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CNN Sunday Morning

Chavez Rides Monarchos to Kentucky Derby Win

Aired May 06, 2001 - 07:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, from a bunch of winners to a single winner, the Brown Beauty Monarchos posted the second fastest time in Kentucky Derby history yesterday at the 127th running in Louisville.

Our story now from CNN's John Giannone.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN GIANNONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Monarchos is the name of a 17th century Byzantine ruler, but on Saturday at Churchill Downs, Monarchos the horse ruled the roost.

(voice-over): Monarchos, the surprise winner of the 127th Kentucky Derby and the second-fastest winning time in the race's history, only a half second behind the great Secretariat's run from 1973. The jockey, Jorge Chavez, running a race remarkably similar to his Florida Derby win, when he went six wide and came back from 11th place. He's affectionately known as "Chop Chop" among his fellow jockeys because of his love for the use of the whip, but he didn't really need the whip on Saturday, more like patience.

JORGE CHAVEZ, MONARCHOS JOCKEY: Well, patience sometimes works good and sometime it's, you know, if you're going a little bit too much, sometimes don't work. And sometimes you got to get the feeling, sometimes you got to know in the right moment. And this time I guess was a -- you know, the fast -- the speed the horse was going in the lead and was fast-fraction that helped me a lot. And what I knew, I knew I got a lot of horse because the horse got to stop. And my horse come from behind and I know he was coming right there.

GIANNONE (on camera): And since taking over the reigns on Monarchos a little over a year ago, Chavez has led the horse to four wins and a second place finish.

So many people wondering what happened to Point Given, the prohibitive favorite with so much Triple Crown potential. He finished fifth and literally couldn't take the heat. His jockey saying afterwards -- Gary Stevens saying he couldn't stand the 83 degree temperatures.

For Headline News, reporting from Churchill Downs in Louisville, I'm John Giannone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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