Pleasant_Colony_1981_Kentucky

Pleasant Colony - winner 1981 Kentucky Derby

Racing silks of Buckland Farm which was owned by Thomas Mellon Evans, Sr.

His Majesty, sire of Pleasant Colony.
Sun Colony was the dam of Pleasant Colony (photo not available).

Pleasant Colony in training at the Aiken Training Track.

Pleasant Colony with trainer, John Campo.

Pleasant Colony headed to the wire and a win.

Finish line photo courtesy of Churchill Downs.

Pleasant Colony drawing, artist unknown.

Race Comments: PLEASANT COLONY, taken in reserve leaving the gate and then patiently and well ridden, was under good control by the jockey while rapidly working into contention through the field on the final turn and settled outside the leaders for the drive at the head of the stretch. He raced past PARTEZ with authority with Velasquez using the whip four times left-handed and once on the right, and was ridden out by hand to hold WOODCHOPPER safe. WOODCHOPPER, also held in reserve the first half-mile, lost ground advancing outside horses and closed resolutely from the top of the stretch to be gradually increasing his advantage over the others. PARTEZ, reserved just off the first flight for a half-mile, reached the front between colts in the early stretch but offered no resistance to the winner, relaxed when Hawley misjudged the finish line and rose in the irons at the sixteenth pole as he was relinquishing second to WOODCHOPPER, then finished evenly with the jockey riding him out the final yards. CLASSIC GO GO, another reserved off of the fast early pace, advanced steadily on the final turn and into the last furlong, then washanging at the end. TELEVISION STUDIO, last from the gate and well back into the far turn, lost ground circling horses and finished determinedly near the center of the track. PASS THE TAB briefly appeared threatening on the stretch turn and tired. SPLENDID SPRUCE raced on the inside and lacked a closing response. FLYING NASHUA was in traffic most of the race and lacked a rally. NOBLE NASHUA did not threaten. BOLD EGO was lightly rated with a fast early pace, responded to take command on the stretch turn but had little left the final quarter-mile. DOUBLE SONIC made up ground the last quarter-mile without threatening. HOEDOWN'S DAY tired. BEAU RIT was wide early. TAP SHOES was in close traffic at the first turn. CURE THE BLUES was kept wide and tired. WELL DECORATED was a factor for a mile andfaltered. MYTHICAL RULER was extremely wide. PROUD APPEAL bid for the lead along the rail in the backstretch and stopped. TOP AVENGER was used up with the fast early pace. HABANO was used up early. GOLDEN DERBY was shuffled back along the rail at the first turn, recovered to race forwardly placed but stopped in the drive.