The Kentucky Derby, sponsored for the first time by Yum! Brands, as always, looks to be an outstanding race.
Whether the Derby produces a champion remains to be seen though – last year's winner Giacomo has not won a race since. Bob Baffert has a very strong hand being represented by the likes of Bob and John, Sinister Minister and Point Determined. There has been plenty of rain and the track at Churchill Downs is currently described as sloppy.
BROTHER DEREK : He was a high-class two year-old, winning both the Norfolk Stakes (Gr2) and the Hollywood Futurity (Gr1). He is unbeaten as a three-year-old, winning three consecutive graded stakes. Brother Derek's last win was arguably his most impressive to date when he romped home in the Santa Anita Derby (Gr1). He began his three-year-old campaign with a win over champion Stevie Wonderboy in the San Rafael Stakes (Gr2), before winning the Santa Catalina Stakes (Gr2). The leading earner in the field, Brother Derek has already won over $1 million.
3 c Benchmark – Miss Soft Sell, by Siyah Kalem
LAWYER RON: Has won six consecutive races since being switched to the dirt, with his last win in the Arkansas Derby (Gr2) arguably his most impressive. He has been running against the same horses, Red Raymond and Steppenwolfer, and takes a considerable jump in class. Another millionaire, Lawyer Ron previously won the Risen Star Stakes (Gr3), the Rebel Stakes (Gr3) and the Southwest Stakes. Bids to emulate Smarty Jones who won the Southwest, Rebel and Arkansas Derby prior to scoring an emotional win at Churchill Downs. Ironically enough Donation is being bred to Smarty Jones this year.
3 c Langfuhr – Donation, by Lord Avie
BARBARO: Unbeaten in five starts, the colt was a game winner of the Florida Derby (Gr1) five weeks ago. That was his last start. A versatile sort, Barbaro was impressive when winning the Laurel Futurity by eight lengths last year. This year he has won on dirt and turf, landing the first Derby of the year in the shape of the Tropical Park Derby (Gr3). He then won a weak running of the Holy Bull Stakes (Gr3) before winning the Florida Derby.
3 c Dynaformer - La Ville Rouge, by Carson City
BOB AND JOHN: Conditions are currently ideal for the Bob Baffert runner, who won the Wood Memorial Stakes (Gr1) on a sloppy track. He had previously been third in the San Felipe Stakes, behind A.P. Warrior and stablemate Point Determined. The colt, who was a well beaten third to Brother Derek in last year's Hollywood Futurity (Gr1), was an impressive winner of the Sham Stakes (Gr3) earlier in the season – over weak opposition. One of the best bred horses in the race, his dam is a graded stakes winning granddaughter of legendary broodmare Too Bald.
3 c Seeking the Gold – Minister's Melody, by Deputy Minister
SINISTER MINISTER : Comes off a near 13 length romp in the Blue Grass Stakes (Gr1). The win at Keeneland was far superior to any previous form shown by the colt and it remains to be seen how much he was aided by the speed favouring track. His best earlier form had been a well beaten second to cause To Believe in the California Derby, when he had run erratically through the stretch. Baffert has tasted Derby success with another front runner – in the form of the headstrong War Emblem and Sinister Minister is not a horse to overlook.
3 c Old Trieste – Sweet Minister, by The Prime Minister
PRIVATE VOW: A leading fancy for the race at the end of his two-year-old season, Private Vow has been disappointing in his two starts this year. He was unplaced in the Rebel Stakes and improved when third in the Arkansas Derby. His two-year-old form was impressive though, he won both the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Gr3) and Futurity Stakes (Gr2). He is from the first crop of his sire, a Gr2 winning son of Unbridled.
3 c Broken Vow – Smooth As Silk, by Deputy Minister
A.P. WARRIOR: Winner of the San Felipe Stakes two starts back, beating Bob and John. He was then beaten by both Brother Derek and Point Determined, whom he beat previously, in the Santa Anita Derby. He is trained by John Shirreffs – who won last year with Giacomo, who was also beaten in the Santa Anita Derby. He has been beaten by Brother Derek each time the pair have met so he needs to improve. Another beautifully bred colt, his dam was a top-class filly by top broodmare sire Quiet American.
