Kentucky Derby Dirt

If the swallows return to Capistrano, if Mets fans still have hope, if the Knicks are no longer relevant you know Spring has arrived. But, for some of us Spring isn't officially here until you hi-five a degenerate at an OTB celebrating a long shot coming home first in a Derby prep race. So, if you'd like to participate in that kind of Springtime fun this is the guide for you. Like most great things in America the Kentucky Derby is a bastardized version of an event similar to one found in England; we run the race on dirt and heaven forbid run the horses counter clockwise (this surely would cause the Queen to shit her knickers). The Kentucky Derby is also the first jewel of the triple crown: The second being the 1 3/16 mile Preakness at Pimlico (Maryland) and the third being 1 1/2 mile Belmont (New York). 20 horses can enter the gate for the Derby on the First Saturday in May, but only one can come out with the goal of the Triple Crown still in tact. We're at a point where they are still trying to figure out the 20 for Kentucky, so plenty of time. The Florida Derby was ran this past weekend. The race was won by Big Brown; who will now be the favorite on May 3rd barring the emergence of a horse with wings. The start was only the third of his lifetime, but the big striding colt by Boundary won from post 12 (pretty much starting in the parking lot) stayed on the lead and drew off in the stretch to remain unbeaten (A joke about the Brown Noise was made here, you're welcome). You want to see total domination (video here). The only question about him is if he can remain healthy; he's got bad feet. The other horse of note was Tomcito, a Peruvian superstar who finished a closing 3rd in his first start in America who has wins at a mile and a half and a mile and a quarter. The Santa Anita Derby will be held this coming weekend out in California. The favorite will most likely be Colonel John, winner of 3 of his 5 lifetime races. This big son of, Horse of the Year, Tiznow will make only his 2nd start of the year in this race, and that's usually not a good thing. He'll be facing many of the same he beat his last time out. Overall I'm not expecting much from the West Coast horses. They are running on a synthetic surface (think spandex and wax, yet again maybe don't think that) against small fields, in a place where the Governor has a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Do you trust anything good to come from that state? Notables: El Gato Malo Long Shot: Polonius. The Wood Memorial is also held this coming weekend in beautiful Jamaica New York. There's really no better place to watch horse racing than 1 mile from the JFK landing strip. Jet fuel fumes to New Yorkers is like fresh air to most other people. This race will field last years 2yo champion War Pass, who looked great in his 3yo debut and like Hillary Clinton in his last (falling apart at the end). He's a front running menace who looks to get out early and play catch me if you can with the rest. One who will be looking to catch him is Atoned, a horse I believe could be peaking at the right time. Atoned finished ahead of War Pass in their last race and could be sitting on an even better performance. Notables: Tale of Ekati Long Shot: Getting from the track to the Verrazano in under 40 minutes after the race. The Illinois Derby is the final big prep held next weekend. It will be won by Denis of Cork. How do I know this? I have an Great Uncle Dennis who lived in Cork, Ireland. The horse is also undefeated and doesn't look to be facing that serious of a bunch here. He could be the real deal and I think that has scared many other challengers away. Notables: The Cubs are 100 years removed from their championship Long shot: Rest of the Field. The following weekend, for those keeping score at home April 12th, some horses will finally race in Kentucky; not at Churchill though. Beautiful Keeneland racecourse, Lexington, KY will hold the Blue Grass Stakes. Pyro made a living last year by finishing second to War Pass everywhere he went, but since striking out on his own this year he's undefeated with come from behind victories in Louisiana's Risen Star and Derby. Cool Coal Man won the Fountain of Youth last time out in Florida, and returns to a state where he's had prior success. This race will also be run on the American Gladiator Special (spandex and wax), and again you just want to see the top contenders put in a good effort. Last year's Kentucky Derby Winner Street Sense finished second in this race. Finally, the season comes to its conclusion with the Arkansas Derby. Having has such winners as Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, Curlin, and Victory Gallop this race usually produces a good horse. To every rule there is an exception and this might be the year. With horses named Tres Borrachos (3 beans), one named after an old Yankee SS/2B, Gayego, and Golden Yank (please don't tell me where this came from), the hopes are low that this race will produce a favorite or even a horse under 10-1 for the Derby. Notables: Z Fortune Long shot: Sober college kids. Finally, because these races are next week and the week after that there could be some other starters not mentioned above. Usually, I'd just ignore them, but this year there's a special group of fillies who seem to be just as good as the best colts if not better. Eight Belles won the Honeybee and could be looking at the ultra weak Arkansas Derby. Country Star, will debut next weekend in the Ashland at Keeneland, she has the pedigree to get the distance and is by a Kentucky Derby favorite Empire Maker. Finally, Proud Spell, champ 2yo filly from last year has run faster "numbers" (horse thing) than Pyro down in Louisiana, and he's going to be 2nd or 3rd choice come May 3rd. She will also run next in the Ashland against Country Star. A year removed from Rags to Riches beating Curlin in the Belmont and many trainers aren't as afraid of the boys as they've been before.

