By: Aubrie Green
In recent years, the most prestigious Thoroughbred race in the United States, the Kentucky Derby, has been plagued with controversial scenarios, and this year’s 150th Run for the Roses did not stray from that trend. Immediately following the official call, social media was bombarded with opinions about the stretch run, which resulted in an exhilarating photo finish between Mystic Dan, Sierra Leone, and Forever Young. After sitting snugly on the rail behind the hot paced leaders, Brian Hernandez Jr., confidently guided Mystic Dann through an almost non-existent hole inside Track Phantom nearing the quarter pole, advancing to the lead. Mystic Dan did not go uncontended to his victory down the stretch as a persistently lugging in Sierra Leone and a determined Forever Young battled on the outside attempting to catch the new leader. The circumstances of controversy prevented either of these resilient mounts from reaching the wire first, and Mystic Dan could not be denied.
One thing is clear: these three warriors are extraordinarily talented athletes who, by all rights, deserved a win in yesterday’s race. What is not clear is why there was no claim of foul, and no steward’s inquiry of the stretch run. Sierra Leone missed the victory by an extremely short nose, followed by a short head miss for second by Forever Young. Arguably, either of these runner-up finishers could have collected the roses, had their stretch runs gone unhindered.
Sierra Leone is notorious for lugging in, having done so in all four of his previous starts; however, in the most important race of his career, he lugged in so incessantly that he interfered with the foe to his inside. Initial contact was made just yards past the quarter pole as the two mounts turned for home, advancing with every stride. Aboard Sierra Leone, Tyler Gaffalione struggled to correct his mount. Meanwhile Forever Young’s rider, Ryusei Sakai held strong as he tried to push back. For 3/16th of a mile, the two mounts continuously bumped one another, hindering either’s ability to catch Mystic Dan.
Despite the extraordinary amount of contact in the stretch run, no claim of foul was lodged by either jockey involved, and no inquiry was instated. Race fans took to social media to vent their opinions on the race, many attacking Gaffalione’s ride, calling it “dirty”, “bush-track race-riding”, and even more offensive terms.
A photo of Gaffalione with his left arm outstretched and contacting Forever Young’s neck has brought out a slew of criticism from fans, arguing that he struck his fellow rider’s mount with his whip, or that he pulled Forever Young back by grabbing his rein. The close-up head-on views of the replay clearly show neither of those acts. What it did show is Tyler aggressively pulling his right rein while urging his horse forward in his attempt to achieve two things: to win the race, and to avoid catastrophe.
Sierra Leone and Forever Young, bump down the stretch of the 2024 Kentucky Derby
Photo Credit: Carson Blevins
Many argue that he should have stopped riding and simply steered, but what is not understood by inexperienced riders or by the public is that in this scenario, were Gaffalione to stop riding and only steer to correct, his retreat (coupled with the relentlessly lugging in of his mount) could inadvertently bring him over the heels of his rival. Forward motion was truly the safest option given the circumstances. In the final frame just before the wire, Gaffalione, likely tiring from trying to correct his mount, reaches over and pushes off Forever Young’s neck, either to correct his own balance as he struggles to hold the heavy-headed Sierra Leone out, or as a last-ditch attempt to get his mount off of his foe, or both. Regardless, Gaffalione’s ride was as professional as they come.
Others jumped on Sakai for “falling apart in the final yards”, or for steering his horse back into Sierra Leone, or for whipping left-handed while bearing out. All credit is due to Sakai for attempting to keep his outer foe from continuously pushing him down towards the rail, another dangerous move that could have ended disastrously. If Sakai doesn’t ride aggressively (again to continue forward motion), and allows Sierra Leone to herd him down, he risks not only losing position, but also being driven into Mystic Dan.
There were, undoubtedly, a plethora of factors that affected the outcome of this race; but from a jockey’s perspective the only controversy here should be the lack of steward’s inquiry.
As an experienced rider, I credit both jockeys for their strength, agility, and determination through this stretch run. As far as Tyler Gaffalione’s ride, he made every attempt to correct his horse, and his fellow rider Ryusei Sakai did the same.
