[tense music playing]
[ambulance siren wailing in distance]
[newscaster] It was just after 12:30 when the plane took off
from a grass strip at Newmarket.
And seconds later, it came down.
[music turns dramatic]
The pilot was trapped inside the wreckage.
Dettori somehow scrambled free.
-[indistinct chatter] -[camera shutters clicking]
You know, I stared death in the face.
Beyond scary.
Everybody who's been in those kinds of accidents
say you see your life flashing in front of you.
I thought, "My God, I was just married."
I had a six-month-old baby.
I nearly lost my life.
In May 2000, I rode my only Kentucky Derby.
And then my life changed.
I was in a trauma. I was depressed.
I was thinking of quitting.
People telling me I wasn't the same.
But the love that we have for this sport
overcomes the fear.
[whooshing]
-[hose neighs in distance] -[dramatic sting]
Twenty-four years later, I am back to where I started.
Hoping to have a shout in the Kentucky Derby.
I've been there once. I finished sixth.
And now that America is my new home,
my main goal is try to get to Churchill Downs
for the first Saturday in May.
In Europe, I've done everything. I've won everything more than once.
If I win the Kentucky Derby,
it'll be as big a win that I will ever have in my life.
And I will keep on trying until I succeed.
[intriguing music ends]
[twangy guitar music playing]
-[Jamie] Wanna have a pony race? -[child] Yes!
[Jamie] Okay, how about we have a pony race up the hill?
Put your feet forward.
Stand up like a jockey. Grab mane.
Come on. [clicks tongue]
Come on, Timmy. Stand up.
Good job!
Buddy is really ready, Ben. Ben!
Good!
Man, Ben, what's your pony's name?
Mystik Dan?
[pony snorts]
[Brian Hernandez Jr.] You can ride him by yourself. Can you follow me? Okay
He grew up, you know, doing this.
He followed his dad's footsteps in being a jockey,
and his grandfather owned Thoroughbreds.
[playful music playing]
[Brian] Growing up in Louisiana watching my dad ride,
it was always a dream to be a jockey.
[country music playing]
I got to watch him gallop horses all morning
and then go to the races in the afternoons.
You grow up idolizing your dad, so,
to be able to see him compete was one of those things you're like,
"This is the coolest job in the world. I really wanna do this."
I rode with him for the first six months of my career.
Then, once I graduated high school,
the very next day,
Dad loaded up the truck, and he drove me here to Louisville.
[music ends]
I was up here as a 19-year-old kid,
bouncing around, just trying to make things go,
and hoping and praying that, you know, you get that big break.
[string music playing]
Right before Jamie and I got married back in 2011,
I was struggling career-wise,
and it looked like we were going to have to pack up and move back to Louisiana.
And then, in 2012, I won the Breeders' Cup Classic.
[bell rings]
[announcer] They're off in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
[Brian] Everything changed.
[announcer] Fort Larned with the heart of a champion!
[announcer 2] What about that? Happy birthday, Brian Hernandez.
[interviewer] It's your first Breeders' Cup win. What's this mean to you?
The prestige of winning this race in front of the world is unbelievable.
[triumphant sting]
After the race, I started riding for Kenny.
[announcer 3] Rattle N Roll, Brian Hernandez!
[Brian] I rode the first couple, and they started winning,
and from there it just kind of snowballed into, uh, riding more and more for him.
[announcer 3] Brian Hernandez Jr.
We both kind of have the same mindset of just keep things simple.
Don't overthink things. Just kind of go with the flow.
[upbeat music playing]
It's been a fun working relationship,
and, uh, we've been pretty successful at it. [chuckles]
[music ends]
I'm Kenny McPeek.
I'm a Thoroughbred horse trainer in central Kentucky.
[stern string music playing]
Brian Hernandez has ridden for me nearly a decade.
I think what sets him apart is he naturally understands
what he needs to do.
I think that's the difference in a good and a great rider.
[Brian] My first impressions of Kenny were he's just larger than life
and really, really dedicated, you know? He's…
He lives and breathes horse racing.
[Kenny McPeek] I think trainers and jockeys working together,
you have to have… I guess you could use the word "synchronicity."
And with Brian Hernandez,
we've been just an uncomplicated, steady team.
[horse grunts]
But it's not always that way with jockeys and trainers.
When you've got a team like that,
it does make the difference between you going from one level to the next.
[panting]
-[producer] How's Kenny doing? -He's good.
I went over, and I worked a horse for him this morning.
You know, he's like everyone else. Just excited for the Arkansas Derby.
We think we're going in there with big chances.
[twangy guitar music playing]
[Kenny] When you go to a particular race,
there are a lot of factors that go into the decision-making.
This year, it was a no-brainer.
The Arkansas Derby
is a very important race for the ownership groups.
So you make those decisions with each horse individually.
It's a tough race.
It's probably one of the toughest Derby preps that we've seen yet.
[music ends]
This is Magdalena Farm.
We base our racing operations here at Magdalena.
[guitar music playing]
These barns are approaching 100 years old.
