2004 Kentucky Derby

{{Infobox horse race

|surface = Dirt

|name =130th Kentucky Derby

|horse race=Kentucky Derby

|location=Churchill Downs

|date=May 1, 2004

|winning horse= Smarty Jones

| winning time = 2:04.06

| starting price = 4-1

|winning jockey= Stewart Elliott

|winning trainer= John Servis

|winning owner= Someday Farm

|conditions= Sloppy{{cite web |title=Chart of the Kentucky Derby |url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=CD&raceDate=05/01/2004&cy=USA&rn=10 |website=www.equibase.com |access-date=9 May 2020 |language=en}}

|attendance= 140,054

|previous = 2003

|next = 2005

}}

The 2004 Kentucky Derby was the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 1, 2004, and was won by Smarty Jones, who earned a $5 million bonus.{{cite web |title=Cella to Present Smarty Jones' $5 Million Bonus Monday |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/175887/cella-to-present-smarty-jones-5-million-bonus-monday |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=9 May 2020 |language=en}} There were 140,054 in attendance.[http://www.kentuckyderby.com/history/year/2004 Kentucky Derby History, 2004]

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),{{cite web |title=Lion Heart profile |url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=6087846®istry=T&rbt=TB |website=www.equibase.com |access-date=9 May 2020 |language=en}} Castledale (Santa Anita Derby),{{cite web |title=Castledale profile |url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=6316343®istry=T |website=www.equibase.com |access-date=9 May 2020 |language=en}} The Cliff's Edge (Blue Grass Stakes),{{cite web |title=The Cliff's Edge |url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=6146873®istry=T&rbt=TB |website=www.equibase.com |access-date=9 May 2020 |language=en}} Tapit (Wood Memorial),{{cite web |title=Tapit profile |url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=6106474®istry=T&rbt=TB |website=www.equibase.com |access-date=9 May 2020 |language=en}} Friends Lake (Florida Dery),{{cite web |title=Friends Lake profile |url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=6161521®istry=T |website=www.equibase.com |access-date=9 May 2020 |language=en}} and Imperialism (San Rafael, 2nd in Santa Anita Derby).{{cite web |title=Imperialism profile |url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=6173372®istry=T&rbt=TB |website=www.equibase.com |access-date=9 May 2020 |language=en}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Drape |first1=Joe |title=Muddy Perfection for Smarty Jones in the Derby |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/02/sports/horse-racing-muddy-perfection-for-smarty-jones-in-the-derby.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=9 May 2020 |date=2 May 2004}} 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 {{frac|2|3|4}} 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. His 77-year-old owner Roy Chapman also bred the colt at Someday Farm in Pennsylvania. Chapman and his wife Patricia had owned and bred many horses over the years, but none had raced at the highest level. "We had a lot of ham-and-eggers," he said, "but sometimes you can cheer just as loud and get just as excited about winning a $10,000 claimer as a stakes. But we never raced at this level until Smarty came along. To have bred him and had him born on your farm, it's something... He is from Philly and I'm very proud of everything he's done."{{cite web |title=Smarty Jones earns largest payoff ever for race win |url=http://www.espn.com/horse/triplecrown04/s/2004/0501/1793659.html |website=www.espn.com |access-date=9 May 2020}}

class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
Finish ! Program number ! Horse ! Jockey ! Trainer !Odds !Margin !Earnings
1 \| 15 \| Smarty Jones \| Stewart Elliott \| John Servis \| 4.10 \| \|$5,884,800*
2 \| 3 \| Lion Heart \| Mike E. Smith \| Patrick Biancone \|5.40 \| {{frac\|2\|3\|4}} lengths \|$170,000
3 \| 10 \| Imperialism \| Kent Desormeaux \| Kristin Mulhall \| 10.90 \| 6 lengths \|$85,000
4 \| 1 \| Limehouse \| José A. Santos \| Todd Pletcher \| 41.70 \| 8 lengths \|$45,000
5 \| 11 \| The Cliff's Edge \| Shane Sellers \| Nicholas Zito \| 8.20 \|{{frac\|12\|1\|2}} lengths \|
6 \| 4 \| Action This Day \| David R. Flores \| Richard Mandella \| 43.40 \|{{frac\|13\|3\|4}} lengths \|
7 \| 14 \| Read the Footnotes \| Robby Albarado \| Richard Violette Jr. \| 22.50 \|{{frac\|14\|3\|4}} lengths \|
8 \| 13 \| Birdstone \| Edgar Prado \| Nicholas Zito \| 21.20 \|{{frac\|15\|1\|4}} lengths \|
9 \| 18 \| Tapit \| Ramon A. Dominguez \| Michael Dickinson \| 6.40 \|{{frac\|15\|3\|4}} lengths \|
10 \| 12 \| Borrego \| Victor Espinoza \| Beau Greely \| 14.20 \|{{frac\|16\|1\|4}} lengths \|
11 \| 2 \| Song of the Sword \| Norberto Arroyo Jr. \| Jennifer Pedersen \| 55.90 \|{{frac\|17\|1\|2}} lengths \|
12 \| 8 \| Master David \| Alex Solis \| Robert Frankel \| 10.60 \|{{frac\|18\|1\|2}} lengths \|
13 \| 19 \| Pro Prado \| John McKee \| Robert Holthus \| 53.50 \|20 lengths \|
14 \| 16 \| Castledale \| Jose Valdivia Jr. \| Jeff Mullins \| 21.90 \|{{frac\|25\|1\|4}} lengths \|
15 \| 6 \| Friends Lake \| Richard Migliore \| John C. Kimmel \| 18.50 \|{{frac\|36\|3\|4}} lengths \|
16 \| 7 \| Minister Eric \| Pat Day \| Richard Mandella \| 22.50 \|{{frac\|37\|1\|4}} lengths \|
17 \| 17 \| Pollard's Vision \| John Velazquez \| Todd Pletcher \|24.00 \|{{frac\|40\|3\|4}} lengths \|
DNF \| 20 \| Quintons Gold Rush \| Corey Nakatani \| Steve Asmussen \| 51.20 \|{{ntsh\|99}}-- \|

