Wide-open race expected at Kentucky Derby
Rain in forecast as many seek history
Associated Press
Posted: 05/03/2013 11:04:17 PM MDT
Rain in forecast as many seek history
Associated Press
Posted: 05/03/2013 11:04:17 PM MDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A trainer flooding the field with five horses. A black jockey trying to make history, and a woman rider, too. Louisville coach Rick Pitino seeking a double -- champions in racing and basketball. He's sure in the right place. The 19-horse field for today's Kentucky Derby is balanced, with no definitive favorite.
Orb is the pre-race choice, just barely. Nearly overshadowed is his trainer, Shug McGaughey, who really, really wants this race. Doug O'Neill trying to win back-to-back. And then there's the threat of rain, which has done in some of the best-laid plans on race day.
It sure looks like a topsy-turvy Derby.
"I don't think we've got Secretariat in this bunch, even Seattle Slew," four-time Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, "so I think it's going to boil down to the trip and the pace and a lot of other things."
Todd Pletcher will saddle a record-tying five horses -- undefeated and early second choice Verrazano, Revolutionary, Overanalyze, Palace Malice and Charming Kitten.
"We laid out a plan to get here with them, and it's all come down pretty much like we hoped," said Pletcher, who has one Derby win with 31 previous starters.
Verrazano is 4-0 in his young career, not having run as a 2-year-old. He'll be trying to disprove an old Derby jinx: no horse since Apollo in 1882 has won without racing as a juvenile.
Relative unknown Kevin Krigger will be aboard Goldencents, trying to become the first black jockey to win since Jimmy Winkfield in 1902.
"I'm going to ride us the race that should get us to the Kentucky Derby winner's circle," Krigger said.The colt is partly owned by Pitino, whose Cardinals won the NCAA championship last month. The coach recently got elected to basketball's Hall of Fame, so a Derby win would complete the ultimate trifecta.
Rosie Napravnik wants to grab history for herself, too.
No female jockey has ever won the Derby, although she came closest, with a ninth-place finish in 2011. Napravnik will ride 15-1 long shot Mylute.
"He feels great, he's acting great and I'm very confident heading into the Derby," she said.
Orb was the narrow 7-2 early favorite for the 139th Derby. He comes in on a four-race winning streak for McGaughey, the 62-year-old trainer whose Hall of Fame résumé lacks a Derby victory. He's making his second appearance since 1989, when he finished second with Easy Goer.
"I hope the track is fast and safe for everybody and nobody has any excuses, and let the best horse win," McGaughey said.
Kentucky Derby odds
Field for today's 139th Kentucky Derby, with post position, horse's name, jockey's name and odds:
PP Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
2. Oxbow Gary Stevens 30-1
3. Revolutionary Calvin Borel 10-1
4. Golden Soul Robby Albarado 50-1
5. Normandy Invasion J. Castellano 12-1
6. Mylute Rosie Napravnik 15-1
7. Giant Finish Jose Espinoza 50-1
8. Goldencents Kevin Krigger 5-1
9. Overanalyze Rafael Bejarano 15-1
10. Palace Malice Mike Smith 20-1
11. Lines of Battle R. Moore 30-1
12. Itsmyluckyday Elvis Trujillo 15-1
13. Falling Sky Luis Saez 50-1
14. Verrazano John Velazquez 4-1
15. Charming Kitten E. Prado 20-1
16. Orb Joel Rosario 7-2
17. Will Take Charge J.Court 20-1
18. Frac Daddy Victor Lebron 50-1
19. Java's War Julien Leparoux 15-1
20. Vyjack Garrett Gomez 15-1
Trainers (by post position): 2, D. Wayne Lukas. 3, Todd Pletcher. 4, Dallas Stewart. 5, Chad Brown. 6, Tom Amoss. 7, Anthony Dutrow. 8, Doug O'Neill. 9, Todd Pletcher. 10, Todd Pletcher. 11, Aidan O'Brien. 12, Eddie Plesa Jr. 13, John Terranova II. 14, Todd Pletcher. 15, Todd Pletcher. 16, Shug McGaughey. 17, D. Wayne Lukas. 18, Kenny McPeek. 19, Kenny McPeek. 20, Rudy Rodriguez. 21, Mike Maker.
Owners (by post position): 2, Calumet Farm. 3, WinStar Farm LLC. 4, Charles E. Fipke. 5, Fox Hill Farms. 6, GoldMark Farm, LLC. and Whisper Hills Farm. 7. Sunrise Stables, Gary Tolchin, Aubrey Flanagan & Bob Smith 8, W.C. Racing, Dave Kenney & RAP Racing. 9, Repole Stable. 10, Dogwood Stable. 11, Joseph Allen, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith. 12, Trilogy Stable & Laurie Plesa. 13, Newtown Anner Stud, James Covello & Joseph Bulger. 14, Let's Go Stable. 15, Ken and Sarah Ramsey. 16, Stuart Janney III & Phipps Stable. 17, Willis D. Horton. 18, Magic City Thoroughbred Partners. 19, Charles E. Fipke. 20, Pick Six Racing. 21, Frank Irvin.