Kentucky Derby for beginners

Are you ready for the most exciting 2 minutes in sports? No, I’m not talking about Carl Pavano’s entire season. I’m talking about the Kentucky Derby. And, if you’re like me, you know who will be running where, you’re paying attention to what horse certain jockeys are choosing to ride, and you’ve cleared your calendar for the first Saturday in May. Ok, so not everyone is like me I guess, but I do want to get you ready for the Run for the Roses. Like March Madness that ends in April, horse racing is April Madness that ends in May, and horses will be running at 5 different venues across the country over the next two weekends. Let’s take a little preview: This Saturday Illinois Derby The name Todd Pletcher is going to come up a lot over the next page. He has 6 horses currently pointed towards Kentucky and many will say “this could be his year”. While Todd has won 3 consecutive Eclipse Awards (Oscars for horses sans celebrities) he has yet to win a Kentucky Derby, and until you win the Derby, you haven’t “had a year” even though his horses have earned over 65 million dollars through those 3 years, I’d take those years. Todd is sending Cowtown Cat to Illinois: a hard knocking sort who does his best running near the front. However, the favorite could be Co_ _ l_ Bl_ e. That’s right Cobalt Blue, owned by Wheel of Fortune/Jeopardy fame Merv Griffin. Cobalt will most likely try and lead them “gate to wire.” I’ll be at this race so keep a look out for the guy cashing tickets at the window, which will be me. Santa Anita Derby Todd will be saddling 2 horses in this race. The idea should be to keep his horses separate so that each owner has a chance to win, but with 6 horses and 5 races there has to be some overlap. Both Sam P and King of the Roxy are headed here. Garret Gomez is the rider for Todd Pletcher on the West Coast, and might have a choice as to who he can ride. Seeing that he rides horses for a living he might have a little more insight than you and me; keep an eye on where he goes. You might also see a familiar face; Tiago is the half brother to Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and there is some family resemblance, no one is giving him a chance just like his brother. The favorite in the race could be Liquidity, but he only won his first race, and is 0 for 5 since. Should be a wide open race. Wood Memorial New York seems to be the Mecca for any athlete who might have a psychological condition: A-rod cries when you boo him, Chuck Knoblauch forgot how to throw, Isiah Thomas lost his sanity, and this is where Nobiz like Shobiz will make his next start. Nobiz was #1 on a lot of people’s lists at the start of the year, but he’s gotten into the habit of not running in a straight line (pretty bad habit for a horse running races), especially when he gets close the finish line, they call it lugging in. Barclay Tagg (remember him as Funny Cide’s trainer) will try and do everything possible to cure the problem for this race, adding blinkers, acupuncture, and a sit down w/ Dr Phil. His main competition will come from Circular Quay, recent winner of the Louisiana Derby and guess what…trained by Todd Pletcher. Don’t worry if he’s in last place for most of the race, he comes flying at the end. Saturday the 14th Arkansas Derby I gotta let you know this is probably the weakest prep race. Todd sends Deadly Dealer, and horse racing fans still don’t know much about that horse. The horse to watch is Curlin. He will be making only his 3rd lifetime start. Compare that to another horse in this race, Teuflesberg, who has run 14 times. Steve Asmussen is the trainer of Curlin, and is a well known trainer (for being suspended for 6 months last year), and if he goes forward Curlin will be bucking a lot of Derby history. Blue Grass Stakes This is the race everyone is waiting for. This prep is loaded: 2 year old champ Street Sense, Todd’s Any Given Saturday, Great Hunter (Bob Lewis Stakes winner), Hard Spun (Lane’s End Winner), and Ketchikan (La Derby 2nd place). I won’t guarantee much, but the favorite on Derby Day will win this race. Street