I almost forgot Sunny. Come on!
Come on! Come on!
[laughs heartily]
When I was young, I had no intentions of training horses.
I started out just helping my father
dig out of a financial situation that he was in,
and I won my first race in 1985.
And I think I made $180 as the winning trainer.
And I remember saying, "Oh, wow, that was a lot of fun."
"I'd like to do that again."
[music fades]
Ten years later, I was in my first Kentucky Derby.
-[whooshing] -[horse neighs]
I had my first Kentucky Derby horse, Tejano Run, in 1995.
I was 32 years old.
[soft country music playing]
Having grown up in Kentucky,
the Derby, it's part of me.
It's part of our culture.
[announcer] Here comes Tejano Run.
And in the middle of the racetrack, it's Eltish, along with Jumron.
It's Thunder Gulch!
Lukas wins it!
[Kenny] The horse ran well, and he was just second best.
Since then,
I've been fortunate enough to participate in the Kentucky Derby
eight other times.
But that's the closest I've ever been.
[music ends]
After you're done doing that, bring him to the walking ring.
-Okay. -[Kenny] All right. Thanks, Luis.
This is the arena barn.
During the winter, it's kind of cozy in here.
You can't make a horse win the Kentucky Derby.
That's the difficult part about it.
All right, girl.
She's like she doesn't know Sonny.
I accepted years back
that it's not a… a race that you can predict.
Mm?
Who is that?
If I were to win the Kentucky Derby,
my legacy, I think, would be different.
I would still feel very content in the job I've done,
but you'd like to be able to say, "Yes, I've won the Kentucky Derby."
Come on. Get in here. All right.
As you can see, we've got some nice mementos.
There's a lot of great memories on this wall, and there's more to be made.
[soft music playing]
If we can run well on the Arkansas Derby,
it's gonna give us a chance to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
And that's really the most important thing.
[dog growls playfully]
Get in the truck. Let's go.
Up. There you go.
Honey.
Look what I got.
Chicken. Chicken. My favorite, right?
[Catherine Dettori] You couldn't buy smaller portions?
We can survive with this for a week.
I don't think our chickens in England are this big.
They must be on steroids.
I think we can feed, uh, about eight people with this tonight,
but there's only me and you.
You know, one thing I forgot to get is some basil.
[Catherine] A bagel?
-[Frankie Dettori] Bay-sil. [Catherine] Oh.
[Frankie] As they call it in America. We call it bah-sil.
Stop turning all American. You haven't been here that long.
[Frankie] Somebody told me off the other day. He says, "I'm in the elevator."
-"You mean a lift." A lift, yeah. -The lift, yeah.
[Frankie] I'm enjoying the California lifestyle.
I really love it. You've got beautiful sunshine.
Healthy eating, plenty of yoga.
Fantastic. It's been an eye-opener, as they say.
Anyway, I've got to tell you something.
And?
-Bob Baffert rang me. -Yeah?
He asked me to ride in the Santa Anita Derby.
You know, he's a legend.
He's won eight Kentucky Derbies.
We've been here since December,
so to get a call from him… I mean, honestly.
He's gonna be good PR for us.
You know, he's the best trainer out there, and…
And hopefully as well, we're not just here for a year.
Yeah, exactly. I'll be honest with you. I'm super excited.
-You did right. -Good. Thank you, love.
Baffert is one of the best trainers in the country. Everybody knows about him.
Obviously, he's the king of the Kentucky Derby.
He's won it eight times. So, uh, I'm very happy.
I know he can't participate in the Kentucky Derby this year,
but that doesn't mean I'm not going to get a ride, so you never know.
I suppose the thing is, it's not just about the Derby.
There is the Preakness. There is the rest of the Triple Crown.
[Frankie] Yes.
100%. Because if I can land one of them,
you can't get any better than that.
[Catherine] The Triple Crown, obviously, is the greatest achievement
in American racing.
Why not set your sights at the top, you know?
If you're gonna be here in America, you've got to try for it.
Bob Baffert is the king here in the West Coast. Is that correct?
100%. So imagine being asked to ride for him.
I mean, he's won eight Kentucky Derbies,
so for him to put trust on us to ride for the future is… is amazing.
Anyway, let's have a little toast to, um, our new adventure
and Bob Baffert to give us the ride.
-Fingers crossed, eh? -Fingers crossed.
[slow country music playing]
[Kenny] Training a Thoroughbred, it's not easy.
The day starts typically before 5:00 a.m.,
and then it takes years of hard work and dedication.
My wife makes fun of me. She calls me "Lutron Kenny." [chuckles]
Because I can turn off all the lights with one button.
Maybe too many lights, right?
I like the adventure of racing.
You know, finding a good horse, and to win a big race at a big place.
You know. A good horse will take you all over the world.
The hard part's finding a top horse.
[music continues]
-How are you? [chuckles] -[woman] I'm doing good.
[Kenny] Training a Thoroughbred racehorse is a very slow,
long process.
It starts with teaching a young horse
how to handle a rider on their back.