Weights: 126 pounds. Distance: 1¼ miles. Purse: $2,199,800 if 20 start. First place: $1,439,800. Second place: $400,000. Third place: $200,000. Fourth place: $100,000. Fifth place: $60,000. Post time: 4:24 p.m. MDT.
Note: Black Onyx scratched, the No. 1 post will be vacant.
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Orb is the pre-race choice, just barely. Nearly overshadowed is his trainer, Shug McGaughey, who really, really wants this race. Doug O'Neill trying to win back-to-back. And then there's the threat of rain, which has done in some of the best-laid plans on race day.
It sure looks like a topsy-turvy Derby.
"I don't think we've got Secretariat in this bunch, even Seattle Slew," four-time Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, "so I think it's going to boil down to the trip and the pace and a lot of other things."
Todd Pletcher will saddle a record-tying five horses -- undefeated and early second choice Verrazano, Revolutionary, Overanalyze, Palace Malice and Charming Kitten.
"We laid out a plan to get here with them, and it's all come down pretty much like we hoped," said Pletcher, who has one Derby win with 31 previous starters.
Verrazano is 4-0 in his young career, not having run as a 2-year-old. He'll be trying to disprove an old Derby jinx: no horse since Apollo in 1882 has won without racing as a juvenile.
Relative unknown Kevin Krigger will be aboard Goldencents, trying to become the first black jockey to win since Jimmy Winkfield in 1902.
"I'm going to ride us the race that should get us to the Kentucky Derby winner's circle," Krigger said.The colt is partly owned by Pitino, whose Cardinals won the NCAA championship last month. The coach recently got elected to basketball's Hall of Fame, so a Derby win would complete the ultimate trifecta.
Rosie Napravnik wants to grab history for herself, too.
No female jockey has ever won the Derby, although she came closest, with a ninth-place finish in 2011. Napravnik will ride 15-1 long shot Mylute.
"He feels great, he's acting great and I'm very confident heading into the Derby," she said.
Orb was the narrow 7-2 early favorite for the 139th Derby. He comes in on a four-race winning streak for McGaughey, the 62-year-old trainer whose Hall of Fame résumé lacks a Derby victory. He's making his second appearance since 1989, when he finished second with Easy Goer.
"I hope the track is fast and safe for everybody and nobody has any excuses, and let the best horse win," McGaughey said.
Kentucky Derby odds
Field for today's 139th Kentucky Derby, with post position, horse's name, jockey's name and odds:
PP Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
2. Oxbow Gary Stevens 30-1
3. Revolutionary Calvin Borel 10-1
4. Golden Soul Robby Albarado 50-1
5. Normandy Invasion J. Castellano 12-1
6. Mylute Rosie Napravnik 15-1
7. Giant Finish Jose Espinoza 50-1
8. Goldencents Kevin Krigger 5-1
9. Overanalyze Rafael Bejarano 15-1
10. Palace Malice Mike Smith 20-1
11. Lines of Battle R. Moore 30-1
12. Itsmyluckyday Elvis Trujillo 15-1
13. Falling Sky Luis Saez 50-1
14. Verrazano John Velazquez 4-1
15. Charming Kitten E. Prado 20-1
16. Orb Joel Rosario 7-2
17. Will Take Charge J.Court 20-1
18. Frac Daddy Victor Lebron 50-1
19. Java's War Julien Leparoux 15-1
20. Vyjack Garrett Gomez 15-1
Trainers (by post position): 2, D. Wayne Lukas. 3, Todd Pletcher. 4, Dallas Stewart. 5, Chad Brown. 6, Tom Amoss. 7, Anthony Dutrow. 8, Doug O'Neill. 9, Todd Pletcher. 10, Todd Pletcher. 11, Aidan O'Brien. 12, Eddie Plesa Jr. 13, John Terranova II. 14, Todd Pletcher. 15, Todd Pletcher. 16, Shug McGaughey. 17, D. Wayne Lukas. 18, Kenny McPeek. 19, Kenny McPeek. 20, Rudy Rodriguez. 21, Mike Maker.
Owners (by post position): 2, Calumet Farm. 3, WinStar Farm LLC. 4, Charles E. Fipke. 5, Fox Hill Farms. 6, GoldMark Farm, LLC. and Whisper Hills Farm. 7. Sunrise Stables, Gary Tolchin, Aubrey Flanagan & Bob Smith 8, W.C. Racing, Dave Kenney & RAP Racing. 9, Repole Stable. 10, Dogwood Stable. 11, Joseph Allen, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith. 12, Trilogy Stable & Laurie Plesa. 13, Newtown Anner Stud, James Covello & Joseph Bulger. 14, Let's Go Stable. 15, Ken and Sarah Ramsey. 16, Stuart Janney III & Phipps Stable. 17, Willis D. Horton. 18, Magic City Thoroughbred Partners. 19, Charles E. Fipke. 20, Pick Six Racing. 21, Frank Irvin.
Weights: 126 pounds. Distance: 1¼ miles. Purse: $2,199,800 if 20 start. First place: $1,439,800. Second place: $400,000. Third place: $200,000. Fourth place: $100,000. Fifth place: $60,000. Post time: 4:24 p.m. MDT.
Note: Black Onyx scratched, the No. 1 post will be vacant.
Source