VIEWER'S GUIDE TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY.Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer No. Horse, notes 1. SORT IT OUT Jockey: Brice Blanc Trainer: Bob Baffert Bob Baffert (born January 13, 1953 in Nogales, Arizona) is an American horse owner and trainer. He graduated from the University of Arizona's Racetrack Management Program with a Bachelor of Science degree. Owner: Janice and Bob McNair, and Lewis Lakin Post: 1 Morning line: 50-1 Baffert is back - but just barely. After missing last year's Derby, the trainer who won with Silver Charm Silver Charm (born February 22 1994) is an American Champion Thoroughbred race horse. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Gary Stevens, Silver Charm won the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before falling short of the Triple Crown by placing second in the Belmont (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem War Emblem was the winner of the Kentucky Derby in 2002. This Thoroughbred's time was 2:01.13 around the 1 1/4 mile track. Victor Espinoza was his jockey for the Derby, never having seen the horse until the morning of the race. (2002) appears to have a rank outsider rank outsider n → totaler Außenseiter m, totale Außenseiterin f rank outsider n → outsider m/f inv in this New York-bred colt owned by Houston Texans
2. ANDROMEDA'S HERO Jockey: Rafael Bejarano Rafael Bejarano (born June 23, 1982 in Arequipa, Peru) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He trained at the Peruvian national riding school before embarking on his professional career in 1999. Trainer: Nick Zito Nicholas Philip "Nick" Zito (born February 6, 1948 in New York City, New York) is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer. Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer. Owner: Robert LaPenta Post: 2 Morning line: 50-1 It will be no upset if Zito wins a third Derby - unless this is the Zito horse that wins it. The long shot among Zito's five Derby entrants has reminded nobody of his sire Fusaichi Pegasus Fusaichi Pegasus (pronounced [ɸɯ.sa.i.tɕi]) (foaled April 12, 1997) was purchased as a yearling for $4 million by Fusao Sekiguchi. (2000 winner). His two attempts at the graded-stakes level produced a fifth behind Flower Alley Flower Alley, born in Georgetown, Kentucky on May 7, 2002, is an American thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred at Bona Terra Farms by George Brunacini who was killed in the August 27, 2006 crash of Comair Flight 5191 at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky. in the Lane's End and a third to Afleet Alex Afleet Alex (born May 9, 2002 in Florida) is an American thoroughbred race horse who, in 2005, won two of America's classic races, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. in the Arkansas Derby The Arkansas Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held in April at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Arkansas Derby is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt. . The stretch runner stretch runner n. A runner or racehorse that makes a strong effort in the last stretch of a race. has a talented Derby rookie in jockey Bejarano. 3. SUN KING Jockey: Edgar Prado Trainer: Nick Zito Owner: Tracy Farmer Post: 3 Morning line: 15-1 After knocking on the door in the biggest 2-year-old races, the son of Charismatic (1999 winner) became the talk of Florida with a high-rated, allowance-level victory and a front-running romp in the Tampa Bay Derby The Tampa Bay Derby is a race for Thoroughbred race horses held in March at Tampa Bay Downs. A Grade III event, the race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) on the dirt. . A wide-running fourth to Bandini in the Blue Grass cooled the excitement. But many Derbies have been won by horses who took a step back in the final prep as if saving energy for the big one. 4. NOBLE CAUSEWAY Jockey: Gary Stevens Trainer: Nick Zito Owner: Leonard Riggio Post: 4 Morning line: 12-1 The $1.15 million son of Giant's Causeway, a Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 years old and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles (2012 m) on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. runner-up at Churchill Downs, has every right to run a career-best race today. His Beyer speed figure The Beyer Speed Figure is a system for rating the performance of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America designed in the early 1970s by Andrew Beyer, the syndicated horse racing columnist for The Washington Post. has improved in each successive race. His wide trip cost him in a second to High Fly in the Florida Derby. This is the one of two horses in the race with a Derby-winning trainer and jockey. Zito had Strike the Gold (1991) and Go for Gin Go for Gin (foaled 1991 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred racehorse most well known as the winner of the 1994 Kentucky Derby. He was sired by Cormorant out of the dam Never Knock. (1994), Stevens Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995) and Silver Charm (1997). 