THE 131st
KENTUCKY DERBY
To
be run at Churhill Downs on Saturday 7 May. The Derby field is
slightly depleted by Consolidator’s retirement and the non appearance
of Rockport Harbor. Nick Zito horses dominate the betting so far.
AFLEET
ALEX:
Top class two year old last year when he won the Hopeful and ran second
in the Breeders Cup Juvenile - beating Sun King. Won his first start at
three, before running unplaced in the Rebel behind Greater Good. He
turned the tables on the latter in the Arkansas Derby. A portion of his
earnings go towards cancer research. Won the Arkansas Derby by eight at his last start. By
sprinter Northern Afleet, his dam is by Hawkster and his second dam is
by Hawaii.
ANDROMEDA’S
HERO: Unplaced
in the Spiral Stakes at his last start. Earlier won the Sam F Davis
Stakes over Summer Legacy-who does not run in the Derby. The colt then
ran third, to Afleet Alex, in the Arkansas Derby.Seemingly
the weakest of the Zito runners, he has won two of six.A son of Fusaichi
Pegasus, his dam is a daughter of Storm Bird and hails from Triple Crown
winner Assault’s family.
BANDINI:
One of the early favourites. He won the Blue Grass by six at his last
start, beating all of High Limit, Sun King and Consolidator. Beat Noble
Causeway on debut, and was runner up to High Fly in the Fountain of
Youth when racing green. Superbly bred, his sire, Fusiachi Pegasus won this race in 2000.
His dam, a daughter of leading broodmare sire, Dixieland Band, is out of
Santa Anita Oaks winner Hail Atlantis. He traces back to Rough Shod.
Todd Pletcher has done a great job with this recalcitrant colt. He cost
half a million as a yearling.
BELLAMY
ROAD: The
likely favourite for the race. Impressed all when winning the Wood
Memorial by over 17 lengths from Gotham winner Survivalist. A good two
year old, he won the Cradle Stakes-as did 1985 Kentucky Derby winner,
Spend a Buck, he won his three year old debut by over 15. A son of
Concerto, he is from the family of champion sires Exclusive Native,
Riverman and Deputy Minister. A handsome, powerful individual, he has
won four of five starts to date. Moved to Nick Zito as a three year old,
following his sole defeat in the Breeders Futurity.
BUZZARDS
BAY: The
third consecutive Santa Anita Derby winner for trainer Jeff Mullins.
Unfashionably bred, he scraped home by a head from General John B with
Wilko further back in third. Earlier he won the Golden Gate Derby and
ran third to Uncle Denny in the El Camino Derby.He
has won three of eight to date. None of Mullins previous runners have
made the frame for the Derby. Mark Guidry rides the chestnut, who is
said to be working well.
CLOSING
ARGUMENT:
Inflicted the sole defeat on High Fly, when winning the Holy Bull
Stakes. Comes in off a third in the Blue Grass behind Bandini and High
Limit. Has nine lengths to make up with Bandini and three with High
Limit. A son of leading freshman sire Successful Appeal he has won three
times for Kiaran McLaughlin. One of the outsiders of the race.
COIN
SILVER:
Squeaked into the final field with an impressive win in the Lexington
for Pletcher. He beat Sort It Out by three and a half lengths, with
grade three winner Storm Surge further back. The sole good horse by ill
fated Anees, he meets considerably stronger opposition here.
DON’T
GET MAD:
A seven length winner of the Derby Trial. He was unplaced in the Santa
Anita Derby previously and third in the San Felipe behind the retired
Consolidator and Giacomo. He has a length and a half to make up on the
latter. From the first crop of Stephen Got Even, trainer Ron Ellis was
expecting to run his champion Declan’s Moon, but sadly the latter was
injured and forced off the Triple Crown trail.
FLOWER
ALLEY: The
upset winner of the Spiral Stakes. He was well beaten by Afleet Alex in
the Arkansas Derby and will have to improve drastically. The second in
the Spiral has been well beaten by both High Fly and Afleet Alex. Bids
to give sire Distorted Humor his second Derby winner in three years. To
be ridden by Jorge Chavez-who won on Monarchos in 2001.
