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Sunday, May 05, 2002

By The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- War Emblem returned big money to bettors who ventured a few bucks yesterday on No. 5 in the Kentucky Derby.

With a big field of 18 and no clear favorite, the $43 payoff on a $2 winning bet was among the 10 best returns since Churchill Downs started keeping records. The return on the 20-1 shot tied the amount paid for a winning bet on Bold Venture in 1936.

The payoffs rose astronomically for the exotic wagers. A $2 exacta on War Emblem and Proud Citizen meant $1,300.80. A trifecta, picking War Emblem, Proud Citizen and Perfect Drift in order, returned $18,373.20.

A superfecta, which included fourth-place Medaglia d'Oro, meant $91,764.50.

Owner Prince Ahmed Salman, a member of the royal family in Saudi Arabia, did not get to share in the wealth, at least from the betting windows.

"No, I'm not a gambler," he said.

The post-time favorite was Harlan's Holiday, the morning-line pick who made it to 6-1 among the moneyed masses in the fifth-largest crowd in Derby history. His seventh-place finish made him the latest Derby favorite to lose.

The less adventurous among the 145,033 sun-baked patrons got $22.80 on a place bet and $13.60 to show on War Emblem.

Place horse Proud Citizen paid $24.60 and $13.40. Perfect Drift was $6.40 to show.

In 1913, Donerail paid $184.90, a record for a $2 wager on a Derby winner. The second-highest payoff in the 128 years of the Derby was $123.60 on Stone Street in 1908, but it was an anomaly because that year a $5 minimum bet was required.

Gallahadion in 1940 provided the second-best payoff on a $2 bet -- $72.40.

Salman nevertheless profited handsomely from the win. His Thoroughbred Corp. bought War Emblem after his win in the Illinois Derby. The reported $1 million price was recouped and then some.

In addition to the $875,000 first-place purse from the Kentucky Derby, War Emblem got a $1 million bonus for winning the Illinois-Kentucky double.

"I thought the price was extremely reasonable," Salman said, dismissing any notion that he somehow bought his way into winner's circle. "Everybody buys the Derby."

A good investment

A Saudi prince with money to burn bought himself a horse last month. It was money well spent.

War Emblem led wire-to-wire to win the Kentucky Derby, earning Prince Ahmed Salman the gold trophy from America's most famous race.

"It's been my dream," Salman said. "I love you guys in America."

War Emblem won the Illinois Derby on April 6 in the same wire-to-wire style he used yesterday. Always on the lookout for a good horse to buy, Salman started placing calls.

He liked the colt's name and was further intrigued when War Emblem's trainer at the time, Frank Springer, said the Preakness Stakes was a better fit than the Kentucky Derby.

After doling out a reported $1 million, Salman became the owner of War Emblem. He sent the colt to Bob Baffert, who trained Point Given, Salman's fifth-place Derby horse last year.

Double scratch

The last time two or more Kentucky Derby starters were scratched was 1962.

Danthebluegrassman, a last-minute entry Wednesday, developed cramps after a jog and was knocked out yesterday morning, just hours before the race. Buddha, one of the favorites, was forced out Friday with a bruised foot.

"He's going to be fine. It's just a shame," said Bob Baffert, the trainer for Danthebluegrassman.

Late comers

Perfect Drift trainer Murray Johnson was more worried about getting his horse to the Kentucky Derby than he was about the actual race.

The Spiral Stakes winner had been training for six weeks at Trackside, a one-time harness track about five miles from Churchill Downs.

He stepped off a van early yesterday after a nerve-racking 15-minute drive for his trainer.

"I was kind of asking myself why I was following him," said Johnson, an Australian who runs a horse farm in Shepherdsville, Ky. "What was I going to do if something happened, throw myself under the van?"

Once the colt was settled in Barn 42, Johnson was looking for something to do to relax.

"I don't know, maybe I'll play golf or something," he said. "All my work is done."

Castle Gandolfo and Johannesburg arrived minutes later, wearing matching lavender saddlecloths. The Aidan O'Brien-trained twosome had been working at Keeneland, 70 miles away in Lexington. O'Brien did not attend the Derby.

Unlucky No. 17?

The scratch of Danthebluegrassman didn't help It'sallinthechase's chances of winning the Derby. It made them worse.

The Wilson Brown-trained entry moved from the No. 18 post into Danthebluegrassman's No. 17 post position -- one of two posts never to produce a Derby winner. Gato del Sol, the 1982 winner, is the only horse to win from the 18th spot.

The other winless position is No. 19, where Blue Burner started.

Saarland had the No. 16 post position, where two of the previous three winners had started.

Thunder Gulch became the first horse to win from the No. 16 post in 1995. Charismatic won from 16 in 1999, and Monarchos did it last year.

The No. 15 stall has produced two winners in the past six years. Grindstone in 1996 and Fusaichi Pegasus in 2001 were only the second and third horses to win from No. 15. Swale was the first in 1984.

Came Home had the No. 15 post this year.

Breakdown

Kings Command, a stakes-winning 6-year-old, broke down while racing in the backstretch, throwing jockey Alex Solis in the Churchill Downs Handicap.

Solis was uninjured.

Kings Command, a son of Montbrook, broke his front left foot and was euthanized.