Some Reflections on the Derby

Bob Hill
TSV Feature Writer —-

The outcome of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby was settled at the start. Rock Your World and Essential Quality bumped hard enough that Rock Your World lost all chance of being forwardly placed.
Essential Quality was cast wide on the turns and lost ground. With no pace challenge from any but the green Soup and Sandwich, Medina Spirit was on his way.

Make no mistake, Medina Spirit deserved to win with a gutsy performance. Mandaloun proved he’s as good as advertised prior to his still unexplained Louisiana Derby.

Speaking of that race, how key was the Crescent City affair? The top four finishers went 2nd, (Mandaloun), 3rd (Hot Rod Charlie), 5th (O Besos), and 6th (Midnight Bourbon) in the Kentucky Derby.

As I expected, the Wood, Florida Derby, and Arkansas Derby were exposed as weak races this year. Pletcher’s quartet was second tier. Brad Cox fell victim to some bad racing luck, and his pair are real deals in this crop.

I expect Medina Spirit to get early pace pressure in the Preakness. That race will be a good one to watch and bet. Although this crop seems to lack a star colt, the rest of the 3yo season should be fun.

I, for one, do not believe any Derby prep run on synthetics should be a 100 point contest. Although synthetics look like dirt, they just are not comparable surfaces. Now that Twin Spires owns Turfway the practice will continue. Let’s hope the new owners replace the current surface with dirt!

In researching this year’s race I revisited the record of Holy Bull. In his 3yo campaign he won the Florida Derby, the Bluegrass, the Haskell, and the Travers. He finished 12th in the Derby. Now, that is what a super star colt does!