2004 Kentucky Derby

Contenders

Smarty Jones was the 4-1 favorite for the race. He came into the Derby with an undefeated record, including wins in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby, both held at Oaklawn Park. If he won the Kentucky Derby, he stood to earn a $5 million "Centennial Bonus" offered by Oaklawn to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

His leading rivals included Lion Heart (Hollywood Futurity, 2nd in Blue Grass Stakes), Castledale (Santa Anita Derby), The Cliff's Edge (Blue Grass Stakes), Tapit (Wood Memorial), Friends Lake (Florida Dery), and Imperialism (San Rafael, 2nd in Santa Anita Derby).

St. Averil and Wimbledon were originally entered but scratched from the race, meaning there were only 18 starters.

Full results

A "deluge" started about two hours before the race, turning a fast track sloppy. Lion Heart, breaking near the rail, ran a quick opening quarter mile of 22.99 seconds to get good position going into the first turn. His jockey Mike Smith then started to slow down the pace, completing the half mile in 46.73 and three-quarters in 1:11.80. Smarty Jones rated a few lengths behind then started his move on the far turn. The two raced heads apart as they entered the stretch, then Smarty Jones started to edge away to win by lengths.

Smarty Jones became the first horse to win the Derby while undefeated since Seattle Slew in 1977. It was the first Derby win for his trainer, jockey and owner, all of whom were well known in the Mid Atlantic racing circuit but making their first start in the race.

• Smarty Jones earnings included a $5 million racing series bonus

Track condition: Fast

Times: mile – 22.99; mile – 46.73; mile – 1:11.80; mile – 1:37.35; final – 2:04.06.

Splits for each quarter-mile: (22.99) (23.74) (25.07) (25.55) (26.71)

Source: Equibase Chart

Payout

;The 130th Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule

• $2 Exacta: (15-3) Paid $65.20
• $2 Trifecta: (15-3-10) Paid $987.60
• $2 Superfecta: (15-3-10-1) Paid $41,380.20

Subsequent racing careers

Several horses went on to win Grade I races:

• Smarty Jones – Preakness Stakes
• Lion Heart – Haskell Invitational
• Birdstone – Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes
• Borrego – 2005 Pacific Classic, Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Castledale – 2005 Shoemaker Mile

Subsequent breeding careers

Sires of Classic winners

Tapit – leading sire in North America 2014-2016

• Tonalist – 2014 Belmont Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, 2015 Cigar Mile, Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Creator – 2016 Belmont Stakes, Arkansas Derby
• Tapwrit – 2017 Belmont Stakes
• Untapable – 2014 Kentucky Oaks, Mother Goose Stakes, Cotillion, Breeders' Cup Distaff, 2015 Apple Blossom
• Frosted – 2015 Wood Memorial, 2016 Metropolitan Handicap, Whitney Stakes

Birdstone

• Mine That Bird – 2009 Kentucky Derby
• Summer Bird – 2009 Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Noble Bird – 2015 Stephen Foster Handicap

Pollard's Vision

• Blind Luck – 2010 Kentucky Oaks, Las Virgenes Stakes, Alabama Stakes, 2009 Oak Leaf Stakes, Hollywood Starlet, 2011 Vanity Handicap

Sires of Grade I winners

Lion Heart

• Dangerous Midge – 2010 Breeders' Cup Turf
• Lion of David – 2010 Arkansas Derby
• Bradester – 2016 Stephen Foster Handicap
• Tom's Tribute – 2014 Eddie Read Stakes

Imperialism

• Imperial Hint – 2017 and 2018 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Vosburgh

Read the Footnotes

• Rightly So – 2010 Ballerina Stakes

Sources: American Classic Pedigrees, Equibase, Blood-Horse Stallion Register, Racing Post

References

References

1. "Chart of the Kentucky Derby".
2. "Cella to Present Smarty Jones' $5 Million Bonus Monday".
3. [http://www.kentuckyderby.com/history/year/2004 Kentucky Derby History, 2004]
4. "Lion Heart profile".
5. "Castledale profile".
6. "The Cliff's Edge".
7. "Tapit profile".
8. "Friends Lake profile".
9. "Imperialism profile".
10. (2 May 2004). "Muddy Perfection for Smarty Jones in the Derby".
11. "Smarty Jones earns largest payoff ever for race win".
12. [http://www.horse-races.net/library/derby04-results.htm 2004 Kentucky Derby Results, Horse-races.net]
13. "Leading sires of 2016: Tapit continues to raise the bar".