Kentucky Derby.....144th Run For The Roses.

[Greenbacks]

[FONT=&quot]8. Free Drop Billy[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]He is a perfect example of how perceptions and rankings can change once horses have their final works. If you want to know what you should be looking for in a Derby work, especially at Churchill Downs, just watch his five-furlong drill in :59. Watch the way he levels off and stretches his head and neck out and the way he moves so effortlessly over the ground, while never being asked. Most important, watch how smoothly he cuts the corner on the gallop-out and how strong he still is as he just keeps going well into the backstretch. Then look at your watch and see his final two eighths in :11 4/5 and :12 1/5, followed by gallop-out eighths in :13 and :13 2/5, pulling up after seven furlongs in a sprightly 1:25 2/5. He is no stranger to the Top 12, having been ranked as high as No. 5. Consider in the Blue Grass Stakes he ran 67 feet farther than runner-up Flameaway and was bothered badly by Sporting Chance. That 67 feet equates to over eight lengths and he was beaten four lengths by Good Magic. He also ran a career best Thoro-Graph number in the Blue Grass, and after his “bounce” race in the Gotham Stakes, he is now on an excellent pattern that makes him at least competitive with the leading contenders. Like his sire Union Rags, he is a steady closer who builds momentum the farther he goes, and, the way he was coming in the Blue Grass he likely was going to be right there for second if Sporting Chance hadn’t bolted right in his path in the final sixteenth, causing him to dramatically alter course to avoid him. I liked his aggressive second to Audible in the Holy Bull Stakes for his big rebound effort after the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Dropping back to a flat mile over a dead track in the Gotham Stakes didn’t suit his style, but it was a good prep for the Blue Grass, which in turn looked to be a good prep for the Derby. If you’re looking for a big price to play in the exotics, even if only to back end the leading contenders that you like, he might be worth a second look, considering the way he seems to be coming into the race.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

[FONT=&quot]9. My Boy Jack[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]After his third-place finish in the Sham Stakes, his Thoro-Graph number jumped a whopping six points in his Southwest Stakes score. He has now run the exact same number three races in a row, which means he never regressed off the Southwest effort. While that number might not be quite good enough to win the Derby, he likely will not regress now and could easily improve going 1 ¼ miles. But until he stretches out that far, we just don’t know if he hit his max or not. As I’ve been saying about him, unlike your typical late closers, he has that explosive turn of foot that can put him in contention in a hurry, and he doesn’t mind taking the precarious rail route or the extreme overland route. He had a bigger kick flying through on the rail in the slop at Oaklawn Park, winning by 4 ½ lengths. But losing so much ground in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and Stonestreet Lexington Stakes compromised him in the stretch and he had to work hard the rest of the way. He will get played in the exotics because of his big kick. West Point Thoroughbreds, looking to duplicate their late buy-in on Always Dreaming last year, has purchased a share in this colt at the eleventh hour. This practice of buying in on major classic horses at the last minute seems to be a new popular trend and no doubt will increase sales of wide-angle lenses to accommodate the massive throngs that now gather in the winner’s circle. Anyway, he is a fun horse to own or bet on, because he is never out of it, as you wait with great hope for that explosive move to put him in the race.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

[FONT=&quot]10. Flameaway[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]He turned in a sharp five-furlong work in 1:00 2/5 at Churchill Downs. This was an important work for him considering his only truly bad effort came at Churchill. But we do know he runs well on fast, sloppy, and muddy dirt tracks and grass, so we’ll put a line through his Iroquois Stakes performance, as he has turned into one of the most consistent and versatile horses we’ve seen this year. The big question with him is where he will be placed. He’s the kind of horse you want to see on the right off the lead turning for home, but that is not going to be an easy task this year. The one ray of hope is the way he found his best stride late in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby and was coming on fast in the final yards. He is going to need fairly substantial moves forward in his Beyer and Thoro-Graph figures to be competitive for win, but he is at least going in the right direction in both to offer some hope that he will be able to make his presence felt. If he runs wells enough in the Derby, he could be a force two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