3 c A.P. Indy – Warrior Queen, by Quiet American
SWEETNORTHERNSAINT: Devastated a good field when winning the Illinois Derby (Gr2) by nine and half lengths. He had multiple stakes winner Cause To Belive beaten over ten lengths on that occasion.
He had earlier won the Miracle Wood Stakes by ten lengths before running a close third in the Gotham Stakes – where he was wide. His trainer says he is the best horse he has ever trained. He has won three of six starts and is one of the more fancied runners in the field.
3 c Sweetsouthernsaint – Ice Beauty, by Waquoit
SHARP HUMOR: Ran a good second in the Florida Derby (Gr1) last time out, when beaten three parts of a length by Dynaformer. Won the Swale Stakes (Gr3) over a field which included the high-class performer Electrify. He has been working very well and is the first Derby starter for his trainer Dale Romans. Like another top son of Distorted Humor, Funny Cide (who won the Derby), he won the Sleepy Hollow Stakes at two.
3 c Distorted Humor – Bellona, by Hansel
BLUEGRASS CAT: Top-class two-year-old, he is coming off a badly beaten fourth place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes when beaten over 20 lengths. A smart juvenile, who won both the Remsen and Nashua Stakes, he won his first start of the year before being upset by Deputy Glitters in the Tampa Bay Derby. He looks unlikely to give his sire his first Derby winner, although it is always dangerous to ignore the Pletcher runners.
3 c Storm Cat - She's A Winner, by A.P Indy
STEPPENWOLFER: Comes off a second place finish to Lawyer Ron in the Arkansas Derby (Gr2). From the first crop of Derby runner up Aptitude, he has been beaten by Lawyer Ron each time they have met. Is bred to enjoy the extra distance and may have scope for improvement. He has won three of eight starts.
3 c Aptitude - Wolfer, by Wolf Power
KEYED ENTRY: Won his first three starts including the Gr2 Hutchison Stakes, over dual Gr1 winner First Samurai. Was touched off in the Gotham before running third to Bob and John in the Wood Memorial. As a son of sprinter-miler Honour and Glory there are stamina doubts surrounding the colt. The sloppy going will not make it easy for a horse of doubtful stamina.
3 c Honour and Glory – Ava Knowsthecode, by Cryptoclearance
SHOWING UP: Unbeaten in three starts, he bids to give trainer Barclay Tagg his second Derby win, following Funny Cide three years ago. He was most impressive at his second start, winning in track record time over a mile.
Described as more laid back than Funny Cide, Showing Up won the Lexington Stakes, beating Gotham winner Like Now, to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
3 c Strategic Mission- Miss Alethia, by T.V Commercial
POINT DETERMINED: Was second last time out in the Santa Anita Derby to Brother Derek, turning the tables on his San Felipe conqueror A.P. Warrior. His would be an emotional victory as his owner Bob Lewis died recently. He has won two of six and is clearly talented but the Derby maybe a bit much too soon. From the first crop of Point Given, who was beaten as the hot favourite in this race in 2001, Point Determined bids to follow Baffert Derby winners Silver Charm and Real Quiet – both of whom were placed in the Santa Anita Derby prior to winning at Churchill Downs.
3 c Point Given – Merengue, by Broad Brush
CAUSE TO BELIEVE : Was impressive when winning both the California and El Camino Derbies. He was outclassed by Sweetnorthernsaint in the Illinois Derby however and it is hard to see him turning the tables on that rival, although the Derby often produces surprise results.
3 c Maria's Mon – Imaginary Cat, by Storm Cat
DEPUTY GLITTERS : Caused a huge upset when beating Bluegrass Cat in the Tampa Bay Derby (Gr3). Had previously run second to Bluegrass Cat in the Sam F Davis, but comes off an unplaced run in the Wood Memorial. Has won just twice in seven starts.
3 c Deputy Commander – Glitters, by Glitterman
STORM TREASURE: Runner up in the Blue Grass where he was beaten out of sight by Sinister Minister. He has won once in six starts and is hard to fancy. He is a descendant of blue hen mare Bourtai.