Sense will be the favorite in the race. Carl Nafzger is his trainer and Carl’s claim to fame is saying that he loved a 92 year old women on national television. (He trained Unbridled to a Kentucky Derby win for owner Frances Genter) Last Saturday Florida Derby Only 2 horses over the past 51 years have won the Kentucky Derby off of a 5 week layoff: Needles and last year’s winner Barbaro. Is last week’s winner Scat Daddy as special? Again trained by Todd this horse has been at the top of his game since setting foot on a track, having won 5 of 8 races and winning $1.3 million, but his losses are to Street Sense, Nobiz like Shobiz, & Circular Quay, he’ll need to avenge some losses. Saturday May 5th And they’re off in the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby. Stormello breaks on top with Adore the Gold & Cobalt Blue to his outside. Hard Spun gets in a good spot and the big Nobiz like Shobiz tries to muscle his way closer to the rail. Scat Daddy leads the second pack 7 lengths back. Street Sense & Circular Quay at the back. Along the back stretch, Curlin pushes the pace, Hard Spun right there. Heading into the final turn Stormello still fighting off challengers, Adore the Gold out of gas, Cobalt Blue can’t go on, Any Given Saturday looms a dangerous threat on the outside. Street Sense being hustled forward. Out of the turn they come, Any Given Saturday with a nose lead, Great Hunter pushes through, Street Sense still gaining ground, a furlong to go, Great Hunter and Hard Spun throw is down. Circular Quay charging from the back, Great Hunter with more at the wire it’s Great Hunter followed by Street Sense, Hard Spun, & Scat Daddy.

Derby for Beginners

Kentucky Derby Dirt Yes it’s that time of year again. Only 29 days left till the gates open, wait 2 minutes and crown a new Kentucky Derby winner. Now, if you are like me you’re losing sleep over the Illinois Derby, fretting about the bias at Keeneland, and you’ve already bought and frozen the burgers and hot dogs for the party. What? You’re not like me. Well hopefully this little preview will get some of you excited. Like all good things in America the Derby was stolen from the British (see The Office and American Idol [admit you watch it] , but not Footballers Wives) This will be the 132nd running of the Derby and there’s always a chance there will be a Triple Crown winner (win KD, Preakness, and Belmont) which hasn’t been done since 1978. I don’t really remember Affirmed but in the past 5 years there have been 5 horses that have come close to winning it all. Last year was Afleet Alex who got robbed by a dead rail and a rabbit. Smarty Jones got roughed up in New York, but who doesn’t? Funny Cide got side swiped by a horse that skipped the Preakness. War Emblem lost the Belmont almost as soon as it began. Finally, Point Given screwed up the Derby; he was a little bit of a head case and liked to do back flips. But, for now let’s keep our focus this year’s Derby. And, to get a better picture they’ll be running a few races this weekend and next to really narrow down the field. Think of it as a sort of March Madness in April sans Billy Packer yelling at people. Actually, they ran a race last weekend. The Florida Derby was won by Barbaro (Portuguese for Barbarian or well done). He’s trained by an Olympic silver medal winner Michael Matz who’s never trained a Derby starter before, and who’s trying to do something that hasn’t been done in 50 years. No horse since Needles has won the Derby off a 5 week layoff. After hearing this past Winter Olympians speak, I’m not totally sold on this guy’s smarts. This weekend they’ll race in the Santa Anita Derby [NBC 5pm], Wood Memorial, Illinois Derby [both ABC at 4pm] and follow that up next week with the Arkansas Derby and Blue Grass [both on ABC at 5pm]. Santa Anita Derby This race is headlined by Brother Derek who won the 2 preps leading up to this race. He’s already one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby in the futures pools, but many people aren’t sold. His Dad, Benchmark, gets no respect because he lives in California, not Kentucky