You have to build up the muscle,
and you have to build up the confidence with a horse and a rider.
This is a horse named Dennington. He's made about a half a million.
This guy ran second yesterday. Great name.
Count Dracula.
And then once a horse gets to a level
that they get really fit, and they can really handle things,
you can start seeing separation.
The horses that are really good, and the horses that struggle.
Mystik Dan.
[guitar music playing]
Mystik Dan's high-level talent.
The upside on him's way, way high.
And he's young. He's lightly raced.
And he's wicked fast.
All right.
Not a big horse.
Just actually small. Yeah.
The key to winning big races is having great horses with great talent,
and a team of people and a jockey that can help get him there.
A horse is the most important thing,
but the team has to be in sync.
This is a training board.
It looks like hieroglyphics, but it's pretty simple to us.
Horses galloping, race dates,
what set they're in, which rider.
Everything's choreographed, start to finish.
-[indistinct chatter] -[horse snorts]
[Kenny] Dave, you'll be on the inside.
Your filly needs a nice, strong workout.
Donnie, you're on the inside, five eighths.
[indistinct chatter]
[music fades]
That's Mystik Dan.
[horses clopping]
He just passed the wire right over there.
If Mystik Dan runs back to his race in the Southwest,
he's got a huge chance to win the Arkansas Derby.
[announcer] Here comes Mystik Dan right up the rail, though,
with a rail-skimming ride by Brian Hernandez Jr.
And Mystik Dan is turning it on
in a huge effort for the Kenny McPeek barn.
Mystik Dan, five, six ahead,
and he wins, wrapped up a dominant win in the Southwest.
[man] Is Mystik Dan ready for a repeat?
[Kenny] Yeah, he's doing good.
When he turns it on, he's gone.
[twangy guitar music playing]
[Annie McPeek] Are we having steak for dinner?
[Kenny] Steak for dinner.
[Annie] Maisie, come on!
Come on, Maisie!
Maisie, come on!
[producer] It's a shame you couldn't find a place that was closer to the racetrack.
[Kenny] Isn't it convenient?
So it's funny. Like, that deck up there.
Great shot. You can watch a race.
But, um, we're all usually over there, so we don't
get to hang out up there too much.
[soft music playing]
I feel good about tomorrow. I think my horse is doing super.
And we've got every bit of a chance as anybody else.
Is Mystik Dan the favorite tomorrow?
[Kenny] He's actually third choice, but there's three horses
that are… that are kind of lukewarm favorites. They're kind of all even.
From here on, it's kind of out of my control, so…
You know, now it's up to Brian and a higher power to take over.
And he has to do three…
You think third or better to get enough points to get in?
[Kenny] Yeah, he needs to run third or better.
But, um, my biggest fear is that he has a rough trip,
and gets… he doesn't end up getting enough points,
which might pu… push us to the Preakness,
which is not a terrible race to win either.
[Sherri McPeek] What do you think you'll put him in next?
Whatever's right for the horse. If the…
If the Arkansas Derby is a great race for him,
and he punches his ticket to Kentucky, then we're going.
Chin-chin.
-[Sherri] Chin-chin. -[man] Hear! Hear!
[pleasant music playing]
[whooshing]
-[Frankie, in Italian] How are you guys? -[Antonio Fresu, in Italian] Finally.
[in Italian] I ordered wine for you.
[Frankie] Thanks.
You're dressed for Kentucky?
[Antonio, in English] So, tell me something.
How you feel yourself back in the ocean?
[all chuckle]
It's all good. It's all good.
-Do you miss it? -I do miss it.
Yes, I do.
It's nice to see other Italian jockeys.
They're good friends off the track, but they are super, super competitive
when they're on the track, and, uh, I respect that.
[Antonio] What's Catherine think about America?
[Frankie] She likes it. I mean, it's… it's all new.
-She's traveling with you everywhere? -Yeah, I mean…
She finds, uh, moving around a bit stressful.
You know, with the suitcases. Every week we're moving.
We never know where we're living. That's the problem.
[Antonio] Always moving. Feel like…
-Kind of like a gypsy. -[all chuckle]
[Frankie] My first year in America.
I am a little bit on the back foot.
I need to prove
that I'm equally as good in America than I was in Europe.
And it'd be no better ticket by winning the Santa Anita Derby.
Are you riding tomorrow?
[Antonio] I got Stronghold for Phil, uh,
that we won the Sunland Derby in New Mexico.
It's… He's good. He's improving.
[Umberto Rispoli] I got a long shot, so I gonna… I gonna shoot it for you.
[all chuckle]
[Antonio] I can beat you.
-I know you have a good one. -Really? Mine is favorite.
I can beat you. Ah…
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
I've been abroad all my life, so these guys that come out of Italy,
they call me Zio. That means uncle.
So it's double pressure for me,
because I try to win for myself, but, you know, I don't want to let people down.
That's a nice haircut.
-You like it? -Yeah. Beautiful.
[server] Chicken for you, monsieur.
-[server 2] Salade niçoise. -Thank you.
