Everyone expected a two-horse race in the $2,000.000 Grade I BC Juvenile at CD, and what they got was just that, a two-horse photo. However, very few would have expected the horses in the picture and fewer less would have anticipated the winner, as Diablo Diablos Copper Bottom came home a head in front of Eastern Equines favoured Righteous which was a three-quarters in front of Nynl Stables long shot Champion Instincts which came home third a head in front of Captinjs determined Pan A Ram.

When the gates opened the first and second place finishers came out in that same position, as so often happens here. After an eight of a mile, Copper Bottom took over the lead and Righteous dropped back to second while Jerry Garcia Racings Condottieri unexpectedly trailed the field. Pan Farms Byaneck was in third dueling with Mass Hysterias Laffin Paratooper and Riggins Racings Champion Prospector while Pan A Ram was on the outside eyeing the lead.

By the half pole Pan A Ram had taken over the task of pace-setting and Copper Bottom was working the rail in second. Champion Prospector was still pressing those two, but starting to fade. Copper Bottom was on the rail in a group vying for fourth and the expected challenger Condottieri was still trailing. Into the far turn and Pan A Ram still gamely showed the way to Copper Bottom while Champion Instincts was making a move that would take him to second before the run for the wire.

When they turned into the lane, Copper Bottom had taken the lead and was dueling with Champion Instincts and Pan A Ram which were both still debating the issue. Righteous was making his move along the rail two lengths off the leader. Condottieri was on the outside only a head behind his expected foe. From there to the wire Righteous made a consistent drive at the Copper Bottom that fell a head short. Both Champion Instincts and Pan A Ram continued to drive gamely to the wire to finish in a photo barely a length behind the first two. For all the effort and wide swing into the stretch Condottieri managed a financially disappointing fifth.

Now we sit back and watch to see if Copper Bottom will defy the odds, curse if you might, against being a winner on Derby day. No BC Juvenile winner has ever gone on to win the KY Derby. This was the fourth win in seven starts for this BC Juvenile winner. He was a surprise, but not that big a surprise. In fact, he was this reporters third choice after the expected two-horse battle. The winning time was, not surprisingly, the fastest in the history of the race. 2004s winner, Commander Phil, did better in the Derby than any other Juvenile winner, but his win was a romping seven-length affair, so it remains to be seen if Copper Bottom can come close to repeating that sort of effort. For Righteous, this was his first loss in six tries. He has a record that is more along the line of the sort of performance we see leading to success in the Derby and beyond. This race could almost be seen as good as a win for him as he was closing with every step toward the wire.

Time: :23 :46² 1:10⁴ 1:42¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta:10 - 6 Paid 78.50
$1 Trifecta: 10 - 6 - 11 Paid 2,200.70