LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The 131st Kentucky Derby had all the ingredients for the biggest single-race payouts ever in horse-racing history
There was $103.3 million in the betting pool -- the first time more than $100 million was wagered on an individual North American race -- and ended with the second-biggest longshot in Derby lore, 50-to-1 Giacomo, and a 71-1 runner-up, Closing Argument.
The result was exacta, trifecta and superfecta payouts that still have people talking less than two days after Giacomo's stunning upset. With a $2 trifecta at $133,134.80 and a $1 superfecta at $864,253.50, they are believed to be the largest single-race payouts in U.S. parimutuel history. Giacomo paid $102.60 to win, and Closing Argument paid $70 to place.
"It was pretty much shock and awe when the numbers came up (on the television monitors)," said Mike Anania, the assistant manager at the Meadows off-track betting parlor in West Mifflin. "Everyone was looking around, saying 'Does anybody have it?'"
Anania, who "heard rumors" that someone at the West Mifflin OTB hit the Churchill Downs-record $9,814.80 exacta, said anyone with a winning ticket of more than $5,000 doesn't collect the money on the spot. The pari-mutuel track will cut the winner a check, with the 28 percent federal tax taken right off the top.
The 10-18-12 trifecta, even with second-choice Afleet Alex finishing third, was more jaw-dropping. It was more than double the track's biggest-ever trifecta, Derby Day or not.
Don't Get Mad, at 29 to 1, completed a superfecta that could have made someone an instant millionaire. The $1 ticket with the first four horses in exact order, 10-18-12-17, paid $622,263 after taxes. There were six $1 superfecta winners in the nation.
So, what was the trick to joining Afleet Alex on the superfecta ticket with a horse that was 0-5 since winning its only race (Giacomo), another one that lost its last race by nine lengths (Closing Argument) and a third horse which needed to win eight days ago just to get into the Derby (Don't Get Mad)?
Anania doubts it was anyone who spent the afternoon pouring over past performances and a program.
"It was probably from playing their kids' ages or birthdays," he said. "Just like the way they play the Daily number."
West is best
California got the last laugh after all.
Belittled all spring about how the West Coast shipped in a below average crop of 3-year-olds, the horsemen from Santa Anita and Hollywood gained some redemption when it counted.
Four California-based horses were among the top six finishers in the Kentucky Derby, including 50-to-1 winner Giacomo. Don't Get Mad, Buzzards Bay and Wilko crossed the line fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
"The California horses were beating each other, and some got hurt," Giacomo jockey Mike Smith said. "All along, I didn't pay that much attention to it."
Much of the criticism came after California's top horses ran slow times in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9.
Looking ahead
The top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby -- Giacomo, Closing Argument and Afleet Alex -- are expected to run in the 130th Preakness Stakes on May 21 at Pimlico.
The Baltimore, Md., track also announced that other probable starters from the Derby are Don't Get Mad (fourth), who would be running his third race in four weeks; Wilko (sixth), Flower Alley (ninth) and High Limit (20th). Horses that will be trying to become the first non-Derby starter since Red Bullet in 2000 include likely entries Malibu Moonshine, Scrappy T and Hal's Image.
D. Wayne Lukas, who has saddled a record 30 Preakness starters, is slated to bring either Going Wild (18th in the Derby) or A.P. Arrow (ninth in the Santa Anita Derby). The 13/16-mile Preakness is limited to 14 starters.
Nick Zito said Andromeda's Hero will not run in the Preakness. His other four Derby starters, including seventh-place Bellamy Road, are wait-and-see.
