The 2001 Kentucky Derby was the 127th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 5, 2001. There was a crowd of 154,210 in attendance. The 127th Kentucky Derby was the first to be broadcast on NBC, garnering a Nielsen rating of 8.1.
Field
In order to qualify, any horse that was to be nominated had to be three years old. An entry fee of $15,000 was levied against all nominations. Colts were not permitted to carry more than 126 pounds, and Fillies were not permitted to carry more than 121 pounds. A total of 441 horses were nominated to enter into the 2001 Kentucky Derby.
Monarchos, bumped by Point Given at the start and forced in on Jamaican Rum, was outrun for six furlongs, raced five or six wide, commenced a sweeping run five abreast on the second turn, came outa bit further entering the stretch, caught Congaree approaching the final sixteenth and drew clear under steady left-handed encouragement. Invisible Ink, unhurried to the far turn, moved up between foes approaching the stretch, angled outside the winner to secure room in the upper stretch, couldn't menace Monarchos, but closed with good determination to wear down Congaree for a second. Congaree, in hand early while tracking the leaders four or five wide, accelerated to the front about the five-sixteenths pole, and settled into the stretch with a clear advantage, showed the way into the final furlong but weakened gradually thereafter. Thunder Blitz, bumped at the start when Balto Star came out, was outrun to the far turn while along the inside, angled between rivals soon after while advancing, split foes approaching the final quarter, then improved position with a mild late run. Thunder Blitz returned bleeding from the mouth. Point Given broke to the inside bumping the winner, moved up steadily to gain a striking position five wide on the backstretch, made a threatening run on the second turn, then flattened out when straightened for the drive. Jamaican Rum, bumped at the start and squeezed back, was outrun for seven furlongs while racing well off the inside, leaned in while advancing six wide tightening it up on Dollar Bill at the three-eighths pole, then closed some ground while not a threat. A P Valentine, in behind rivals while unhurried into the backstretch, was checked when bumped by Talk Is Money at the half-mile ground, steadied between foes and was shuffled back at the three-eighths pole and rallied belatedly. Express tour settled in a striking position while near the inside between foes on the backstretch, and made a menacing run after angling out slightly on the second turn, then failed to sustain the needed momentum. Fifty Stars, outrun until the stretch while in behind rivals, angled out at the eighth pole but wasn't a factor. Startac failed to reach contention and was eight wide on the second turn and into the stretch. Millennium Wind, forwardly placed along the rail, was checked behind Songandaprayer, about the five-sixteenths pole and failed to threaten thereafter. Arctic Boy, squeezed a bit at the start, failed to threaten. Songandaprayer was hustled to the front along the rail soon after the start, and made the pace under pressure to the second turn, then tired from the effort. Balto Star forced the pace between rivals for seven furlongs and gave way. Dollar Bill, angled in behind horses soon after the start, eased out a bit on the backstretch, and was forced to take up sharply, lost his action at the three-eighths pole when in tight quarters and was finished. Keats pressed the leaders three wide to the far turn and gave way thereafter. Talk is Money exchanged bumps with A P Valentine leaving the half-mile ground, gave way soon after, was distanced before going a mile and eased through the stretch. A foul claim by the rider of Invisible Ink against the winner for alleged interference at the quarter-mile ground was disallowed.