-There is something wrong on him. -Merci.
I always dreamed to ride against Frankie
and beat Frankie one day.
It's for me a privilege sharing the locker room.
I will take every single moment, and I enjoy it.
If somebody will tell me this was a script,
and we're gonna spend time together, I would never believe it. Never.
[Frankie] You know, one thing that I'm amazed
when I came to America.
The size of the plates. [chuckling] Look at the size of that.
-They don't know the jockey portion. -Yeah, yeah.
[all chuckle]
[Antonio] I'm gonna come for the Santa Anita Derby.
What's your plan, go back east?
-[Frankie] Probably go to Keeneland. -[Antonio] Mm-hm.
And try to look for a ride for the big race,
because, you know, Bob this year is not allowed to race in the Kentucky Derby.
The Santa Anita Derby day
is probably the biggest race
that has come so far,
so, uh, if I can do well,
it's a stepping stone for the Kentucky Derby.
One more reason to beat you.
Because my horse can go in the Kentucky Derby.
Really?
-And I really wanna go. -[all chuckle]
Whoever thought.
I met you in Italy, and then Dubai.
I knew your father before you were even born,
and here we are, all three of us.
Now we've got a chance to ride in the Kentucky Derby.
How crazy is that?
[whooshing]
[resolute music playing]
[whooshing]
[announcer] This is one of those days you wake up
just happy to be a horse racing fan.
[announcer 2] Yes. They love their racing here in Hot Springs,
and we love being in this town each and every day.
[announcer] More than 60,000 expected.
They're here to see who qualifies for next month's Kentucky Derby.
[Kenny] Today's a big day. I've got several horses in the races.
The most important one's Mystik Dan in the Arkansas Derby.
We know we've got a fantastic horse,
and, uh, you know, at this point, it's in Brian Hernandez's hands.
[Brian] Right before the race, you're going over the last bits of homework.
You don't want to go into those races blindly.
So much stuff happens so quickly that you want a game plan going into it.
[announcer] And now here we are in the first of 13 races
on this Arkansas Derby Saturday.
[Sherri] Okay, Ann. Here we go.
Kenny's pretty much himself on race day.
But this morning, he went to the racetrack, checked on the horses,
went to the tire place, checked on the tires,
oh, and he stopped and got vinegar for me so we could do the Easter eggs.
All of it before nine o'clock. [chuckles]
[whooshing]
[gates clank open]
[announcer 3] We're off and running on Arkansas Derby Day.
-[Annie] Which one are we? -Seven.
Oh! There she comes.
[announcer 3] …just inside gets there.
Escapologist wins it for the…
She rallied. Yeah! We won. [laughs]
[whooshing]
[expectant music playing]
[man] Can I get a picture with you?
[Kenny] I'm superstitious. I'll say this. If we win the race, you're coming with us.
[man] All right! [laughs]
I'm focusing. I'm focusing with you.
-[bell rings] -[announcer] And we're off.
Brownstone back in the fifth position with Gould's Gold.
These two better than Handsome Herb, the slow starter.
-Gould's Gold making a race of it. -[Sherri] Come on!
[announcer] Gould's Gold alongside.
-Come on, Brian! -[announcer] Gould's Gold got there.
-Yes! Whoo! -[Kenny laughs]
[cheering]
[Sherri] Good job, Brian.
[indistinct chatter]
Thank you.
[announcer] And they're off.
Under the Palms on the outside, derring-do engaged.
Under the Palms with a head lead, Bonaqua second.
Go on, Brian! Come on, Brian!
[announcer] Under the Palms, Kenny McPeek.
Brian Hernandez Jr. with a hat trick.
-Whoo! Good job. -[Annie] We won a second time!
[Sherri laughs]
[announcer 2] They're unstoppable today. Under the Palms,
an 18-to-one shocker in the fifth at Oaklawn.
[Kenny] Nice.
[guitar music playing]
Hey, congratulations, boss.
[cheering]
[Kenny laughs]
[Sherri] Oh! A hundred Oaklawn wins. That's awesome.
-Congratulations. -Thank you.
[upbeat music playing]
[clanging loudly]
[announcer 3] I'm not betting against that team of Hernandez and McPeek right now.
[Kenny] I hope we didn't use all our luck out there.
[expectant music playing]
-Congrats, sir. -Thanks, man.
Big party at the house tonight. Coming by?
-I'm in bed before you guys get warmed up. -We'll come to your house.
No!
[all laughing]
[Kenny] Wayne Lukas is a living legend.
Uh, Wayne and I always banter back and forth.
He always reminds me of how many big races he's won,
and some of the ones that I haven't won.
But that's okay. I'll get my share one day.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, the Grade II $750,000 Fantasy Stakes
for three-year-old fillies coming up next.
[announcer 2] Kenny McPeek having a good day.
They send out the number 12, Thorpedo Anna.
She might be a force to be reckoned with.
[Kenny] I'm extremely confident with Thorpedo Anna.
If she wins today, and I fully expect her to,
she's gonna win the Kentucky Oaks.
