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Post Horse Jockey Trainer M/L Odds
1. Limehouse J. Santos T. Pletcher 30-1
2. Song of the Sword N. Arroyo Jr. J. Pedersen 30-1
3. Lion Heart M. Smith P. Biancone 10-1
4. Action This Day D. Flores R. Mandella 30-1
5. Wimbledon J. Bailey B. Baffert 15-1
6. Friends Lake R. Migliore J. Kimmel 15-1
7. Minister Eric P. Day R. Mandella 30-1
8. Master David A. Solis R. Frankel 12-1
9. St Averil T. Baze R. Becerra 30-1
10. Imperialism K. Desormeaux K. Mulhall 15-1
11. The Cliff's Edge S. Sellers N. Zito 4-1
12. Borrego V. Espinoza B. Greely 20-1
13. Birdstone E. Prado N. Zito 50-1
14. Read the Footnotes R. Albarado R. Violette 12-1
15. Smarty Jones S. Elliott J. Servis 9-2
16. Castledale J. Valdivia Jr. J. Mullins 15-1
17. Pollard's Vision J. Velazquez T. Pletcher 20-1
18. Tapit R. Dominguez M. Dickinson 8-1
19. Pro Prado J. McKee R. Holthus 30-1
20. Quintons Gold Rush C. Nakatani S. Asmussen 20-1
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Post Horse Jockey Trainer M/L Odds
1. Limehouse J. Santos T. Pletcher 30-1
2. Song of the Sword N. Arroyo Jr. J. Pedersen 30-1
3. Lion Heart M. Smith P. Biancone 10-1
4. Action This Day D. Flores R. Mandella 30-1
5. Wimbledon J. Bailey B. Baffert 15-1
6. Friends Lake R. Migliore J. Kimmel 15-1
7. Minister Eric P. Day R. Mandella 30-1
8. Master David A. Solis R. Frankel 12-1
9. St Averil T. Baze R. Becerra 30-1
10. Imperialism K. Desormeaux K. Mulhall 15-1
11. The Cliff's Edge S. Sellers N. Zito 4-1
12. Borrego V. Espinoza B. Greely 20-1
13. Birdstone E. Prado N. Zito 50-1
14. Read the Footnotes R. Albarado R. Violette 12-1
15. Smarty Jones S. Elliott J. Servis 9-2
16. Castledale J. Valdivia Jr. J. Mullins 15-1
17. Pollard's Vision J. Velazquez T. Pletcher 20-1
18. Tapit R. Dominguez M. Dickinson 8-1
19. Pro Prado J. McKee R. Holthus 30-1
20. Quintons Gold Rush C. Nakatani S. Asmussen 20-1
wil.
Derby Notes:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Nick Zito's world revolves around showing up for the Kentucky Derby.
The trainer has won it twice but not lately. He missed the last two, and there was a brief time a few weeks ago when it looked like he might be out of luck again.
Yes, it's been quite an ordeal for the New York trainer who fondly calls Louisville his second home, but Zito is back in the Derby business. He will saddle 4-1 favorite The Cliff's Edge and 50-1 long shot Birdstone in Saturday's race, and either is quite capable of winning.
''I have two horses with great credentials,'' Zito said. ''If they get in the gate Saturday, I'm just going say, 'Hallelujah!' and go from there.''
A full field of 20 horses was entered for the 1¼-mile Derby on Wednesday, with The Cliff's Edge the slight choice over undefeated Smarty Jones, at 9-2. The Cliff's Edge will leave from the No. 11 post, Birdstone from the No. 13 gate.
It wasn't until The Cliff's Edge won the Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 10 that Zito knew he was headed back to the Derby. Before the race, Zito's two other Derby hopefuls Eurosilver and Birdstone came down with ailments and were pulled out of the Blue Grass.
But a healthy The Cliff's Edge saved the day with a rousing finish to beat Lion Heart by a half-length, and Birdstone has fully recovered from an elevated white blood cell count that jeopardized his Derby chances.