GREATER
GOOD:
One of the more underrated colts in the field. He defeated both Rockport
Harbor and Afleet Alex in the Rebel-although both colts had problems
going into the race and the form may need to be taken with a pinch of
salt. Ran well below that form when unplaced in the Arkansas Derby. A
top class juvenile, he won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and ran third
in the Iroquois Stakes. A son of Phone Trick sire, Intidab, his second
dam, What A Summer, was a champion sprinter. The three year old is a
cryptorchid and will be unable to breed. A 20-1 shot, he is drawn at 8.
GREELEY’S
GALAXY:
Scraped into the final field as a result of several scratchings. He was
most impressive in his last start when winning Illinois Derby by nine
lengths over a field which included the high class Magna Graduate. He
has won three of four to date for owner B. Wayne Hughes. Drawn at nine,
he is a son of Mr Greeley.
GIACOMO:
Considered a good Derby prospect when he ran second in the Hollywood
Futurity to unbeaten champion, Declan’s Moon. On that occasion he beat
Wilko-although the latter was not considered to be at his best on that
occasion. He is drawn at ten. A son of 1994 beaten favourite, Holy Bull,
he, like Flower Alley is from Lyphard’s family. One one time winner, he
was second in the San Felipe and fourth in Santa Anita Derby-this time
Wilko turned the tables on him. John Shirreffs trains.
GOING
WILD: Winner
of the Sham Stakes, he was a good second to Declan’s Moon in the San
Catalina. He has been well beaten in his last two starts. Trainer D.
Wayne Lukas has made no secret of the regard he holds the colt in, but
the son of Golden Missile will need to make spectacular improvement
here. He is from the family of two Kentucky Derby winners in Majestic
Prince and Real Quiet. He is not helped by his draw of 19.
HIGH
FLY:
Once beaten in six starts. He began this year with a nine length romp in
the Aventura Stakes and followed it up with an unlucky third in the
Holly Bull to Closing Argument. He was then moved to Nick Zito’s yard
and has won his last two starts. He beat Bandini in the Fountain of
Youth and was a workmanlike winner of the Florida Derby. In the latter
race he beat promising stablemate, Noble Causeway by over a length.
Jerry Bailey is looking for a third Derby win. A son of Atticus, he is a
half brother to Dubai stakes winner Estimraar. He is drawn at 11.
HIGH
LIMIT:
Once beaten when a six length second in the Blue Grass Stakes. He was
impressive when storming home in the Louisiana Derby by four lengths on
his first start for Frankel. A son of Maria’s Mon-like 2001 winner
Monarchos- he is out of a Known Fact mare. Bids to break Bobby
Frankel’s Derby duck.
NOBLE
CAUSEWAY:
Runner up in the Florida Derby to High Fly. He was impressive when
winning his previous two starts. A son of red hot Giant’s Causeway,
the colt is from the family of Rich Man’s Gold. Another runner for
Nick Zito, he bids to give Gary Stevens his fourth Derby win. A 12-1
shot, he is drawn at 4.
SORT
IT OUT:
Winner of the Whirlaway Stakes earlier this year. Second in the
Lexington to Coin Silver at his last start. Was
third in the Winstar Derby. The 50-1 shot will be ridden by Brice Blanc.
A son of Out of Place, his dam is by Kris S. The colt is drawn at one.
SUN
KING:
Early favourite for the Derby disappointed when unplaced in the Blue
Grass Stakes. The track didn’t favour him, but more was expected from
the colt, who had been impressive in his previous two starts. Third in
last year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile, he is a son of Derby winner
Charismatic. He won his first start of the year by over five lengths and
followed it up with a solid win in the Tampa Bay Derby. Regular rider
Edgar Prado rides from draw 3.
SPANISH
CHESTNUT:
The colt has been entered as the pacemaker for Bandini. Winner of the
grade two San Rafael in January, he has been beaten in his next three
starts. The first son of Horse Chestnut to take part in the Derby. A
complete outsider at 50-1.
WILKO:
Winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Has not won since but has not been
disgraced. He followed up his shock Breeders Cup win with a good third
in the Hollywood Futurity. Well beaten in the San Felipe, he ran a good
third, beaten half a length, in the Santa Anita Derby. The most seasoned
runner in the race, he has made steady progress through the season and
if continues to improve should feature in the race. The Craig Dollase
trainee will be ridden by Corey Nakatani. The son of Awesome Again is
drawn at 14.
SELECTION
1.Bellamy
Road
2.
High Fly
3.
Wilko