and purists don’t think Benchmark could sire a Kentucky Derby winner. The blue bloods would much rather have AP Warrior or Point Determined win. AP Warrior cost 1.3 million as a yearling, and you thought $27k for kindergarten in NYC was crazy, so the pressure is on him. Point Determined only cost 750k, a bargain, and is sired by Point Given (yeah the crazy one). My money still likes Brother Derek, but look for all 3 to go forward to the Derby. Wood Memorial Secretariat once finished second in this race. That’s about the best thing you can say about this year’s race. Bob and John comes from the West Coast to duck Brother Derek and looks to have found an easier spot for his style. Bob and John likes to stalk; not gawker stalker type stalking, but to stay up close to the front, while not in the lead. Keyed Entry is the horse that will be leading the way. I saw him win impressively in Florida. He was running 7.5furlongs (8f =mile) and during that race would have set the course record for 6f, but he had even further to go! Deputy Glitters will be a bit of an outsider, but he’s ridden by Monmouth jockey Jose Lezcano, so I’ll be rooting for the home team. Illionois Derby No one really wants to talk about this race. It’s the NFC West of horse racing. Cause to Believe plays the role of the Seahawks as a dominant winner of his last outing. My Golden Song is trained by Todd Pletcher who is a top trainer, has the most horses headed to Kentucky, and never has a hair out of place. Equate My Golden Song to Malik Rose of the Knicks, and he’s the second choice! Arkansas Derby The favorite for this race will be Lawyer Ron, yeah doesn’t put chills down my spine either. But having won the same races as Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones this horse has some credentials. Not every trainer is as impressed with the Lawyer and there are quite a few Derby candidates in the race. Private Vow already has a win over Churchill Downs and is looking to get back there; he needs a rebound from a previous poor effort. I’m personally rooting for High Cotton. Why? Because I already bet him at 62-1 to win the Derby back in January and he’s higher up the Pletcher food chain. Blue Grass Stakes Storm Cat was an ok race horse, but as a sire he is the best in the world, and commands $500,000 per “date” with a mare. In this race two of his best offspring meet. First Samurai finished second in last year’s Breeder’s Cup and finished second behind Keyed Entry at Gulfstream. He needs to improve on his seconditis. Not only is Bluegrass Cat’s dad Storm Cat his mom’s dad is AP Indy (stud fee $300,000) winner of the Belmont. He has a nice pedigree to say the least and could be the favorite in the race. Finally, the outsider to this family reunion is Strong Contender, who is just what his name says. He must have a win here to get the graded earnings he needs to qualify for the Derby. The Kentucky Derby And they’re off in the 132nd Kentucky Derby. Keyed Entry breaks well and goes for an early lead; he’s seeing some pressure from High Cotton and My Golden Song and Brother Derek looks keen. First Samurai, Barbaro, and Private Vow keep close. Lawyer Ron a little further back than he’d like with Sunriver, Deputy Glitters, Bluegrass Cat, and AP Warrior. Near the back is With a City and Cause to Believe and in his favorite spot way at the back is Red Raymond. The first 6 furlongs in 1:13, very legitimate pace as the field enters the far turn it’s still Keyed Entry on the lead. The horse from Dubai, Discreet Cat, looms large on the outside with Barbaro and First Samurai down closer to the rail. Red Raymond starts his run as High Cotton and Private Vow run out of theirs. Out of the turn they come and Discreet Cat has put a head in front. Keyed Entry tires and lugs in towards the rail, the hole opens up, Barbaro charges to the front. AP Warrior right behind. Brother Derek goes very wide. Deputy Glitters getting to his best stride, First Samurai is game, Red Raymond running out of room, Lawyer Ron still fighting. At the wire it’s Barbaro followed by Lawyer Ron, AP Warrior, and First Samurai.