5. COIN SILVER Jockey: Patrick Valenzuela Trainer: Todd Pletcher Owner: John Fort and partners Post: 5 Morning line: 20-1 The drug-troubled Valenzuela, who rode Derby winner Sunday Silence (1989), has a mount in the race for the first time since 1993. He and Stevens are the only jockeys in the race who have never been aboard their horses before. The improving Coin Silver became Pletcher's third entrant in this Derby after he rallied from fifth to win the Lexington Stakes at 13-1 odds under Javier Castellano. 6. HIGH LIMIT Jockey: Ramon Dominguez Trainer: Bobby Frankel Owner: Gary and Mary West Post: 6 Morning line: 12-1 Few of the Derby horses have received reviews from workout-watchers as glowing as this colt. High Limit won his first two starts by a combined 18 1/2 lengths at Delaware Park in October before he was sidelined by a foot problem and switched from Richard Dutrow to Hall of Famer Frankel. After a front-running win in the Louisiana Derby, he lost his perfect record with a distant second to Bandini in the Blue Grass. With only two starts at 3, he's either fresh or underseasoned. 7. FLOWER ALLEY Jockey: Jorge Chavez Trainer: Todd Pletcher Owner: Eugene and Laura Melnyk Post: 7 Morning line: 20-1 After starting only once at 2 and breaking his maiden in February, the colt has played catch-up. Flower Alley won a weak Lane's End Stakes The Lane's End Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held in late March at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky. The race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt. at 10-1 odds and ran a distant second to Afleet Alex in the Arkansas Derby to offer some under-the-radar appeal. The hard-riding Chavez won the Derby with Monarchos (2001). 8. GREATER GOOD Jockey: John McKee Trainer: Bob Holthus Owner: Lewis Lakin Post: 8 Morning line: 20-1 Fans of the horses-for-courses angle have reason to like this ridgling ridgling cryptorchid; usually said of a horse. . A win and a third in stakes races on the Churchill Downs track last year indicate he likes the track. Never fast, Greater Good kept doing enough to win five of his first seven races. But he failed to unwind his usual rally in the Arkansas Derby and finished fifth behind Afleet Alex. He has to regain his form and improve his speed figure to win today. 9. GREELEY'S GALAXY Jockey: Kent Desormeaux Trainer: Warren Stute Owner: B. Wayne Hughes Bradley Wayne Hughes (born September 28, 1933 in Gotebo, Oklahoma) is the billionaire founder and chairman of Public Storage, the largest self-storage company in America. Known all his life by his middle name, B. Post: 9 Morning line: 15-1 Hughes missed the early deadline for Triple Crown nominations and had to pay $200,000 to make Greeley's Galaxy eligible for the Derby and put Stute in the race for the second time in a training career spanning half a century. The 83-year-old big brother of popular California trainer Mel Stute had Field Master finish 13th in 1967. If Greeley's Galaxy repeats his Illinois Derby victory, Stute will be the Kentucky Derby's oldest winning trainer. 10. GIACOMO Jockey: Mike Smith Trainer: John Shirreffs Owner: Jerry and Ann Moss Post: 10 Morning line: 50-1 The only gray horse in the race seems to lack the killer instinct. He has been coming close but losing all winter at Santa Anita after scoring his only victory in a 10-length romp last fall. Shirreffs' first Derby starter is a son of Holy Bull, beaten favorite in the 1994 Derby and that season's Horse of the Year. Smith was Holy Bull's jockey and has an 0 for 11 Derby record that is the worst among today's riders. 11. HIGH FLY Jockey: Jerry Bailey Trainer: Nick Zito Owner: Charlotte Weber Post: 11 Morning line: 8-1 The Fountain of Youth Fountain of Youth legendary fountain of eternal youth. [World Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 432] See : Unattainability and Florida Derby winner with five victories in six starts would be the star of any barn except the one housing Bellamy Road. He has Derby winners in Zito and Bailey, who won with Sea Hero (1993) and Grindstone grindstone or grind common metaphor for industriousness. [Pop. Culture: Misc.] See : Industriousness (1996). The persistent question is the five-week layoff caused by the Florida Derby's new position on the calendar. The last horse to win the Derby off a five-week gap was Needles (1956). 