The Kentucky Oaks is the most important race
for a three-year-old filly.
It is the female version of the Kentucky Derby.
[announcer 2] She is amped. Look at her.
She has been that way since she hit the paddock.
[Billy Koch] Obviously, the most prestigious race for fillies in America.
All this is kind of making her nervous.
Get her on the racetrack and get her calmed down a bit.
[horse snorts]
[music continues]
[Kenny] She's really nervous.
-[announcer 3] We're ready to go. -[bell rings]
And they're off.
Thorpedo Anna, fresh off a layoff, moving up to come and challenge.
Come on, Thorpedo. Come on, girl.
[announcer 3] …a half length in front. Candy Aisle pressing…
Let's go, Brian!
[announcer 3] Thorpedo Anna with a good trip third. Ba Dee Yah inside of her.
Come on, Brian! Come on!
[announcer 3] Recharge has company. Thorpedo Anna in the three path…
Go, Thorpedo! Go!
[announcer 3] Thorpedo Anna off the turn.
West Omaha all in second.
Recharge done.
Candy Aisle weak. Thorpedo Anna is back in business.
Yes! Take it! Take it!
[announcer 3] She is a dominant winner of the Fantasy Kentucky Oaks. You bet!
-Win number four on the afternoon. -Yeah! Whoo!
[announcer 3] Kenny McPeek.
Brian Hernandez.
[Kenny] Told you you're on the best horse. [laughs]
[Sherri laughs]
Can I wear it? Can I wear it?
-Yeah. Put it on. -Here.
I've got another race. I gotta keep me clean. I don't know.
[string music playing]
Okay.
[Sherri] I forgot about my purse, Josie. Thank you.
Hey, the owner that comes keeps the trophy.
-[Sherri] That's right. -[laughs]
You have had a phenomenal day, sir.
As has your jockey, Brian Hernandez.
Mystik Dan coming up next.
[Brian] We're excited, and going into the race thinking we have big chances.
[indistinct chatter]
If we can pull this off,
it'll be, uh, Kenny and I's fifth Derby together.
I've never won the Derby, but, uh…
Hopefully, this is the year we've found the right horse for it.
[interviewer] He seems like a horse that can be brilliant on days,
but inconsistent sometimes.
[Brian] If we can get him in a nice rhythm going on the backside
get him off the bridle, and let him get comfortable,
he's gonna show up and, uh… and show his punch.
I get nervous. I knew you were here. [laughs]
[Sharilyn Gasaway] He's so calm.
[Kenny] He's always that way. He's just complete chill.
He never turns a hair.
I just hope he doesn't have some silly trip or something like that.
-[dramatic sting] -[announcer] Time for the main event.
Mystik Dan, Hernandez, McPeek.
Monster afternoon so far.
[Kenny] I don't have a complicated relationship with Brian.
I can depend on him, and he knows he can depend on me.
I'm gonna give you the same ones I gave you last time.
You're on the best horse. Have fun.
Yes, sir.
[Kenny] I don't really give him much instruction when he rides for me.
I pretty much let him do his thing.
We'll be partying all through Arkansas if we win this one.
[Sherri] Good luck, Brian.
[announcer 2] He's been trying to find his way into the winner's circle in Kentucky
for a long time.
Maybe this is the horse he's been waiting for.
Maybe Mystik Dan is that horse to get him to the Derby winner's circle.
-I'm exhausted. -[laughs]
[Sherri] All right. We can go back up to our lucky spot.
That's where we've gotta go. Lucky spot!
-It's your lucky spot. -[Kenny] That's your spot right there.
[announcer] Post time for the 88th Grade I Arkansas Derby.
-[Sherri] What do you think? -I think he's on the fastest horse.
He'll win.
[intriguing music playing]
[announcer] The question is this.
Who's good enough to qualify to compete on the first Saturday in May?
[Brian] Loading into the gate, you're looking down the racetrack and thinking,
-"Okay, leave the gate good." -[horse grunts]
You don't want to be the reason for a horse to get beat.
Most of the time, a race can be won in the first or second step out of the gate.
[gates clank open]
[announcer] And we're off
in the Arkansas Derby.
A good break for all the runners in the race.
There was a roar from the crowd as they left the gate.
Time for Truth up on the pace. He's prominent.
[intriguing music continues]
Around the turn, pretty tightly clumped up.
Mystik Dan drops towards the back of the field here.
So they're down the backstretch here.
So it is Timberlake, the Rebel winner, in front by a half length.
-He's coming. -[announcer] Hernandez gives him the cue.
And Muth off the turn still in front. Timberlake second.
[Kenny] There you go!
[announcer] …then Mystik Dan, who tries to rally on. A furlong to go, it's Muth.
-[Kenny] Come on! -[announcer] Just Steel in second.
-[Kenny] Come on! -[announcer] Muth with a sixteenth to go.
[Sherri] We need third. We need third. We need third.
We need third! We need third!
Catch him! Catch him!
Get that third! Get that third! Yes!
