Kentucky Derby 151: A look at the starters

By Rick Francis —-

The first Saturday in May once again brings us the annual “Run for the Roses”, the Kentucky Derby. The 151st edition of “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sport” will feature 20 three-year-olds in the starting gate eack looking for their place in racing immortality and the winners share of the record $5 million purse. Below I’ve posted my thoughts on the starters; my selections and those of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Gretna Jockey Club will follow in the next couple days; Comments welcomed!

1) Citizen Bull (Garcia/Baffert); 2-time Grade 1 winner folded last out in 1st distance test; don’t be quick to turn your backs on this guy or his connections.
2) Neoequos (Prat/Joseph; as with aforementioned colt, this one wants the early lead but also appears to be distance challenged.
3) Final Gambit (Machado/Cox); on a 2-race win streak each in last to first style; barn will have him ready.
4) Rodriquez (Smith/Baffert); shipped cross-country to secure his Derby spot with a dominant Wood Memorial win, but his race chart has shown step back efforts in next outs; becoming the “wise guys” play.
5) American Promise (Juarez/Lukas); took 6 starts to break maiden and another three to qualify; maybe Preakness.
6) Admire Daytona (Lemaire/Kato); Japanese import got up by a nose to take UAE Derby and his trip to Louisville; he’ll have to beat me.
Luxor Cafe (Moreira/Hori); also ships in from Japan; this American Pharoah colt has won 4-straight and will be ready to run.
8) Jounalism (Rispoli/McCarthy); pre-race favorite, son of Curlin has been impressive in winning four straight, concern is in 4 of 5 career starts he’s faced only four rivals; a short price with a big field. shaky,
9) Burnham Square (Hernandez, B.Jr/Wilkes); son of Liam’s Map and the field’s lone gelding, racing 5-wide came from last to nose out a Grade 1 Blue Grass victory; with a solid work here I look for another strong effort.
10) Grande (Velazquez/Pletcher); a non-threatening second in the Wood punched this Curlin colt’s Derby ticket; connections know how to win the blanket of Roses but feel this one is a stretch.
11) Flying Mohawk (Ramos/Beckman); blinkers come off for this Japanese bred son of Karakontie as he try’s dirt for the first time; don’t see it.
12) East Avenue (Franco/Walsh); returning to Keeneland where he won the G1 Breeders’Futurity , colt out of Medaglia d’Oro led every step of the Blue Grass except the last; maybe.
13) Publisher (Ortiz, I.Jr/Asmussen); the field’s only maiden. American Pharoah colt did just enough in the Arkansas Derby to qualify for the 1st Saturday in May signature race and literally everyone suggests he’s an up and comer, give me “skins on the wall” proof.
14) Tiztastic (Rosario/Asmussen); stablemate of Publisher and winner of the La. Derby, which by the way is the longest of the “Road to the Derby” contests, is proven in Graded Stakes, distance and field sizes. Connections are second to none just not getting that warm fuzzy feeling with this one.
15) Render Judgment (Leparoux/McPeek); Blame colt is another who proves it only takes one effort and not a winning one to get you into the greatest horse race; pass.
16) Coal Battle (Vargas/Briley); hard knocking Coal Front colt is the race’s feel good story. Winner of four straight before what I considered a “bounce” in the Arkansas Derby. He’s bringing his “young at heart” trainer to his first derby as a conditioner, I can’t leave him out of exotics.
17) Sandman (Ortiz, J/Casse); gray son of Tapit has been trading licks with several in here and bested a few last out in the Arkansas Derby with a near last to first effort; he gets the trip and it’s over.
18) Sovereignty (Alvarado/Mott); was gaining fast in Florida Derby just ran out of track. Connections should like this post to see how things shake out and pick their spot for that late kick of his; he’s one of the ones.
19 Chunk of Gold (Loveberry/West); watched this minimally priced colt by Preservationest’s last two starts at FG in both Risen Star and La. Derby, he was within striking distance of Tiztastic but wasn’t gonna run that guy down; what he has proven in those starts is a knack to hang around and blow up exotic wagers.
20) Owen Almighty (Castellano/Lunch); as far as Derby points go to enter, this Speightstown colt has every right to load Saturday but myself along with many racing pundits believe he’s better suited for the Pat Day Mile, we shall see.
ALSO ELIGIBLE 21) Baeza (Prat/Shirreffs); clock ticking on eligibilty for Santa Anita Derby runnerup.