Part II

The Blue Grass $750,000 (Lexington, Kentucky) This will be the toughest prep, and like the ACC, a lot of horses are going to go to the big dance no matter what. Even though Wake Forest folded to a bunch of hillbillies; I digress. My favorite: Consolidator. True, money is talking because I made a 50-1 futures wager on him in January to win the Derby, and he is currently 6-1. His last win was the most impressive of the season. He ran away from Wilko, Golden Shine, Giacomo, and Don’t Get Mad. He is trained by D. Wayne Lukas who has had plenty of success at the Derby, saddling 4 Kentucky Derby Winners. You can recognize Consolidator in the Oregon Green and Gold as that is where the owners Bob and Beverly Lewis met 486 years ago. They paid $1.25 million for him, and they collect social security. Sun King (SK) is another Zito horse who has really turned it on this year. He finished 3rd in the BC juvenile last year, but Zito held him back to allowance races early in the year and then let him loose in the Tampa Bay Derby where he romped as a huge favorite. SK is sired by Charismatic, 1999 KD winner who was owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis so it’s a very small world in horse racing. One quick mention of High Limit, who totally screwed up my exacta in a previous race, runs on the lead and they’ll have to pressure him early to get to him. He is trained by Bobby Frankel who totally bothers me. The Arkansas Derby $750,000 (are you really looking here?) This race was made famous by Smarty Jones last year. This year brings a familiar situation. John Servis brings another super horse who started in Philadelphia to Arkansas. This time the horse cost $1.4million, so he’s pretty well bred and already well known. Rockport Harbor, sired by Unbridled’s Song could be the favorite for the Derby off of a win here. It’s in his genes. His dad was leading the race with 400 yards to go, but slowed down and lost. Greater Good is the horse on the hot streak, having won his last 4 races and beating Rocky last out. However, he just gets it done and seems to be a plodder. Afleet Alex is the Rodney Dangerfield of the ‘field.’ He is always in contention, has won a lot of money, but seems to have fallen out of focus because of his last race. He ran a poor effort, but was found to have a lung infection. I can’t run if my socks are too tight, so I think he had an excuse. Ok so I have named 12 horses, how can I go wrong? The Kentucky Derby $2,000,000 And there off in the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby. High Limit gets a clean break a gets a short lead on Rockport Harbor, Afleet Alex, and High Fly. In behind them come Greater Good, Sweet Catomine, Consolidator, Wilko, and Bellamy Road. The first quarter clicks off in 23.5, a blistering pace. Down the back stretch it’s Rockport Harbor applying the pressure on High Limit, the two are neck and neck as they approach the far turn. Sweet Catomine and Afleet Alex are sitting in the garden spot close to the rail right off of the leaders. Sun King, the Saudi owned Blues and Royals, Consolidator, High Fly and Bellamy Road still have a shot. The late running Don’t Get Mad is reeling them in from the rear and is only 10 lengths off the leaders. Coming out of the far turn High Limit and Rockport Harbor seem leg weary. Afleet Alex is swung out three wide turning for home and Sweet Catomine is out in the 4 spot. Consolidator with a late burst finds a hole on the rail turning for home. Bellamy Road and Wilko now passing the finished Rockport Harbor and High Limit… Don’t Get Mad, Survivalist passing horses but not gaining... 4 horses all within 3 lengths of each other... At the wire… It’s Consolidator, Wilko, Sweet Catomine, and Afleet Alex.

