Harzand overcame a pre-race scare to win the English Derby for owner The Aga Khan Saturday, holding off fast-finishing favorite US Army Ranger for a length-and-a-half victory in Britain's richest horse race. Harzand, a 13-2 shot and the son of 2009 winner Sea The Stars, had his front foot iced after losing a horseshoe on the way to Epsom racecourse for the country's most prestigious flat race. There was a doubt whether Harzand would be included in the 16-horse field, but his team got him to the start line and he ran the perfect race in front of Queen Elizabeth II and an estimated 125,000 spectators. "The trouble we had with him this morning, I didn't know if he would get here," jockey Pat Smullen said, "but it's a great team effort." Harzand kept out of trouble in the middle of the field before hitting the front with more than a furlong to go. He shrugged off Idaho alongside him but came under fierce pressure from US Army Ranger, who launched a late attack from the back of the field. Harzand stayed strong in the final meters, giving The Aga Khan his fifth Derby win — including with Shergar in 1981. The first prize was $1.27 million in a total pot of $2.25 million. "Obviously this is a major gift for everyone that works with me," The Aga Khan said before he went to collect the trophy from the queen. He has been breeding and owning horses since the early 1970s. Army Ranger, the 7-2 favorite, was one of five runners from the yard of trainer Aidan O'Brien. In his first big race, he left his charge for the line too late under jockey Ryan Moore. "He was a bit babyish early on," O'Brien said, "but we're not making any excuses." Idaho was third.
