Kentucky Derby favorite Bolt d’Oro was considered the favorite to win the race a few months ago, but he slid from the top spot in a previous Kentucky Derby Media poll after losing to Good Magic at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
In his first race since defeating Bolt d’ Oro, Good Magic disappointed, finishing second to Promises Fulfilled at the Fountain of Youth race.
Last week, Good Magic maintained his position as the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, but this week, Bolt d’ Oro reclaimed the top spot in the Derby Media Poll.
Bolt d’Oro was able to reclaim the top spot in the poll thanks to his controversial win over McKinzie at the San Felipe Stakes this weekend.
Updated Kentucky Derby Media Poll Rankings
The two horses went toe to toe down the stretch for a photo finish, and after McKinzie looked like he had won the race by a head, officials reviewed the finish and awarded Bolt d’Oro with the win.
After the race, officials explained why they decided to award the race to Bolt d’Oro instead of McKinzie.
Betting Odds for McKinzie and Bolt d’Oro
“McKinzie came out under a left-handed whip and shifted … Bolt D’Oro out, off his path and cost him a better placing,” said Darrel McHargue, chief steward for the California Horse Racing Board. The vote of the three stewards was unanimous.
Thanks to the controversial decision, Bolt d’Oro is now once again considered the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, while McKinzie dropped to second place.
Since Good Magic isn’t expected to race until the Blue Grass Stakes in April, he will stay at third for now.
Audible, the winner of the last three races he has been entered in, finished fourth in the rankings, but is expected to move up the rankings if he wins the Florida Derby at the end of March.
Justify, another thoroughbred trained by Bob Baffert, was fifth in the polls after an impressive showing this weekend.
With eight weeks left until the Kentucky Derby, expect the ranking to change a few more times before the Derby.