Part I

The Kentucky Derby Dirt everything can change, and horses will be moved around, but this is the way I see it. There are only 4 weeks left to my favorite day of the year. The Kentucky Derby is closing fast, and like every year I want to catch everyone up to where all the contenders currently stand. There are not many horse racing fans, but I promise it is not degenerate gambling and steroids like many believe. That would be baseball. This weekend begins the first of 2 weekends full of final preps for the Derby. They will be running the Illinois Derby, Santa Anita Derby, and the Wood Memorial this weekend. Next weekend we have the Arkansas Derby, and the Blue Grass Stakes. All of these events will be on TV; this weekend NBC, next weekend ESPN. Illinois Derby $500,000 (Illinois, duh) This Derby prep is pretty much the weak link, and if it was on Survivor it would be on the Ulong Tribe. I do not expect much to come from this race. The favorite could be Galloping Grocer (GG). He is named in honor of his owner the late Ira Waldbaum, yes that Walbaum’s. Galloping Grocer is best known for finishing second to another high profile horse Rockport Harbor whom I’ll get to. But, being known for finishing second is not much better than not being known in the first place. GG’s most recent races have been poor at best. He is the beaten favorite the last two times, and needs a big effort here to punch his ticket to the Derby. Yes, this is the cream of the crop for this race. Another horse who might be a little under the radar is Pavo. One of the craziest sights I have ever seen racing happened to him in his last race. His rider fell out of the stirrups half way through the race. Imagine the floor of your car disappearing on the Garden State Parkway. This left the jockey to pretty much ride the horse bareback the entire stretch. With what looked like a 115 pound fish out of water on his back Pavo fought bravely on and finished second. He was later disqualified to 4th because his jockey hit another horse in the face. How can one not improve off a race like that? The Santa Anita Derby $750,000 (California) Remember Chyna from the WWE? You couldn’t be 100% sure she was a she, and then she did Playboy and you still questioned it? Sweet Catomine (SC) is one of the largest horses running in the Santa Anita, and she is a filly. She romped home in the Breeder’s Cup Filly Juvenile in a faster time than the boys did that day, and since then she’s been on the Derby list. 38 Fillies have started in the Derby and only 3 have won. The last was Winning Colors in 1988. SC is following in the same footsteps. A win or second in the SA Derby will put her in the Derby. She should be the favorite this weekend. The other horse to watch in this race is Wilko. He ran in that ‘other’ juvenile race on Breeder’s Cup day slower than SC. He was the longest shot on the board, and a $2 win bet paid $58.60. Yeah, I didn’t have it either. However, since then he finished a close 3rd to Declan’s Moon (champion 2yo colt) in the Hollywood Futurity. One final mention for the horse Don’t Get Mad a clever named son of Stephen Got Even. This horse won’t be on your television screen until the final 13 seconds of the race. He loves to fall back and make one big run, and always makes that run. The Wood Memorial $750,000 (New York) There is a chance that Nick Zito will saddle every horse in the Kentucky Derby. As of right now he has 4 major contenders for the race, one of them Bellamy Road will be running here in New York. And, what is so special about Bellamy Road? He is owned by George Steinbrenner. Just when you thought the Yankee Empire could get no bigger it branches out into horse racing. He won’t be wearing pin-stripes but it won’t be smart to bet against him; he was won 3 out of his 4 starts and switches over to one of the best trainers ever. The other notable is Survivalist. He is probably the most regally bred. His dam (mother) is a full sibling to Seeking the Gold who won $2,300,000 in his career. I’m excited to find a $5 bill in my back pocket. Survivalist is owned by Ogden Phipps whose family have been in horse racing since the beginning and have a familiar name if you’ve heard of Phipps’ Chips. The trainer is Shug McGaughey (with a name like Shug, what else could he do) a hall of famer.