[FONT=&quot]11. Noble Indy[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Todd Pletcher normally doesn’t work horses six furlongs, but his three-quarter breeze in 1:15 no doubt is the result of the six-week layoff since the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. While he did it easy enough, his workmate was totally overmatched and couldn’t keep up with him despite feeling the whip at the head of the stretch. He is not getting the love the other lightly raced horses, like Justify, Magnum Moon, and Hofburg, are getting, perhaps because his Louisiana Derby victory wasn’t as sexy as the other major races, with him having to battle back to eke out a victory. Then he loses John Velazquez, so people naturally began looking elsewhere. But let’s remember, he did beat My Boy Jack, who came back to win the Lexington Stakes and could take a good deal of money at the windows. He’s really a difficult horse to get a real handle on because we really don’t know much about him and he hasn’t had that one standout moment. But we at least know he has no quit in him.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

[FONT=&quot]12. Enticed[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]He turned in a solid five-furlong work in 1:01 1/5, working in company with stakes-winning Take Charge Paula. Breaking off outside the filly, they were on equal terms until Enticed’s rider asked him to go nearing the wire and he shot to a length advantage and galloped out well, although he does carry his head high and has high knee action. I have to admit I have run out of things to say about him. He’s just a steady presence that doesn’t go up or down. If you really like him, you’re going to have to try to figure out just how he would win this race with his style of running. As I keep saying, he’s not quick, he runs hard and is not exactly light on his feet. But he is tough, durable, and honest and has earned his way into the Derby. Winning it, however, against this many brilliant horses in another matter. He would have to have an absolute perfect scenario unfold and just hope the others aren’t as good as advertised. But expect to see him in a number of winner’s circle photos over the course of the year, whether one-turn or two-turn races.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks records.

First up, the KENTUCKY OAKS. After all, it does take place first.

The fastest running of the Kentucky Oaks came in 2003 when Bird Town covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.64. The current track record of 1:47.28 for that distance at Churchill Downs was established by Victory Gallop in 1999.

The longest-winning margin of 20 1/4 lengths for the Kentucky Oaks came courtesy of Rachel Alexandra, who would go on to take the Preakness Stakes (G1) two weeks later and defeat the boys twice more during her unbeaten, Horse of the Year sophomore campaign.

The decade with the most Kentucky Oaks winners who would go on to earn an Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old filly is hands down the 2000s (various nicknames include the “00s,” the “double zeros,” the “double ohs,” the “noughties,” the “aughts” and the “oughties”). During the un-nameable decade, six Kentucky Oaks winners – Rachel Alexandra, Proud Spell, Rags to Riches, Ashado, Bird Town and Farda Amiga – would claim championship honors at the age of three.

Now, on to the KENTUCKY DERBY.

The great, immortal Secretariat still holds the record for the fastest Kentucky Derby run at 1 1/4 miles. In 1973, “Big Red” captured the Run for the Roses in 1:59.40 and set both a stakes and track record in the process.

Four horses share the honor for the largest winning margin of the Kentucky Derby of eight lengths – Old Rosebud (1914), Johnstown (1939), Whirlaway (1941) and Assault (1946).

Since the 1970s, only two Kentucky Derby winners have gone on to sire Kentucky Derby winners – Unbridled and Seattle Slew. Before the 1970s, nine Derby-winning sires saw their sons prevail in the same race.

Unbridled captured the 1990 Run for the Roses and saw his son Grindstone accomplish the same feat in 1996. Seattle Slew scored in the 1977 Kentucky Derby en route to sweeping the Triple Crown and seven years later saw Swale win both the Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1984.

However, in the 143-year history of the Kentucky Derby, only one Derby-winning sire has managed to sire two victors of the race – Bold Venture. The 1936 Kentucky Derby winner sired 1946 Triple Crown hero Assault as well as 1950 Derby conqueror Middleground.

