind Tejano Run and three-quarters of a length in front of Jumron.
``He was standing between a ballerina and the 2-year-old champion,'' Lukas said of Thunder Gulch, who was stabled between Serena's Song and Timber Country in Lukas' barn, ``and now he's earned the right to hold his head high.''
Thunder Gulch became Lukas' second Derby winner, but it was his first Derby victory with a colt.
While Serena's Song failed to become the fourth filly to win the Derby and the first since Winning Colors won it for Lukas in 1988, Julie Krone failed to become the first woman to ride a Derby winner and Nick Zito failed to win his third Derby in five years.
Suave Prospect, who finished 11th, was ridden by Krone and trained by Zito, who won the 1991 Derby with Strike the Gold and last year with Go for Gin.
Thunder Gulch, ridden by Gary Stevens, ran as a separate betting interest and paid $51, $24.20 and $12.20 after covering 11/4 miles under 126 pounds on a fast track in 2:01 1-5. It was the highest payoff since Proud Clarion returned $62.20 in 1967 and was the first time a Derby winner came from post position 16.
Tejano Run, racing for the first time since he had work done on his front feet, returned $10.20 and $6.80.
Timber Country, coupled in the betting with Serena's Song because of common ownership, was $3.80 to show.
The failure by the favored entry of Serena's Song and Timber Country marked the 16th consecutive Derby in which the bettors' choice did not win the race, going back to Spectacular Bid's victory in 1979. Spectacular Bid was also the last 2-year-old champion to win the Derby, Timber Country adding to that list of failures this year.
Thunder Gulch broke from the 16th post position but Stevens quickly forgot about what is usually considered a bad post.
``I was ecstatic 50 yards out of the gate,'' Stevens said. ``I had a smooth trip to the rail. Then around the turn and down the backstretch he stayed within himself.''
Thunder Gulch moved into third place behind Serena's Song and Talking Man just past the half-mile pole. By then, Lukas thought he knew the outcome.
``At the five-eighths pole, I turned to a friend and said, `Timber is running into traffic problems, and Serena's Song is going too fast. Thunder Gulch is going to win this race.'''
``Once he got into the turn,'' Stevens said, ``he just absolutely accelerated, and the race was over.''
When the field turned for home, Thunder Gulch was outside Serena's Song and Talkin Man. But as the filly and the Canadian-bred faded, Thunder Gulch thundered home.
``He's a blue-collar worker,'' Lukas said. ``He just goes out and does it.''
Thunder Gulch has now done it five times in 10 career starts. But because he finished fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes in his previous start, his stock plummeted with horsemen and wise guys during Derby week.
``He had the dream trip,'' Lukas said. ``He was laying outside - an absolute perfect position. When you get that scenario with a legitimate finisher, good things happen.''
Thunder Gulch, who went off at a little more than 24-1, is owned by Michael Taber, a native of England who lives in Monaco and who is a major stockholder in a string of betting shops in the United Kingdom.
``The odds overseas with British bookmakers were about 12- or 14-1, and I always thought he'd be at least that here, or more,'' said Taber, who added that he bet both sterling and dollars on his colt.
Taber bought Thunder Gulch for an undisclosed price after the colt's fourth race on Nov.11, 1994. Since joining Taber and Lukas, the colt has won four of six starts and finished second once. First money of $707,400 boosted Thunder Gulch's career earnings to $1,423,406.
``This is such a difficult race to win, I felt we needed three,'' Lukas said of his multiple starters.
Lukas had tried three-horse entries twice before, only to fail.
Serena's Song, ridden by Corey Nakjatani, led through the first mile, but then faded in the stretch. She was fourth with an eighth of a mile to go, but ended up 16th, third-worst for any filly in Derby history. She was the 36th to start.
Serena's Song, who had won her five previous stakes, had led all the way in beating seven colts in the Jim Beam Stakes on April 1 at Turfway Park. But while she had her way in that race, the guys wouldn't give her a break in the Derby.
``She never had a chance to get a breather,'' Nakatani said. ``She really got tired.''
Of his decision to enter the filly, which wasn't made until eight days ago, Lukas said, ``We dared to risk greatness and we have no regrets. We're proud of her and the whole outfit.''
Keywords:
HORSE RACING
by CNB