class="wikitable sortable" border="1"

Finish

! Program
number

! Horse

! Jockey

! Trainer

!Odds

!Margin

!Earnings

| 15

| Smarty Jones

| Stewart Elliott

| John Servis

| 4.10

|$5,884,800*

| 3

| Lion Heart

| Mike E. Smith

| Patrick Biancone

|5.40

| {{frac|2|3|4}} lengths

|$170,000

| 10

| Imperialism

| Kent Desormeaux

| Kristin Mulhall

| 10.90

| 6 lengths

|$85,000

| 1

| Limehouse

| José A. Santos

| Todd Pletcher

| 41.70

| 8 lengths

|$45,000

| 11

| The Cliff's Edge

| Shane Sellers

| Nicholas Zito

| 8.20

|{{frac|12|1|2}} lengths

| 4

| Action This Day

| David R. Flores

| Richard Mandella

| 43.40

|{{frac|13|3|4}} lengths

| 14

| Read the Footnotes

| Robby Albarado

| Richard Violette Jr.

| 22.50

|{{frac|14|3|4}} lengths

| 13

| Birdstone

| Edgar Prado

| Nicholas Zito

| 21.20

|{{frac|15|1|4}} lengths

| 18

| Tapit

| Ramon A. Dominguez

| Michael Dickinson

| 6.40

|{{frac|15|3|4}} lengths

| 12

| Borrego

| Victor Espinoza

| Beau Greely

| 14.20

|{{frac|16|1|4}} lengths

| 2

| Song of the Sword

| Norberto Arroyo Jr.

| Jennifer Pedersen

| 55.90

|{{frac|17|1|2}} lengths

| 8

| Master David

| Alex Solis

| Robert Frankel

| 10.60

|{{frac|18|1|2}} lengths

| 19

| Pro Prado

| John McKee

| Robert Holthus

| 53.50

|20 lengths

| 16

| Castledale

| Jose Valdivia Jr.

| Jeff Mullins

| 21.90

|{{frac|25|1|4}} lengths

| 6

| Friends Lake

| Richard Migliore

| John C. Kimmel

| 18.50

|{{frac|36|3|4}} lengths

| 7

| Minister Eric

| Pat Day

| Richard Mandella

| 22.50

|{{frac|37|1|4}} lengths

| 17

| Pollard's Vision

| John Velazquez

| Todd Pletcher

|24.00

|{{frac|40|3|4}} lengths

DNF

| 20

| Quintons Gold Rush

| Corey Nakatani

| Steve Asmussen

| 51.20

|{{ntsh|99}}--

Smarty Jones earnings included a $5 million racing series bonus

Track condition: Fast

Times: {{frac|1|4}} mile – 22.99; {{frac|1|2}} mile – 46.73; {{frac|3|4}} 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
width="58px" \| Program Number ! width="110px" \| Horse Name ! width="58px" \| Win ! width="58px" \| Place ! width="58px" \| Show
align=center\|15 \| Smarty Jones \| align=center\| $10.20 \| align=center\| $6.20 \| align=center\| $4.80
align=center\|3 \| Lion Heart \| align=center\| - \| align=center\| $8.20 \| align=center\| $5.80
align=center\|10 \| Imperialism \| align=center\| - \| align=center\| - \| align=center\| $6.20

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"

width="58px" | Program
Number

! width="110px" | Horse Name

! width="58px" | Win

! width="58px" | Place

! width="58px" | Show

align=center|15

| Smarty Jones

| align=center| $10.20

| align=center| $6.20

| align=center| $4.80

align=center|3

| Lion Heart

| align=center| -

| align=center| $8.20

| align=center| $5.80

align=center|10

| Imperialism

| align=center| -

| align=center| $6.20

$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[http://www.horse-races.net/library/derby04-results.htm 2004 Kentucky Derby Results, Horse-races.net]

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{{cite web |last1=Russo |first1=Nicole |title=Leading sires of 2016: Tapit continues to raise the bar |url=http://classic.drf.com/news/leading-sires-2016-tapit-continues-raise-bar |website=Daily Racing Form |access-date=9 May 2020 |language=en}}

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. Vandebilt, Vosburgh

Read the Footnotes

Rightly So – 2010 Ballerina Stakes

Sources: [http://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/ American Classic Pedigrees], [http://equibase.com Equibase], [https://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-register/ Blood-Horse Stallion Register], [https://www.racingpost.com/ Racing Post]