LET'S GO TO THE RACES
KENTUCK DERBY SPECIAL
A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!)
NOTE:AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY.
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Kentucky Derby field is set, gate positions have been drawn, and Morning Line odds have been determined. Below are quick links to get up to speed on each horse.
Note: Check back for updates, including the Oaks and the undercard action Friday and Saturday.
The top two morning-line
favorites for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) both
drew fairly well in outside posts when post positions were selected May 1 at
Churchill Downs.
The draw was conducted under normal "blind
draw" conditions by Churchill Downs'
Ben Huffman and Dan Bork. Twenty horses can start in the Derby and 21 passed
the entry box. Fear the Kitten
is the lone also-eligible colt on that list.
Orb,
a homebred for Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable, is riding a four-race win
streak and drew post 16 of 20. The "buzz horse" of the backstretch
Derby week was installed the 7-2 morning line favorite by oddsmaker Mike
Battaglia.
Read more at source
Kentucky Derby: Orb favorite from post
16; Verrazano to break from 14
Nicole Russo for DRF
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -
Florida Derby winner Orb drew post 16 and was pegged as the 7-2 morning-line
favorite as the field for the 139th Kentucky Derby was finalized Wednesday
evening at Churchill Downs.
As expected, an
overflow field of 21 horses was entered for the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky
Derby, which is limited to 20 starters. This year, Churchill Downs implemented
a system tallying points in designated races as the tiebreaker if more than 20
enter, scrapping the previous system based on graded stakes earnings. Giant
Finish, who was declared as a starter on Tuesday, was the final horse into the
main body of the field with 10 points, leapfrogging Fear the Kitten, who has
only six points. Last year, Churchill Downs re-instated an also-eligible list
allowing up to four horses; Fear the Kitten may run if there are any
withdrawals from the main body of the field by scratch time, 9 a.m. Friday.
Many ceded Derby
favoritism to Verrazano after the colt remained unbeaten with a victory in the
Wood Memorial on April 6. However, support for Orb steadily grew in the week
leading up to the race, reaching a fever pitch when the colt turned in an
impressive final workout Monday morning at Churchill Downs, cruising four
furlongs in 47.89 seconds. Verrazano, who landed post 14 for the Derby, was
tabbed as the 4-1 second choice by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. Read more at source
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Horses are listed in gate order. Under each horse you will find easy access to each horse's profile, connections, race replays, past performances, pedigree summary, and more.
You might also want to check in at Mary Cage's "Past The Grandsand" analysis of the Derby field. She goes more in depth to discuss each horse's ability to go the distance.
"Past The Grandstand"
Note: Be sure to use the back button after visiting each link.
BLACK ONYX
Post 1, 50-1
Derby profile SCRATCHED
DRF profile and video replays The gate position will be left open.
TVG video profile
Past performances
Black Onyx likely inherits sufficient stamina from his sire Rock Hard Ten, who didn't have the graded earnings to make the 2004 Kentucky Derby field.
OXBOW
Post 2, 30-1
Derby profile
DRF profile and race replays
Past performances
BloodHorse video
Oxbow's pedigree is shot through with Breeders' Cup Classic connections on both sides, making him well suited to the 1 1/4-mile distance of the Kentucky Derby. His sire, Awesome Again, scored four major victories at 1 1/4 miles, highlighted by Canada's prestigious Queen's Plate in just his third career start and the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic over a stellar field including Derby-winning champion Silver Charm.
REVOLUTIONARY
Post 3, 10-1
Derby profile
DRF profile and video replays
TVG Video profile
Louisiana Derby replay
Revolutionary is a strong candidate for the classic distance, for he stands to inherit plenty of stamina from his dam, 1997 Alabama heroine Runup the Colors. He gets high-class speed from his sire War Pass, the undefeated champion two-year-old colt of 2007. War Pass swept his first five starts, including the Champagne and Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but his Derby hopes were thwarted during the spring of 2008. He retired from racing following his runner-up effort in the Wood Memorial.
GOLDEN SOUL
Post 4, 50-1
Derby profile
DRF profile and video replays
Past performances
Dallas Stewart on Golden Soul - video
Golden Soul should thrive at 1 1/4 miles, but if his pedigree is any indication, he's likely to find his true home on turf. His sire, Perfect Soul, ranked as the Canadian champion turf horse of 2003. Although the son of supersire Sadler's Wells won over as far as 1 3/8 miles, he excelled from a mile to nine furlongs. Perfect Soul especially loved Keeneland, where he landed the Shadwell Turf Mile and came back to set a course record in the Maker's Mark Mile. His two leading offspring are likewise turf aficionados, 2011 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl and 2009 Breeders' Stakes scorer Perfect Shower.
Normandy Invasion's pedigree is a mixture of speed and residual stamina, offering reasonable hope that the Derby distance is within his compass. He could also receive further heft from deeper in his female line, which descends from 1926 champion Fair Star and has continued to produce quality runners over the decades, including champions Fairy Chant and Parlo and Hall of Famer Arts and Letters. In more recent times, another branch of this line was responsible for 1996 Derby hero Grindstone.
ACROSS THE POND - IT'S DERBY TIME!
HRTV plans to cover all of the races from the UK
for both days. TwinSpires will also carry the meet. There should be several
YouTube sites that will upload the race replays. All of the race replays will
also be available in the following day's TDN. RacingUK's YouTube channel Direct link to RacingUK to watch free replays of races: RacingUK web site - free replay videos
