Inside the Trip: Examining Derby, Oaks Data

American Pharoah (outside) overcame a wide trip to win the 2015 Kentucky Derby. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
America’s most watched weekend of racing is now behind us. Let’s take a look back at some of the statistics that stood out from the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby cards. And don’t forget, Trakus-collected data from Churchill Downs is now available on the track’s website, click here to view it.
Friday
Molly Morgan was the beneficiary of a ground-saving ride from jockey Corey Lanerie to land her first Grade 1 victory in the La Troienne Stakes. Racing in midpack early, the rail opened up for her at the top of the stretch and she scampered through en route to a three-quarter-length victory. Sheer Drama, who beat Molly Morgan in the Royal Delta Stakes on March 21, rallied for second after running four wide on the far turn, covering 37 feet more than the winner, the equivalent of nearly 4 ½ lengths. Third-place finisher Gold Medal Dancer and fourth home Tiz Windy covered 31 and 38 feet more than Molly Morgan, respectively.
Protonico was another recipient of an inside ride when winning the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes. While jockey John Velazquez guided the horse along the rail, second choice Honor Code dropped back 11 ½ lengths in what has become his signature late-running style. Through some rather pedestrian early splits, Honor Code had a lot of work to do late, and he was unable to catch Protonico. Honor Code came home with the fastest final quarter-mile of 23.08 seconds, .44 seconds faster than Protonico. Second-place finisher Noble Bird was three wide for a majority of the race, covering 30 feet, or about 3 ½ lengths more than the winner, and lost by a head.
Lovely Maria was a decisive winner of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, drawing away to a 2 ¾-length victory over the Steve Asmussen-trained Shook Up and stablemate I’m a Chatterbox. The filly by Majesticperfection raced wide throughout, swinging into the four path on the far turn. She covered 45 feet more than second-place finisher Shook Up, who was tracking on the inside rail for the majority of the race. I’m a Chatterbox was far back early and swung out five wide on the far turn, rallying for third. Closers Stellar Wind and Birdatthewire came home fourth and fifth, respectively, from their wide post positions of 12 and 13. Both covered more ground than the winner, while Stellar Wind covered 67 feet, about eight lengths more than Shook Up, and 34 feet, about four lengths, more than I’m a Chatterbox. Birdatthewire had similar figures, running just 15 feet less than Stellar Wind.

Another horse to make up substantial ground was Oceanwave who charged from last to seventh with the fastest final quarter-mile of the race. Oceanwave covered the final two furlongs in 25.71 seconds, 0.66 seconds quicker than Lovely Maria’s 26.37. Stellar Wind had the fastest final furlong of 12.98 seconds with Oceanwave completing it in 13.07 and Lovely Maria coming home in 13.62.
2015 KENTUCKY OAKS

Saturday
Divisidero overcame an extremely wide trip to take the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes. Six wide and nine lengths behind on the far turn, he unleashed a closing kick that rocketed him to the lead, getting his final quarter-mile in 22.30 seconds. World Approval, another recipient of an extremely wide trip, closed well to land third with a slightly slower final quarter of 22.48 seconds. Between the two was A Lot, who ran 25 feet less than the winner, or about three lengths, with a final quarter of 23.08, 0.78 seconds slower than the winner.
Private Zone returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday when he captured the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes. Breaking cleanly from the starting gate and heading straight to the lead, he settled just off the rail with longshot Nates Mineshift to his outside. Private Zone’s final quarter of 25.91 put away Nates Mineshaft, who came home in 26.52, while Pants On Fire closed from last with the fastest final quarter-mile of 25.68.
Finnegans Wake landed his first Grade 1 victory in a thrilling edition of the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes. The 6-year-old Powerscourt horse covered the second-widest trip in the field, going 51 feet more than second past the post, Sky Captain. The only horse to go wider was fifth-place finisher Slumber, who ran 21 feet more than the winner, about 2 ½ lengths. Slumber was beaten just 2 ½ lengths, and covered an astounding 72 feet more than Sky Captain, a distance that equates to roughly 8 ½ lengths.
For the second year in a row, a California-based favorite won the Kentucky Derby. This year’s accolades belong to Zayat Stables’ homebred American Pharoah. The bay colt by Pioneerof the Nile needed all the urging he could get from jockey Victor Espinoza after a wide trip to secure a one-length victory.
2015 KENTUCKY DERBY

When the starting gates opened, Santa Anita Derby winner Dortmund went straight to the lead, with Firing Line hustling up to his outside. Breaking from gate 15, American Pharoah was ushered wide and, by the time they reached the finish line, covered the second-longest trip in the field. Only fourth-place finisher Frosted traversed a wider path.  
The Derby seemed a bit like a merry-go-round with only three horses, Frosted, sixth-place finisher Materiality, and seventh home Keen Ice, making significant headway in the stretch. Materiality’s final furlong of 12.81 seconds was a full 1.10 seconds quicker than fourth-fastest American Pharoah’s 13.91. Dale Romans’ Keen Ice had the next quickest furlong of 13.01, 0.90 seconds quicker than the winner. 
American Pharoah’s actual margin of victory was just one length, but when factoring his trip, covering nearly 30 feet (about 3 ½ lengths) more than Firing Line and nearly 70 feet (about 8 lengths) more than Dortmund, his finish might be more impressive than at first glance.