The biggest crowd for the Kentucky Derby was recorded in 2015 when 170,513 watched American Pharoah begin his Triple Crown-winning bid with a one-length score.

Two jockeys share the honor of having earned the most wins in the Kentucky Derby with five apiece – Eddie Arcaro (1938, ’41, ’45, ’48, ’52) and Bill Hartack (1957, ’60, ’62, ’64, ’69).

The trainer with the most Kentucky Derby victories is Ben Jones, who racked up six (1938, ’41, ‘44, ‘48, ‘49, ‘52).

Kentucky is, by far, the most common birthplace of Kentucky Derby winners with 109.

And finally, since Churchill Downs began using a starting gate in 1930, only one post position has not produced a Kentucky Derby winner – post 17. Post 5 has the most Derby winners (10) followed by Post 10 (nine).

 

[Greenbacks]

Good shot of Bob and Justify.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]<yt-formatted-string class="style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer" style="--yt-endpoint-color:hsl(206.1, 79.3%, 52.7%);">Kentucky Derby Clocker Report - April 29th, 2018.</yt-formatted-string>[/h]

 

[DrunkenHorseplayer]

I love Good Magic if I can get the 12-1.

 

[Greenbacks]

Magnum Moon

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] Along with Justify, this colt will put the “curse of Apollo” to the sternest test this year since Curlin started in the 2007 Kentucky Derby (with apologies to 2012 Derby runner-up Bodemeister). He broke his maiden at [/FONT]Gulfstream Park[FONT=&quot]on Jan. 13 by 4 ½ furlongs in a six-furlong race, and has not been challenged in three subsequent starts, stretching out in distance each time. He drew away from talented horses [/FONT]Quip[FONT=&quot] and Solomini with ease in the [/FONT]Arkansas Derby[FONT=&quot], winning by four lengths despite drifting to the center of the track in midstretch while continuing to run strongly through the finish line. This son of Malibu Moon (who is the sire of 2013 Derby winner Orb) may have more maturing to do before reaching his full potential, but his best race on May 5 still could be enough to place him in the Derby winner’s circle. Todd Pletcher, who is currently tied with D. Wayne Lukas with the most Kentucky Derby starters at 48, brings a loaded arsenal to [/FONT]Churchill Downs[FONT=&quot], giving him a great chance to score a Derby repeat after winning last year with Always Dreaming. That was his second Derby win after Super Saver broke through in 2010. Magnum Moon will be Luis Saez’s sixth Derby starter, and the second for owners Lawana and Robert Low. Their colt Steppenwolfer finished third in Barbaro’s 2006 Kentucky Derby.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Good Magic

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] It is a testament to the quality and depth of this year’s Kentucky Derby field that the reigning champion 2-year-old male could bring post-time odds in the neighborhood of 10-1. After dazzling last November with a breakthrough 4 ¼-length win in the [/FONT]Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile[FONT=&quot], he spent the winter as one of the top two or three future-book Kentucky Derby choices, but lost some support after returning to finish third in the March 3 [/FONT]Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes[FONT=&quot]. He then rebounded with a workmanlike 1 ½-length score in the [/FONT]Toyota Blue Grass Stakes[FONT=&quot] on April 4, where he showed the same professional stalk-and-pounce running style that brought him a Breeders’ Cup win. Other horses enter the Derby with more buzz, and arguably more upside, but this well-bred son of Curlin has yet to finish out of the money and should be positioned to make a strong run through the far turn into contention if he gets a clean trip. He’s trained and ridden by reigning Eclipse Award winners Chad Brown and Jose Ortiz, both of whom seek their first Kentucky Derby win. Ortiz has made three previous Derby appearances, most recently with last year’s sixth-place finisher – and eventual Belmont Stakes winner – [/FONT]Tapwrit[FONT=&quot]. Brown has sent four horses to the Derby in recent years, and his best finish came with his first-ever starter, fourth-place Normandy Invasion in 2013. This is the first Derby appearance for Bob and Kristine Edwards’ e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; co-owner Stonestreet Stables bought into Curlin’s ownership group shortly before that future star ran third in the 2007 Derby.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Audible

