Hey everyone, it’s your boy back at it again with another deep dive into the world of horse racing. Today, I’m gonna share my experience figuring out who won the Kentucky Derby back in 2017. I gotta say, this one took me down a bit of a rabbit hole, but it was a fun ride. So, buckle up and let’s get into it!
First things first, I had to figure out the date for the 2017 Derby. A quick search told me it went down on Saturday, May 6, 2017. That was my starting point.
Then, I started digging for the winner’s name. I found out the champion’s name was “Always Dreaming”. What a cool name, right? Apparently, this horse was a favorite going in, with odds at 9-2. I also learned that this victory made Always Dreaming the sixth horse in a row to win with a perfect record as a three-year-old. Talk about a winning streak!
More About Always Dreaming
- I found out that Always Dreaming was ridden by jockey John Velazquez. It sounds like they kept the horse near the front of the pack for most of the race and then made a big move on the final stretch. Smart strategy!
- The horse paid out $11.40 to win. That’s not bad if you had money on him. I also learned that the second-place horse, Lookin at Lee, had odds of 33-1. I found that there is a tradition of giving the winning horse a wreath of roses, which is how the Derby got the nickname “Run for the Roses.” Pretty neat, huh?
- Always Dreaming won the Florida Derby by five lengths on April 1. The trainer is Todd Pletcher, this was his second Derby win.
I also found out something a little sad, too. Always Dreaming, who was a son of Bodemeister and Above Perfection, had to be put down in December 2023 because of a bad case of colic. He was living at River Oaks Farm in Oklahoma at the time. It’s always tough to hear about a champion passing away.
Anyway, that’s the story of how I tracked down the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner. It was a fun little research project, and I learned a lot along the way. Hope you enjoyed this ride as much as I did! Until next time, keep on digging and keep on learning!