Eurosilver wasn't so lucky. The colt who was high on the list of most Derby polls developed a gland infection and probably won't race again until the fall.
Zito, 56, stayed optimistic despite the setbacks, but once The Cliff's Edge rebounded from two losses by taking the Blue Grass, the trainer couldn't hide his joy.
He blew kisses to the crowd. He bowed. He punched his right fist.
Kentucky Derby here we come.
''Nick was so excited,'' said Shane Sellers, who rides The Cliff's Edge.
Zito has saddled 12 Derby starters, winning with Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go for Gin in 1994. Add The Cliff's Edge and Birdstone to the list, and only three trainers have had more Derby starters.
''Both horses have come up great,'' Zito said, ''and it's time to be here.''
In 2003, Zito won the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby with Bird Town, a half-sister to Birdstone. Zito spent Derby day in Lexington and watched the race on TV. Two years ago, he turned handicapper and correctly picked War Emblem to win.
Now he can choose between his own horses.
The Cliff's Edge, named for Equibase chartcaller Cliff Guilliams, is a big, stout son of Gulch who was 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs last year a 7¾-length win in the Iroquois and a three-quarter-length victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club.
With four wins, two seconds and third in eight starts, the colt has earned $835,258 for owner Robert LaPenta, who bought The Cliff's Edge for $200,000 at the Keeneland yearling sale.
Bobby Frankel, who will send out Master David in search of his first Derby win, said The Cliff's Edge deserves to be the favorite.
''If I was a betting man, that's who I'd bet on,'' Frankel said. ''He ran so well here as a 2-year-old. That's a big edge.''
Zito believes The Cliff's Edge is a worthy favorite, but Birdstone's 50-1 odds amazed the trainer.
''I asked Mike if he had a grandkids because it looks like he's starting a college fund,'' Zito said of Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. ''50-1 is insane! I love Mike, but please!''
Birdstone is a small, still maturing colt his third birthday is May 16 whose sire, Grindstone, won the 1996 Derby. Owned by Saratoga socialite Marylou Whitney, Birdstone became a top Derby contender after winning the Champagne at Belmont Park last year.
But there have been bumps on the road recently. After winning an allowance race in his 3-year-old debut, Birdstone was fifth in the Lane's End at Turfway Park on March 20. The high white blood cell count was only a temporary setback; Birdstone was out for a morning gallop the day of the Blue Grass. Since then, the colt hasn't missed a beat, and Zito isn't worried about history that says the last horse to win the Derby without a race in April was Needles in 1956.
''I know I have two Grade 1 winners, one whose father won the Derby and his sister won the Oaks, and one Grade 1 winner who just won the Blue Grass and two stakes here,'' Zito said. ''I couldn't ask for anything else.''
Neither could Sellers, enjoying a comeback from a severe knee injury that sidelined him for nearly two years until 2002.
''If he improves from the Blue Grass to this race like he did from the Florida Derby to the Blue Grass then I'm sitting on the right horse,'' Sellers said, referring to The Cliff's Edge.
Zito isn't the only trainer with two horses in the field.
Richard Mandella and Todd Pletcher both have two chances for their first Derby victory.
Mandella has Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day and runner-up Minister Eric; Pletcher entered the one-eyed Pollard's Vision and Limehouse.
Action This Day, 0-for-3 this year and recovering from a sore back, will be trying to become the first BC Juvenile winner to take the Derby; the first 19 failed.
Pollard's Vision, named for Seabiscuit's jockey Red Pollard, who was also blind in his right eye, won the Illinois Derby in his last start. The colt will start from the No. 17 gate, an outside post picked because he can't see horses running outside of him.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Nick Zito's world revolves around showing up for the Kentucky Derby.
The trainer has won it twice but not lately. He missed the last two, and there was a brief time a few weeks ago when it looked like he might be out of luck again.
Yes, it's been quite an ordeal for the New York trainer who fondly calls Louisville his second home, but Zito is back in the Derby business. He will saddle 4-1 favorite The Cliff's Edge and 50-1 long shot Birdstone in Saturday's race, and either is quite capable of winning.