[Announcer] Just Steel second, Mystik Dan third,
-Timberlake flattens out to fourth. -[Sherri] Whoo!
-He got third. That's good. That's good. -Yeah. That's enough.
[Annie] He did great.
He did great.
-[man] He just kind of lost. -[Kenny] We like winning, but it's okay.
Thank you.
Excuse me. Hey.
Lance, you want to head down with me?
-[Lance] Yeah. -[Kenny] Come on.
[announcer] Mystik Dan has the points
to advance and compete in the Kentucky Derby.
[Kenny] Any excuse?
Yeah, when you watch the replay, around the first turn,
I had the, uh, the Robbie Medina horse inside me.
That horse just came out and broadsided us.
-[Kenny] Really? -Yeah. He hit him hard.
Once he did that, that's why we ended up a little further back than we were.
-Right. All right. Let's go watch it. -[Lance] Watch it?
-Yeah. -[Lance] We still got a good shot.
[Kenny] So when you watch it,
you watch… you watch where the horse is sitting.
And he said that… that the five horse came out and hit him.
He said the head of Northbound knocked him off.
Here.
The five is giving the jock a little trouble.
Oh, wow. He hit him pretty good.
[Brian] When I was really trying hard to get us up for third.
I think it was a neck. It wasn't very far.
[guitar music playing]
I've been in second, second, and now third in the Arkansas Derby.
You know what Ricky Bobby said. "If you ain't first, you're last."
[laughs]
You driving home?
No, I'm staying tonight. I fly back early tomorrow morning.
[Kenny] We're having steaks if you want to come over.
-Thanks. -[Kenny] Bring anybody you want with you.
-I'm just by myself. -[Kenny] Ride on over.
I'm proud of the job Brian Hernandez did on Mystik Dan today.
I think that for him to finish third was exactly what we wanted.
We were a little unlucky today,
but maybe we'll be luckier next time.
["Rise & Fall" by The Rigs playing]
♪ Angels and demons fight ♪
-♪ But we stand behind mines ♪ -[Annie giggles]
♪ Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh ♪
[music fades]
[whooshing]
[energetic music playing]
[announcer] Hi, everybody. It's Santa Anita Derby Day.
This is a 12-race card. It is tremendous.
[announcer 2] Gonna be a terrific day of racing.
Everybody's looking forward to the feature race.
[resolute music playing]
Hi, Netflix.
Every time we go into the prep for the Derby,
there is that smell of adrenaline. You know, it's the Derby fever.
[indistinct chatter]
Got a lolly stick from the boys.
[laughs]
-[kisses] Ciao. -[guard] Love you, mijo. All right.
[Frankie] I've got my lucky lollipop.
This is my ritual.
I feel like if I don't do it, I don't get the luck.
Obviously, being Italian, we are super superstitious.
You know, we do a very dangerous sport,
so you've got to hold on to religion or superstition.
A bit of all of it.
Did you miss me?
[man] We used to have a jockey that looked like you.
[Frankie] What?
[man] We used to have a jockey that looked like you.
[laughs] It's been a while.
Coming to Santa Anita today,
got some good opportunity to get me a Derby mount.
It's not gonna be easy,
but that's the challenge that we all have to face.
[indistinct chatter]
[Umberto] Today's the day. We have the best horses in the world,
the best jockeys in the world.
This is the day you want to shine.
Went to bed very early yesterday.
Wake up,
drink my Italian espresso, study my races.
Same routine. We don't change anything.
Just a normal day at the office, you know?
[Frankie groans] Right there. Yeah.
[groans in pain] Steady. [chuckles]
[indistinct TV chatter]
I think my right is worse today.
[masseur] Yeah?
[Frankie] A day like today, 11 races,
your body and your mental focus is so important
because, uh, you know, it's gonna be a long day and a lot of pressure.
Right there. Yeah. [groans in pain]
[winces] Fuck.
-[both groan playfully] -[Frankie kisses]
-[Umberto, in Italian] How are you? -[Frankie] Fine. You?
-Beautiful. -Yeah.
-So light, huh? -[Frankie chuckles]
Look at him. All these muscles.
-You look like a novice. -[Frankie] Like an anchovy.
-[Umberto] See you later. Ciao. -[Frankie] Bye.
[in English] Bye.
[Frankie groans in pain]
[in English] Ugh. Enough. Enough.
Once I go inside those starting gates, I'm there to win.
Even friends like Umberto.
I'm gonna try to beat him, and he's gonna try to beat me, so…
We're all very competitive. We all try to win.
[expectant music playing]
Our job as a jockey,
we're kind of psychiatrists of horses.
We have to make friends with him because a 1,000-pound horse,
if he wants to go left,
I cannot stop him going that way.
So I've got about ten minutes from the time I get on it
to the time the race starts to actually bond with him.
Fortunately, I've been doing it for 35 years.
It's become second nature.
[bell rings]
[announcer] They're off. Ball Don't Lie and Winterfell vying for the lead,
with Santarena close up today.
Lie moves to engage.