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] After finishing third in his debut last fall at Belmont Park, this colt has won four consecutive races by a total of 20 lengths – and looked better with each outing. He won two one-mile races at [/FONT]Aqueduct[FONT=&quot] with ease and then impressed in two of [/FONT]Gulfstream Park[FONT=&quot]’s three Kentucky Derby preps, taking the [/FONT]Holy Bull Stakes[FONT=&quot] in February by 5 ½ lengths and then drawing clear for three-length score in the [/FONT]Xpressbet Florida Derby[FONT=&quot] on March 31. Questions about his pedigree may linger, as sire Into Mischief has yet to bring a true mile-and-a quarter Derby horse, but this Todd Pletcher trainee has passed the “eye test” with flying colors this spring and could be one of the best value plays in the Derby field at odds of 8-1 or higher. Pletcher’s Derby record is discussed in Magnum Moon’s profile. Four-time Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano has surprisingly failed to finish in the top three in 11 prior Derby appearances, his best showing coming aboard fourth-place Normandy Invasion in 2013. Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners also owns part of Justify, and his group Monomoy Stables co-owns My Boy Jack; he was also among the owners of 2016 Derby runner-up Exaggerator. This will be the first Derby appearance for co-owner and new major player in the horse world China Horse Club International, which also owns part of Justify.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Noble Indy

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] Among Todd Pletcher’s four Kentucky Derby contenders, this colt has the least buzz heading toward May 5. This is despite having won three of four career starts and showing a lot of courage to win the [/FONT]Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby[FONT=&quot]on March 24. He won his first two starts at [/FONT]Gulfstream Park[FONT=&quot] at seven-eighths of a mile and 1 1/16 miles before shipping to [/FONT]Fair Grounds[FONT=&quot] and running well to finish third behind the two pacesetters Bravazo and Snapper Sinclair in the [/FONT]Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford[FONT=&quot]in February. That set up his valiant effort in the Louisiana Derby, where he was briefly headed in midstretch by Lone Sailor before responding and winning by a neck. In his four prior starts, he’s run best when involved in the early pace, and it will be interesting to see where he’s positioned in what projects to be a crowded group of horses just behind likely pacesetter Promises Fulfilled and, possibly, Mendelssohn. Pletcher’s Derby record is discussed in Magnum Moon’s profile. Geroux will be riding in his third Kentucky Derby; he piloted [/FONT]Gun Runner[FONT=&quot], 2017’s Horse of the Year, to a third-place finish in 2016. Co-owner WinStar Farm won the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Pletcher-trained Super Saver, their Bluegrass Cat finished second to Barbaro in 2006, and Revolutionary finished third in 2013. WinStar also bred 2003 dual classic winner Funny Cide and they’ve also been part-owner of several Derby starters in years past, finishing third last year with Battle of Midway, whom they owned in partnership with Don Alberto Stable. Noble Indy is one of two contenders this year owned by Mike Repole in partnership; he sent three horses to the classic as sole owner in previous years.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Vino Rosso