3 c Storm Boot – Boogie Beach Blues, by Cure The Blues
JAZIL: Flew up late to run finish second in the Wood Memorial last time out. His trainer, Kiaran Mclaughlin, trained last year's Derby runner up Closing Argument. He has won just once in six starts, but is clearly improving and should the track stay sloppy will be well suited by the conditions.
3 c Seeking The Gold – Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister
SEASIDE RETREAT : Showed high-class form at two in Canada, and ran second to the ill-fated With A City in the Lane's End Stakes (Gr2) at three. Was unplaced in the Blue Grass Stakes and is an outsider here.
3 c King Cugat – She's Like Rio, by Boundary
FLASHY BULL: Scraped into the final field – which is determined by graded stakes earnings. He bids to give his sire, Holy Bull, consecutive Kentucky Derby winners – following Giacomo last year. He ran second last year to Bluegrass Cat in the Remsen Stakes and was marked by many as a possible Derby horse. Began his three-year-old campaign with a fourth place in the Holy Bull – behind Barbaro.
Following a good third, moved up later to second, in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, he was disappointing when unplaced in the Florida Derby.
3 c Holy Bull – Iridescence, by Mt Livermore
SELECTION
1 Sweetnorthernsaint
2 Lawyer Ron
3 Brother Derek
132ND KENTUCKY DERBY
| PP |
|
HORSE |
|
TRAINER |
|
JOCKEY |
|
ODDS |
| 1 |
|
JAZIL |
|
Kiaran McLaughlin |
|
Fernando Jara |
|
30-1 |
| 2 |
|
STEPPENWOLFER |
|
Daniel Peitz |
|
Robby Albarado |
|
30-1 |
| 3 |
|
KEYED ENTRY |
|
Todd Pletcher |
|
Patrick Valenzuela |
|
30-1 |
| 4 |
|
SINISTER MINISTER |
|
Bob Baffert |
|
Victor Espinoza |
|
12-1 |
| 5 |
|
POINT DETERMINED |
|
Bob Baffert |
|
Rafael Bejarano |
|
12-1 |
| 6 |
|
SHOWING UP |
|
Barclay Tagg |
|
Cornelio Velasquez |
|
20-1 |
| 7 |
|
BOB AND JOHN |
|
Bob Baffert |
|
Garrett Gomez |
|
12-1 |
| 8 |
|
BARBARO |
|
Michael Matz |
|
Edgar Prado |
|
4-1 |
| 9 |
|
SHARP HUMOR |
|
Dale Romans |
|
Mark Guidry |
|
20-1 |
| 10 |
|
A. P. WARRIOR |
|
John Shirreffs |
|
Corey Nakatani |
|
15-1 |
| 11 |
|
SWEETNORTHERNSAINT |
|
Michael Trombetta |
|
Kent Desormeaux |
|
10-1 |
| 12 |
|
PRIVATE VOW |
|
Steve Asmussen |
|
Shaun Bridgmohan |
|
50-1 |
| 13 |
|
BLUEGRASS CAT |
|
Todd Pletcher |
|
Ramon Dominguez |
|
30-1 |
| 14 |
|
DEPUTY GLITTERS |
|
Tom Albertrani |
|
Jose Lezcano |
|
50-1 |
| 15 |
|
SEASIDE RETREAT |
|
Mark Casse |
|
Patrick Husbands |
|
50-1 |
| 16 |
|
CAUSE TO BELIEVE |
|
Jerry Hollendorfer |
|
Russell Baze |
|
50-1 |
| 17 |
|
LAWYER RON |
|
Bob Holthus |
|
John McKee |
|
4-1 |
| 18 |
|
BROTHER DEREK |
|
Dan Hendricks |
|
Alex Solis |
|
3-1 |
| 19 |
|
STORM TREASURE |
|
Steve Asmussen |
|
David Flores |
|
50-1 |
| 20 |
|
FLASHY BULL |
|
Kiaran McLaughlin |
|
Mike Smith |
|
50-1 |