Ball Don't Lie, Santarena. Santarena trying to fend him off,
but Ball Don't Lie has his mind on business.
Santarena is fighting greatly.
Ball Don't Lie is just a little too good, though.
And Ball Don't Lie wins going away.
[crowd cheers]
[announcer 2] The ageless Frankie Dettori.
[string music playing]
[energetic music playing]
[horses snort, neigh]
-[bell rings] -[gates clang open]
[announcer 2] And it's another for Frankie Dettori. Wins it by two.
[announcer 3] What a day so far for Frankie Dettori.
That's his third.
[interviewer] Frankie Dettori, three winners on the card so far.
-You surprised at all? -I've got seven more. Bye.
[announcer 3] And it's going to be four in a row for the legend, Frankie Dettori.
[music continues]
[announcer 4] Frankie Dettori's on fire.
Nothing Like You and Frankie Dettori
turning the Santa Anita Oaks into a romp!
What a tremendous performance
from Nothing Like You!
Here comes Royal Charter and Frankie Dettori on the outside.
And Royal Charter's off to take the lead, a sixteenth to go.
Six in a row
for the amazing Frankie Dettori!
[announcer 5] The excitement here, Michelle, is palpable.
[announcer 6] If you don't know anything about racing, tune in.
Get somebody to tune in right now. You're missing out.
-[woman] Frankie! Oh! -[Frankie kisses]
You are amazing.
-Guys, Bo Derek! You are all jealous! -[Bo Derek chuckles]
Has anybody ever done this before?
I think the title is seven, so one more.
[Bo] Oh! Okay, here we go.
[upbeat music playing]
[Frankie] I'm having a hell of a time.
I have to pinch myself, thinking, "Is this true, or am I dreaming?"
[indistinct chatter from TV]
[man] Let some of the other Italians win.
[Frankie laughing]
[Umberto] It's very cool to see Frankie winning all the races.
But I need to win a big race too.
[indistinct chatter]
I still need to find a horse for the Kentucky Derby.
Today, it's a big chance, a big opportunity to show how good you are.
[announcer 7] We've got the Monrovia Stakes on the Downhill Turf Course.
Your favorite right now is Ag Bullet.
[announcer 8] Gray horse. The silks are gray for Umberto Rispoli.
[announcer 7] The second choice is the eight.
Frankie Dettori trying to go for seven wins at Santa Anita.
[announcer 8] Man, he has just put on an absolute clinic today.
He's been doing it since he came to Southern California.
[Frankie] By the start of the day, really, the only thing I was focusing
is the Santa Anita Derby.
And then when the six crossed the line, I thought, "Oh my God."
"It's got a smell of something special happening here."
[dramatic sting]
[horse snorts]
[bell rings]
[announcer 9] They're off in the Monrovia.
And it's a very even start.
Ag Bullet wants that lead too.
And Ag Bullet and Gracelund Gray are going at it in the opening furlong.
[Umberto] Once you take the lead, it's gonna be a battle. It's gonna be a war.
Even if my legs are tired, my body's tired,
I need to push until the wire.
Whoo!
[announcer 9] At the top of the stretch, Ag Bullet, Gracelund Gray
haven't given each other any breather whatsoever.
And Ag Bullet…
-Come on, Papa! -[audience cheer]
[announcer 9] Ag Bullet,
razor sharp in the Monrovia.
[reporter] …Frankie Dettori. That streak ends here today.
[reporter 2] Ag Bullet was just the best horse.
Umberto Rispoli in the irons.
[Kimberley] Papa!
[Umberto] All right, let's go the Derby now. No, not really. Ciao.
-No? -[Umberto kisses] No.
[indistinct chatter]
It feels good to win a big race.
Now I have to be focused on the Santa Anita Derby.
That's what matters for me.
[speaks Italian]
[intriguing music playing]
-[producer] Do you have one more in you? -Anything's possible.
[announcer] The moment everyone's been waiting for.
Three quarters of a million dollars on the line,
and all those points towards Louisville.
This is the Grade I Santa Anita Derby.
[cheering]
[announcer 2] Super fun day. We've had a great crowd on hand.
We obviously have perfect weather.
[announcer 3] All eyes on the odds-on favorite at this point,
Imagination and Frankie Dettori.
In the, uh…
The only thing I…
He doesn't like being on the inside, so, like...
-Jump him to the outside. -Right.
[man] What a day.
[announcer 3] They were in the paddock. Bob started giving Dettori instruction,
and Frankie stopped him in mid-sentence and said,
"Bob, is the horse doing well?"
And Bob said, "Yes." And Frankie said, "Then that's all I need to know."
[announcer 4] It's all about the Italians.
You got Fresu, you got Umbi, and then you have Frankie.
[horse snorts]
[horses clopping]
[announcer 5] And they're off in the Santa Anita Derby.
And Stronghold gets the first call. EJ Won the Cup.
Imagination broke beautifully in between them.
Tapalo will be the pacesetter.
Opens up two on Imagination second.