12. AFLEET ALEX Jockey: Jeremy Rose Trainer: Tim Ritchey Owner: Chuck Zacney and partners Post: 12 Morning line: 9-2 Is he this year's Smarty Jones? The first-time Derby connections, the Philadelphia owners, the Arkansas prep campaign, the stories of a difficult pre-racing life - it all sounds familiar. The Florida-bred capped the most solid resume in the race by bouncing back from an illness-caused sixth in the Rebel to win by eight lengths in the Arkansas Derby. One potential weakness for the late runner is the unproven Rose. 13. SPANISH CHESTNUT Jockey: Joe Bravo Trainer: Patrick Biancone Owner: Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor Post: 13 Morning line: 50-1 Biancone denies the colt is in the race only to serve as a rabbit, pushing favorite Bellamy Road to a fast early pace to set things up for Smith's and Tabor's Bandini. But it's obvious the Florida-bred is not here because of his sterling form. Since going wire-to-wire in the San Rafael, he has lost three times by a combined 28 lengths. Tabor won with Thunder Gulch (1995). Biancone was second with Lion Heart (2004). 14. WILKO Jockey: Corey Nakatani Trainer: Craig Dollase Owner: J. Paul Reddam John Paul Reddam B.A. M.A. Ph.D. (born July 28, 1955 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada) is a former professor of philosophy at California State University, Los Angeles and a businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner. Known by his middle name, J. and Susan Roy Post: 14 Morning line: 20-1 No winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. has won the Derby. Few have gotten this far on the Triple Crown trail. Wilko, who ran 10 times in England before swooping in to upset Afleet Alex and Sun King in the Juvenile, was hindered by foot problems this winter and went 0 for 3 at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita. Some see a colt on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of top form; others see a colt who couldn't get past Buzzards Bay and General John B. 15. BANDINI Jockey: John Velazquez Trainer: Todd Pletcher Owner: Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith Post: 15 Morning line: 6-1 The leader of the Pletcher trio and a son of Fusaichi Pegasus (2000 winner), Bandini became one of the handful of likeliest Derby winners when improved on a second to High Fly in the Fountain of Youth and won by six lengths in the Blue Grass. At the post-position draft Wednesday, Pletcher had the No. 1 pick and flouted orthodoxy with his choice. The outside slot may keep Bandini out of scrum for stalking positions. 16. BELLAMY ROAD Jockey: Javier Castellano Trainer: Nick Zito Owner: George Steinbrenner Post: 16 Morning line: 5-2 Comment: He's the favorite, the media hook because of Steinbrenner, and the potential superstar of the group after a 17 1/2-length win in the Wood Memorial. But the Florida-bred has something to prove. Can he come close to repeating that effort against the early pressure likely to materialize in a 20-horse Derby? Of course, his foes face a question too. Is any of them talented enough to win if Bellamy Road is only 90 percent? 17. DON'T GET MAD Jockey: Tyler Baze Trainer: Ron Ellis Owner: B. Wayne Hughes Post: 17 Morning line: 30-1 Maybe Ellis' bad luck with the Derby will turn around today. It will have to if Don't Get Mad is going to win after squeezing into the race with a last-to-first rally in Saturday's Derby Trial. Ellis, a Glendale-born graduate of Monroe High in North Hills, saddled Atswhatimtalkinbout for a troubled fourth to Funny Cide (2003) and lost 2-year-old champion Declan's Moon to an injury in March. 18. CLOSING ARGUMENT Jockey: Cornelio Velasquez Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin Owner: Philip and Marcia Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. Post: 18 Morning line: 30-1 A number of owners may kick themselves if this Florida-bred wins the Derby. He was sold three times at auction before his first race, going for $10,000 and $25,000 and finally $100,000. The last of those sales occurred in the same April 2004 Ocala auction at which Steinbrenner took Bellamy Road for $87,000. Closing Argument's third at 12-1 in the Blue Grass came with excuses - a bump at the gate and a wide trip. 19. GOING WILD Jockey: Jose Valdivia Jr. Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas (born September 2, 1935 in Antigo, Wisconsin) is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. Owner: Bob and Beverly Lewis Post: 19 Morning line: 50-1 Lukas jokes that those 50-1 odds are wrong, that Going Wild should be 80-1. At least Lukas can laugh about entering a seemingly overmatched colt. Lukas has won the Derby four times, with Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999). None of them came into the race off losses by 41 lengths (to Bellamy Road in the Wood) and 16 1/4 lengths (to Coin Silver in the Lexington). 20. BUZZARDS BAY Jockey: Mark Guidry Trainer: Jeff Mullins Owner: David Shimmon and William Bianco Post: 20 Morning line: 20-1 Mullins has a horse in the Derby for the fourth year in a row - only Bobby Frankel matches that current streak - after winning a record third consecutive Santa Anita Derby The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $750,000. . Unfortunately he's better known right now for running afoul of this winter's ``milkshake'' testing at Santa Anita and for suggesting that horseplayers are ``idiots.'' Mullins has been guarded in interviews since arriving Wednesday in Louisville. |
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