''I have two horses with great credentials,'' Zito said. ''If they get in the gate Saturday, I'm just going say, 'Hallelujah!' and go from there.''
A full field of 20 horses was entered for the 1¼-mile Derby on Wednesday, with The Cliff's Edge the slight choice over undefeated Smarty Jones, at 9-2. The Cliff's Edge will leave from the No. 11 post, Birdstone from the No. 13 gate.
It wasn't until The Cliff's Edge won the Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 10 that Zito knew he was headed back to the Derby. Before the race, Zito's two other Derby hopefuls Eurosilver and Birdstone came down with ailments and were pulled out of the Blue Grass.
But a healthy The Cliff's Edge saved the day with a rousing finish to beat Lion Heart by a half-length, and Birdstone has fully recovered from an elevated white blood cell count that jeopardized his Derby chances.
Eurosilver wasn't so lucky. The colt who was high on the list of most Derby polls developed a gland infection and probably won't race again until the fall.
Zito, 56, stayed optimistic despite the setbacks, but once The Cliff's Edge rebounded from two losses by taking the Blue Grass, the trainer couldn't hide his joy.
He blew kisses to the crowd. He bowed. He punched his right fist.
Kentucky Derby here we come.
''Nick was so excited,'' said Shane Sellers, who rides The Cliff's Edge.
Zito has saddled 12 Derby starters, winning with Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go for Gin in 1994. Add The Cliff's Edge and Birdstone to the list, and only three trainers have had more Derby starters.
''Both horses have come up great,'' Zito said, ''and it's time to be here.''
In 2003, Zito won the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby with Bird Town, a half-sister to Birdstone. Zito spent Derby day in Lexington and watched the race on TV. Two years ago, he turned handicapper and correctly picked War Emblem to win.
Now he can choose between his own horses.
The Cliff's Edge, named for Equibase chartcaller Cliff Guilliams, is a big, stout son of Gulch who was 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs last year a 7¾-length win in the Iroquois and a three-quarter-length victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club.
With four wins, two seconds and third in eight starts, the colt has earned $835,258 for owner Robert LaPenta, who bought The Cliff's Edge for $200,000 at the Keeneland yearling sale.
Bobby Frankel, who will send out Master David in search of his first Derby win, said The Cliff's Edge deserves to be the favorite.
''If I was a betting man, that's who I'd bet on,'' Frankel said. ''He ran so well here as a 2-year-old. That's a big edge.''
Zito believes The Cliff's Edge is a worthy favorite, but Birdstone's 50-1 odds amazed the trainer.
''I asked Mike if he had a grandkids because it looks like he's starting a college fund,'' Zito said of Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. ''50-1 is insane! I love Mike, but please!''
Birdstone is a small, still maturing colt his third birthday is May 16 whose sire, Grindstone, won the 1996 Derby. Owned by Saratoga socialite Marylou Whitney, Birdstone became a top Derby contender after winning the Champagne at Belmont Park last year.
But there have been bumps on the road recently. After winning an allowance race in his 3-year-old debut, Birdstone was fifth in the Lane's End at Turfway Park on March 20. The high white blood cell count was only a temporary setback; Birdstone was out for a morning gallop the day of the Blue Grass. Since then, the colt hasn't missed a beat, and Zito isn't worried about history that says the last horse to win the Derby without a race in April was Needles in 1956.
''I know I have two Grade 1 winners, one whose father won the Derby and his sister won the Oaks, and one Grade 1 winner who just won the Blue Grass and two stakes here,'' Zito said. ''I couldn't ask for anything else.''
Neither could Sellers, enjoying a comeback from a severe knee injury that sidelined him for nearly two years until 2002.
''If he improves from the Blue Grass to this race like he did from the Florida Derby to the Blue Grass then I'm sitting on the right horse,'' Sellers said, referring to The Cliff's Edge.
Zito isn't the only trainer with two horses in the field.