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] This colt’s reputation is on the rise among Derby handicappers in the weeks leading up to May 5. After two modest efforts in stakes races at [/FONT]Tampa Bay Downs[FONT=&quot] – third in the [/FONT]Sam F. Davis Stakes[FONT=&quot]; fourth in the [/FONT]Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby[FONT=&quot] – he responded to a change in scenery with aplomb, edging clear from Enticed (after bumping that foe) and winning the [/FONT]Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets[FONT=&quot] by three lengths. The 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial was the son of Curlin’s best race to date, which offers encouragement for his chances stretching out to 1 ¼ miles in the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher’s Derby record is discussed in Magnum Moon’s profile. Hall of Famer John Velazquez won the 2011 Derby aboard Animal Kingdom and last year’s run for the roses with Always Dreaming. He also finished second in 2001 on Invisible Ink from 19 total starts. Mike Repole’s Derby record is discussed in Noble Indy’s profile. Vincent Viola’s St. Elias Stable was among the owners of last year’s Derby winner Always Dreaming.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Bolt d’Oro

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] This colt has been one of the future-book favorites for the Kentucky Derby since last fall. He’s shown admirable consistency in his six-race career, and had a legitimate wide-trip excuse for his third-place showing in the [/FONT]Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile[FONT=&quot], the only time he’s finished worse than second. That being said, it must be noted that he hasn’t crossed the finish line first in his most recent three starts, as he was elevated to winner of the March 10 [/FONT]San Felipe Stakes[FONT=&quot] after [/FONT]McKinzie[FONT=&quot] was disqualified. Next out in the [/FONT]Santa Anita Derby[FONT=&quot], he gave a good effort when second to Justify but never really challenged that foe, losing by three lengths. He has proven form, a good pedigree for route races, and gets the services of three-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider Victor Espinoza (War Emblem, 2002; [/FONT]California Chrome[FONT=&quot], 2014; [/FONT]American Pharoah[FONT=&quot], 2015), which certainly boosts his chances come May 5. With a clean trip, he should be rolling into contention from midpack as the field turns for home. This will be owner-trainer Mick Ruis’ first appearance in the Kentucky Derby.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Enticed

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] This Godolphin Stables homebred enters the Kentucky Derby off of a runner-up finish to Vino Rosso in the [/FONT]Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets[FONT=&quot] where he was solidly bumped in midstretch. He fell back after that, losing by three lengths, but was still well clear of third-place Restoring Hope in a solid effort that should make him an intriguing longshot play in the Kentucky Derby. His pedigree for the Derby’s classic distance is one of the best in the field, and he owns a win over[/FONT] Churchill Downs[FONT=&quot]’ main track coming in last fall’s Grade 2 [/FONT]Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes[FONT=&quot], which featured four horses (five before the connections of [/FONT]Quip[FONT=&quot] opted to target the Preakness) that ended up in this year’s Derby. On the negative side, his speed figures are a cut below the top contenders in this year’s classic, and his best career race, by far, came in the one-turn mile [/FONT]Gotham Stakes[FONT=&quot] at [/FONT]Aqueduct[FONT=&quot] on March 3, one race before his Wood Memorial start. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Closing Argument almost won the 2005 Kentucky Derby at 71.60-1 odds but was outfinished by Giacomo. The best finish for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Godolphin in 10 prior Derby tries came in 2015, when Frosted (also trained by McLaughlin) finished fourth. Jockey Junior Alvarado makes his second appearance in the Derby after finishing fourth aboard Mohaymen in 2016.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Mendelssohn