EJ Won the Cup in the center of the track
between rival Stronghold, and Curlin's Kaos is down at the rail.
Imagination making his move past the quarter pole.
EJ Won the Cup running a good race on the outside.
[cheering]
Imagination trying to match strides with him.
-And EJ Won the Cup in third. -Come on!
[announcer 5] Imagination and Stronghold, nose and nose in the Santa Anita Derby!
Stronghold just in front.
And Stronghold prevails under Antonio Fresu,
who's jubilant, understandably, in this great moment,
defeating Imagination in the Santa Anita Derby.
[reporter] What we just saw, that was a down and dirty throwdown.
[reporter 2] Shall we just call today the Italian job?
Nine of the ten races already have been won by the Italian connection.
[indistinct chatter]
In the end, we waited a bit longer.
-Thank you, my man. -Thanks, man. Good day.
[upbeat music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[Antonio] My first Grade I in, uh, in America,
and, uh, I love this horse, uh,
since the first day I sat on him.
Congratulations to you.
The Italians are really wiping the card today. [chuckles]
[Umberto] Charlie.
-It's Italian day, Charlie. -[Charlie] It is Italian day. [chuckles]
[Umberto] I'm so happy for Antonio. I know what he's feeling.
I was blessed to win this race.
2021.
Obviously, Frankie was trying to win.
Everybody, we try to win the race, but, you know, it's good.
Big day for Italians. Unbelievable.
Do we have anything to spray to Antonio?
I don't have any champagne to spray.
Fuck. He's already here. I can't do it here.
[man] Amico mio!
[Umberto] Maybe Coca-Cola is better.
[man 2] Black is good.
[indistinct chatter and laughter]
[in Italian] Hi, Antonio!
[Antonio, in Italian] Not Coke. It's sticky.
What do you care? You can get changed.
-[in English] That's sticky. -[Umberto chuckles]
[Umberto, in Italian] Good job.
[in Italian] What the fuck? You wanted to beat me here too?
-[all chuckle] -Fuck you.
[indistinct chatter]
[Umberto] There's no champagne.
You're lucky. I could have showered you with this bucket.
[upbeat music playing]
[in English] Oh, I deserve this one today.
Eight.
[speaks indistinctly in Italian]
He beat me in the Derby, and he takes my beer as well.
[Antonio chuckles]
[string music playing]
You can see I arrived when it's all over. Perfect timing.
Yeah, really good. Yeah, really good. He had a good day, which is good.
[Umberto] I said, "Why do you wanna retire?"
[Catherine] He'd be bored, won't he? What's he going to do?
[both chuckle]
At the moment, I haven't got a Derby ride,
but I'm sure I will get one.
Now that I have emigrated to America,
it is… is the most important thing on my mind in the moment.
No matter what happens, uh, it was a great day for me.
I proved it in Europe,
but I've also proved that I can do it in America too.
At the young age of 53,
so it was a special moment.
-[indistinct chatter] -Correct.
-[woman] Whoo, Frankie! Whoo! -[Catherine chuckles]
[Frankie] I'm confident that my agent will get me a Derby mount.
Uh, but whatever happens, I'm gonna ride with Bob Baffert in the Preakness.
-[man] Drive safe. -[Frankie] Thank you.
[upbeat music playing]
-[Frankie] Gracias. -[Catherine] Gracias. Muchas gracias.
[Frankie] Oh, yes.
-Beautiful. -[server] Salud.
-Okay. Thanks. -[Frankie] Cheers.
I've been traveling a lot the last two weeks.
I've been to Kentucky twice, back and forward. I went to Italy.
So it's nice to have three days that I can recharge and regroup.
At the moment, my agent,
he promised me that I will have a ride in the Kentucky Derby.
But I think he's playing the waiting game, trying to get the best he can get for me.
I think just getting a ride is already a success.
Then obviously you've got to have that dream to try to win it.
[music ends]
By coincidence,
I just opened my phone, and somebody sent me this.
"Dettori picks up mount on Society Man."
So I have got officially…
I've got a Kentucky Derby ride.
[upbeat music playing]
You know, I'm 53. I don't have too many chances,
so grab it with both hands and go for it.
That's a nice photo of you. You look a lot younger.
Was that taken a long time ago? [chuckles]
-Thanks for that. -[Catherine chuckles]
[announcer] The famed twin spires of Churchill Downs pointing to the sky,
high above this storied venue here in Louisville.
This is one of the staple seeds of Derby Week.
Hundreds of private jets come into Muhammed Ali International Airport,
All the high rollers.
The biggest horse race in America, it's the Kentucky Derby.
The anxiety is mounting, the stress is mounting, the pressure is mounting.
[Brad Cox] I put in a lot of hours just to get to this point.
Trainers and owners put a lot of money into getting these horses ready.
We have two minutes out there to try to give them the best chance they can.
[dramatic sting plays]
The gladiator goes into the Colosseum.
-[dramatic music playing] -[bell rings]
[announcer 2] They're off in the Kentucky Derby.
[music ends]
[twangy guitar music playing]
[music fades]