Richard Mandella and Todd Pletcher both have two chances for their first Derby victory.
Mandella has Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day and runner-up Minister Eric; Pletcher entered the one-eyed Pollard's Vision and Limehouse.
Action This Day, 0-for-3 this year and recovering from a sore back, will be trying to become the first BC Juvenile winner to take the Derby; the first 19 failed.
Pollard's Vision, named for Seabiscuit's jockey Red Pollard, who was also blind in his right eye, won the Illinois Derby in his last start. The colt will start from the No. 17 gate, an outside post picked because he can't see horses running outside of him.
The Cliff's Edge Slight Derby Favorite
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By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
April 28, 2004, 8:31 PM EDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Cliff's Edge was made the slight 4-1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby and drew the No. 11 post Wednesday. A field of 20 3-year-olds was entered for the 1 1/4-mile race, with undefeated Arkansas Derby winner Smarty Jones the second choice at 9-2. Tapit was the third choice at 8-1.
In 2002, Harlan's Holiday was 9-2, the highest morning line favorite since the line was first published in 1949.
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia had a tough time picking between The Cliff's Edge, trained by Nick Zito, and Smarty Jones, who is 6-0 in his career.
"You can't knock Smarty Jones' record. The Cliff's Edge got a little bit better (speed) number in the Blue Grass," Battaglia said. "Nick Zito has won the Derby twice and The Cliff's Edge has won two races at Churchill Downs. Very, very close, but that's what swung me."
Zito couldn't believe the 50-1 odds -- highest in the race -- assigned to his other entry, Birdstone, the son of 1996 Derby winner Grindstone.
"50-1 is insane. I love Mike, but please," he said.
Zito added, "This probably will be the best betting Derby ever. I don't see any clear-cut favorite."
Smarty Jones' John Servis and Stewart Elliott will try to become the first first-time Derby trainer and jockey combination to win since 1979 when Spectacular Bid won with Ronnie Franklin riding for trainer Bud Delp.
Servis said he wasn't surprised that Smarty Jones wasn't made the favorite.
"We took the route of least resistance. We only ran in one graded stakes," he said.
The colt drew the No. 15 post.
"We like the idea of being the first horse in the auxiliary gate," Servis said. "It leaves a little bit of a margin for error in case he ducks in. It keeps him from getting squeezed off."
Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella goes for his first Derby win with two horses -- Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day and Minister Eric.
Lion Heart was the fourth choice at 10-1. Master David, trained by Bobby Frankel, and Read the Footnotes were the co-fifth choices at 12-1.
"I just played it safe and picked someplace in the middle," Frankel said. "The race will set up with Lion Heart going to the lead. What Smarty Jones does will dictate the whole race."
Four horses were at 15-1: Friends Lake, Imperialism, Wimbledon and Santa Anita Derby winner Castledale.
Three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert selected post five for Wimbledon. Baffert's horse, War Emblem, started there in 2002 and won; last year's winner Funny Cide also broke from No. 5.
"I wanted an inside post. I was hoping to get the five," Baffert said. "He's the kind of horse that's going to be following, he'll be back in the pack somewhere."
The last time 20 horses started the Derby was 1984. That year a rule was made to cap the field at 20, and since then the maximum has yet to be reached.
The field in post position order from the rail out: Limehouse, Jose Santos, 30-1; Song of the Sword, Norberto Arroyo, 30-1; Lion Heart, Mike Smith, 10-1; Action This Day, David Flores, 30-1; Wimbledon, Jerry Bailey, 15-1; Friends Lake, Richard Migliore, 15-1; Minister Eric, Pat Day, 30-1; Master David, Alex Solis, 12-1; St Averil, Tyler Baze, 30-1; Imperialism, Kent Desormeaux, 15-1; The Cliff's Edge, Shane Sellers, 4-1; Borrego, Victor Espinoza, 20-1; Birdstone, Edgar Prado, 50-1; Read the Footnotes, Robby Albarado, 12-1; Smarty Jones, Stewart Elliott, 9-2; Castledale, Jose Valdivia Jr., 15-1; Pollard's Vision, John Velazquez, 20-1; Tapit, Ramon Dominguez, 8-1; Pro Prado, John McKee, 30-1; and Quintons Gold Rush, Corey Nakatani, 20-1.
