Horse’s race surprise winner 138th Kentucky Derby

Canadian-owned I’ll Have Another was the surprise winner of the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

I'll have another, purchased for $35,000 last year, proved to be worth infinitely more in staging a dramatic rally to overtake Bodemeister for a 1½-length victory Saturday in the 138th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Mexican jockey Mario Gutierrez, who plied his trade at Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse after moving north from Veracruz, guided the three-year-old colt owned by Paul Reddam of Windsor, Ont., to an official winning time of two minutes 1.83 seconds. 

The colt, named for owner J. Paul Reddam's typical response when his wife puts out cookies, will be toasted as the first 3-year-old to prevail after breaking from far outside in post 19 in a full field of 20.

Bodemeister, a 4-1 favourite who led for much of the race until being overtaken in the final stretch, finished second, while Dullahan was third in front of a Derby-record crowd of 165,307.

“He is so focused,” Gutierrez said earlier this week about I’ll Have Another, whose odds of winning were 15-1. “He loves to race. He’ll give you 100 per cent every time you ask him.”

Mario Gutierrez celebrates Stop I'll Have Another after winning the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby ahead of Bodemeister ridden by Mike Smith at Churchill Downs on May 5, 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Gutierrez pulled off a stunning upset victory at the Santa Anita Derby near Los Angeles on April 7, earning his ticket to ride in the Kentucky Derby.

I'll Have another was masterfully ridden by Mario Gutierrez, 25, of Veracruz, Mexico. He was Canada's leading apprentice jockey before coming to the USA in 2005. He soon

"Perfect trip," winning rider John Velazquez said. "Everything worked out great. I asked her and she responded. She had a quick spurt when I had her out in the stretch and that was really nice."

Winning trainer Shug McGaughey said he "will enjoy stretching her out when the time comes. I'll see how she comes out of it."

Great Attack raced near the back of the pack early in the $125,000, Grade III Twin Spires Turf Sprint, found room between horses turning for home and was up on the outside to beat the favorite, Bridgetown, by 3/4 of a length.

Cactus Son finished third. Great Attack, a 5-year-old son of Greatness, covered the 5 furlongs on firm turf in 56.61 seconds under Joel Rosario. Great Attack finished fourth in last fall's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and most recently was sixth in the Grade III Shakertown at Keeneland.

"He's a very special sprinter," winning trainer Wesley Ward said. "I told Joel the instructions were to be 'a cool sitter and a go-getter,' and that's what he did, boy."

Ward said he has not yet picked out Great Attack's next race.