# 2008 Kentucky Derby

The 2008 Kentucky Derby was the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 3, 2008, with 157,770 in attendance, the second largest in Derby history. Post time was 6:15 p.m. EDT and was televised in the United States on the NBC television network.
Big Brown won the race by nearly 5 lengths. Eight Belles, the second-place finisher and the first filly to run the Derby in nine years, was euthanized following the end of the race after fracturing both front ankles while galloping out. It is believed to be the first fatality in Kentucky Derby history.

## Payout
### The 134th Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule

| Program Number | Horse Name | Win | Place | Show |
| 20 | Big Brown | US$6.80 | $5.00 | $4.80 |
| 5 | Eight Belles | - | $10.60 | $6.40 |
| 16 | Denis of Cork | - | - | $11.60 |
* $2 Exacta (20-5) Paid $141.60
* $2 Trifecta (20-5-16) Paid $3,445.60
* $2 Superfecta (20-5-16-2) Paid $58,737.80

## Field

Big Brown was made the 2-1 favorite off the strength of his win in the Florida Derby. Other leading contenders included Colonel John (Santa Anita Derby), Pyro (Louisiana Derby), and the filly Eight Belles (Fantasy Stakes).
| Finished | Time/ Behind | Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Odds |
| 1 | -2:01.82 | 20 | Big Brown | Kent Desormeaux | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stables & Paul Pompa Jr. | 2-1 |
| 2 | 04 3⁄4 | 5 | Eight Belles | Gabriel Saez | Larry Jones | Fox Hill Farms, Inc. | 13-1 |
| 3 | 08 1⁄4 | 16 | Denis of Cork | Calvin Borel | David Carroll | Mr. & Mrs. William K. Warren Jr. | 27-1 |
| 4 | 11 | 2 | Tale of Ekati | Eibar Coa | Barclay Tagg | Charles E. Fipke | 37-1 |
| 5 | 11 3⁄4 | 18 | Recapturetheglory | E. T. Baird | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III & Ronald Lamarque | 49-1 |
| 6 | 14 1⁄4 | 10 | Colonel John | Corey Nakatani | Eoin G. Harty | WinStar Farm LLC | 9-2 |
| 7 | 15 | 3 | Anak Nakal | Rafael Bejarano | Nick Zito | Four Roses Thoroughbreds LLC | 53-1 |
| 8 | 15 | 9 | Pyro | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steve Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC | 5-1 |
| 9 | 15 3⁄4 | 17 | Cowboy Cal | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Stonerside Stable | 39-1 |
| 10 | 19 1⁄2 | 6 | Z Fortune | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | Zayat Stables, LLC | 19-1 |
| 11 | 21 | 12 | Smooth Air | Manoel Cruz | Bennie Stutts Jr. | Mount Joy Stables, Inc. | 42-1 |
| 12 | 22 3⁄4 | 8 | Visionaire | Jose Lezcano | Michael Matz | Team Valor & Vision Racing LLC | 25-1 |
| 13 | 24 1⁄4 | 4 | Court Vision | Garrett Gomez | William I. Mott | IEAH Stables & WinStar Farm LLC | 17-1 |
| 14 | 24 1⁄2 | 11 | Z Humor | René Douglas | William I. Mott | Zayat Stables, LLC | 63-1 |
| 15 | 31 3⁄4 | 1 | Cool Coal Man | Julien Leparoux | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 44-1 |
| 16 | 32 | 13 | Bob Black Jack | Richard Migliore | James Kasparoff | Jeff Harmon & Tim Kasparoff | 29-1 |
| 17 | 36 3⁄4 | 19 | Gayego | Mike E. Smith | Paulo Lobo | Cubanacan Stables | 18-1 |
| 18 | 48 3⁄4 | 7 | Big Truck | Javier Castellano | Barclay Tagg | Eric Fein | 28-1 |
| 19 | 50 3⁄4 | 15 | Adriano | Edgar Prado | Graham Motion | Courtlandt Farms | 28-1 |
| 20 | 59 1⁄4 | 14 | Monba | Ramon Domínguez | Todd Pletcher | Starlight, Lucarelli & Saylor | 31-1 |

## Subsequent Grade I wins

Several horses recorded Grade I wins after the Derby.
* Big Brown – Preakness Stakes, Haskell Invitational
* Bob Black Jack – Malibu Stakes
* Colonel John – Travers Stakes
* Court Vision – Hollywood Derby, 2009 Turf Mile Stakes, 2010 Breeders' Cup Mile, Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, Woodbine Mile
* Gayego – 2009 Ancient Title Stakes
* Pyro – 2009 Forego Stakes
* Tale of Ekati – Cigar Mile
* Visionaire – King's Bishop Stakes

## Subsequent breeding careers

Leading progeny of participants in the 2008 Kentucky Derby
Big Brown (1st)
* Dortmund – Los Alamitos Futurity, Santa Anita Derby. 3rd in 2015 Kentucky Derby
Colonel John (6th)
* La Coronel – Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Stakes
Court Vision (13th)
* Storm the Court – 2019 American champion 3yo, Breeders' Cup Juvenile
* Mr. Havercamp – 2018 Canadian champion older horse
* King and His Court – 2016 Canadian champion 2yo
Tale of Ekati (4th)
* Girvin – Haskell Invitational
Sources: American Classic Pedigrees, Equibase, Blood-Horse Stallion Register