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By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
April 28, 2004, 8:31 PM EDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Cliff's Edge was made the slight 4-1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby and drew the No. 11 post Wednesday. A field of 20 3-year-olds was entered for the 1 1/4-mile race, with undefeated Arkansas Derby winner Smarty Jones the second choice at 9-2. Tapit was the third choice at 8-1.
In 2002, Harlan's Holiday was 9-2, the highest morning line favorite since the line was first published in 1949.
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia had a tough time picking between The Cliff's Edge, trained by Nick Zito, and Smarty Jones, who is 6-0 in his career.
"You can't knock Smarty Jones' record. The Cliff's Edge got a little bit better (speed) number in the Blue Grass," Battaglia said. "Nick Zito has won the Derby twice and The Cliff's Edge has won two races at Churchill Downs. Very, very close, but that's what swung me."
Zito couldn't believe the 50-1 odds -- highest in the race -- assigned to his other entry, Birdstone, the son of 1996 Derby winner Grindstone.
"50-1 is insane. I love Mike, but please," he said.
Zito added, "This probably will be the best betting Derby ever. I don't see any clear-cut favorite."
Smarty Jones' John Servis and Stewart Elliott will try to become the first first-time Derby trainer and jockey combination to win since 1979 when Spectacular Bid won with Ronnie Franklin riding for trainer Bud Delp.
Servis said he wasn't surprised that Smarty Jones wasn't made the favorite.
"We took the route of least resistance. We only ran in one graded stakes," he said.
The colt drew the No. 15 post.
"We like the idea of being the first horse in the auxiliary gate," Servis said. "It leaves a little bit of a margin for error in case he ducks in. It keeps him from getting squeezed off."
Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella goes for his first Derby win with two horses -- Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day and Minister Eric.
Lion Heart was the fourth choice at 10-1. Master David, trained by Bobby Frankel, and Read the Footnotes were the co-fifth choices at 12-1.
"I just played it safe and picked someplace in the middle," Frankel said. "The race will set up with Lion Heart going to the lead. What Smarty Jones does will dictate the whole race."
Four horses were at 15-1: Friends Lake, Imperialism, Wimbledon and Santa Anita Derby winner Castledale.
Three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert selected post five for Wimbledon. Baffert's horse, War Emblem, started there in 2002 and won; last year's winner Funny Cide also broke from No. 5.
"I wanted an inside post. I was hoping to get the five," Baffert said. "He's the kind of horse that's going to be following, he'll be back in the pack somewhere."
The last time 20 horses started the Derby was 1984. That year a rule was made to cap the field at 20, and since then the maximum has yet to be reached.
The field in post position order from the rail out: Limehouse, Jose Santos, 30-1; Song of the Sword, Norberto Arroyo, 30-1; Lion Heart, Mike Smith, 10-1; Action This Day, David Flores, 30-1; Wimbledon, Jerry Bailey, 15-1; Friends Lake, Richard Migliore, 15-1; Minister Eric, Pat Day, 30-1; Master David, Alex Solis, 12-1; St Averil, Tyler Baze, 30-1; Imperialism, Kent Desormeaux, 15-1; The Cliff's Edge, Shane Sellers, 4-1; Borrego, Victor Espinoza, 20-1; Birdstone, Edgar Prado, 50-1; Read the Footnotes, Robby Albarado, 12-1; Smarty Jones, Stewart Elliott, 9-2; Castledale, Jose Valdivia Jr., 15-1; Pollard's Vision, John Velazquez, 20-1; Tapit, Ramon Dominguez, 8-1; Pro Prado, John McKee, 30-1; and Quintons Gold Rush, Corey Nakatani, 20-1.
