Further, he had given a second Derby win among 48 starters to Pletcher, the career victor of 4,300 races, 1,000 stakes and $336 million, $60 million more than any other trainer, who yet found validation with this second win, following on Super Saver in 2010. After a jaw-dropping performance at the Florida Derby, Always Dreaming earned a winning reputation that stuck with him through today.
Kentucky Derby champion Always Dreaming watches all the activity outside his Barn 40 stall at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Sunday, May 7, 2017. Jockey John Velazquez won his second Derby, too, the first since 2011.
But Velazquez, who had positioned his mount to not get mud kicked in his face, settled the victor of the Florida Derby into a relaxed stride in the run down the backstretch as the pace slowed, close but not too close to the lead.
"We've won a lot of Kentucky Derbies", Bonomo said. "We'll wait a couple of days before deciding what we want to do". But he's an incredible horse.
"I really felt that he had managed the horse in a very unique way", said co-owner Vincent Viola, "and I thought the horse was showing us, through his response, through his training, that he was progressing". I felt like I really needed the second one ... On this day nothing bothered the Pletcher trainee who had been dismissed by many because he was very hard to handle in the days leading up to the race.
He broke a step slow out of the gate and then started bucking under jockey Christophe Soumillon, who pulled him up a few seconds later. Breaking alertly from the five-post position, the son of Bodemeister was put right into contention, behind the leader State of Honor.
"Anthony and I, I think, represent everybody who went to the racetrack for the first time with their dads and were just astonished by the brilliance of these athletes, these equine athletes", Viola said.
When it was time to run, Always Dreaming got serious.
The Irish-bred colt went off at 16-1 odds and was the only contender to race overseas before coming to the Kentucky Derby.
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Thundersnow foundered at the race start and other favorites didn't make it to the head of the pack at all, but Always Dreaming led from the beginning and for the majority of the race. Second-favorite Irish War Cry was 10th. If an issue with fourth-place Classic Empire's right eye clears up, he could join them.
For the fifth year in a row the post-time wagering favorite won the Kentucky Derby, something that hadn't happened in more than 25 years.
In a weekend that provided enough rain to supply Niagara Falls, the sun finally filtered through the Twin Spires at historic Churchill Downs to shine on Always Dreaming.
Lookin At Lee, the second-place finisher, has trainer Steve Asmussen looking at the slightly shorter 1 3/16-mile race. Classic Empire, who had the worst trip of the top four, just missed passing Battle of Midway to the wire.
Always Dreaming finished the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.59.
Churchill Downs officials say attendance for the Kentucky Derby is 158,070. Battle of Midway, the place horse in Santa Anita's Derby, took third money in Kentucky and paid $20.80 to show.
Always Dreaming, who was purchased at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale for $350,000, moved his career record to 6: 4-1-1 with earnings of $2,284,700.
"It means a lot", Velasquez told NBC Sports when asked about winning for the first time with his long-time trainer.
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