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] This horse is the true wild card for handicappers this year when analyzing what’s always one of, if not the, most difficult races to sort out and wager on. He ships stateside on the back of a pulverizing 18 ½-length win in the [/FONT]United Arab Emirates Derby Sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group[FONT=&quot] on March 31, where he took command of the race early in the backstretch and simply routed his opponents. That was his first career start on dirt, and was preceded by a win in England on a synthetic track and then last November’s score in the [/FONT]Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf [FONT=&quot]at [/FONT]Del Mar[FONT=&quot], a visually impressive performance. Among Kentucky Derby starters, he brought the highest price at auction, purchased by his Coolmore connections for $3 million at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale, and as you might guess, that price is evident of a superior pedigree. His dam (mother) also produced Mendelssohn’s half-sister [/FONT]Beholder[FONT=&quot], a champion and future Hall of Famer who won the 1 ¼-mile Pacific Classic in 2015; and half-brother Into Mischief, a Grade 1 winner and top sire of Kentucky Derby contender Audible. With all of these credentials, he shapes up as the most threatening overseas invader to win the Kentucky Derby of this century. A key question looms large: against a larger and higher-quality Derby field, will jockey Ryan Moore ride Mendelssohn as aggressively as he did in the Dubai desert? If so, that may put pressure on horses such as Justify and Magnum Moon to contest the pace earlier than their connections may prefer. Moore has one previous appearance in the Derby, riding Lines of Battle to a seventh-place finish in 2013. Aidan O’Brien’s best Derby finish in five tries came with fifth-place Master of Hounds in 2011. Coolmore-affiliated Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith have been regular presences in Kentucky Derbys over the past 20-plus years in various ownership entities. Tabor and Smith’s Lion Heart finished second to [/FONT]Smarty Jones[FONT=&quot] in 2004, and Tabor enjoyed his first major success in 1995 as the sole owner of Derby winner Thunder Gulch.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Justify

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] In what appears on paper to be one of the most well-matched and competitive Kentucky Derby fields in recent years, this West Coast sensation has captured a great deal of attention over the past weeks following a meteoric rise that puts Apollo’s curse in serious danger. Making his first start on Feb. 18 at [/FONT]Santa Anita Park[FONT=&quot], this physically striking son of Scat Daddy romped by 9 ½ lengths. Stretched out from seven-eighths of a mile to a mile going two turns in his next start, he dominated again, this time by 6 ½ lengths. Those two starts were against questionable opposition, but his next one was not. Derby contender and Grade 1 winner Bolt d’Oro and [/FONT]Lecomte Stakes[FONT=&quot] winner Instilled Regard both tested Justify in the [/FONT]Santa Anita Derby[FONT=&quot], but proved no match as he led all the way and won by three lengths. Now, 19 horses await in Louisville in what will be a far-sterner test for him, and it will be interesting to see where Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith places his mount during what is always a mad rush to the first turn where split-second decisions can either enhance or doom a horse’s chances to win. Smith’s only Kentucky Derby win came aboard 50.30-1 longshot Giacomo in 2005; he’s also finished second four times in 21 total starts (Prairie Bayou in 1993; Proud Citizen in 2002; Lion Heart in 2004; Bodemeister in 2012). Bob Baffert is in a three-way tie for second among all trainers with four Kentucky Derby wins ([/FONT]Silver Charm[FONT=&quot] in 1997; Real Quiet in 1998; War Emblem in 2002; [/FONT]American Pharoah[FONT=&quot] in 2015) and he’s also finished second three times and third three times. See Noble Indy’s profile for WinStar Farm’s Derby record, and Audible’s profile for information about Head of Plains Partners’ Derby history and China Horse Club’s emergence. Jack and Laurie Wolf’s Starlight Stable has owned part of several Derby horses in years past, but their best finish came with seventh-place Harlan’s Holiday, whom they owned outright, in 2002.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Flameaway

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] One of four Kentucky Derby contenders sired by the late Scat Daddy along with Justify, Mendelssohn, and Combatant, this colt who races for elite connections has the most versatile résumé in the field with wins on fast and wet dirt tracks, on turf, and on a synthetic track. He ran well to finish eighth, beaten only by 3 ¼ lengths, in his final start at two in the [/FONT]Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf[FONT=&quot], and then won his first two starts earlier this year in a turf stakes race at [/FONT]Gulfstream Park[FONT=&quot] and then the [/FONT]Sam F. Davis Stakes[FONT=&quot]on dirt at [/FONT]Tampa Bay Downs[FONT=&quot]. Since then, he’s reaffirmed that he’s one of the hardest-competing horses of his age group by finishing second to [/FONT]Quip[FONT=&quot] in the [/FONT]Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby[FONT=&quot] (after a rough start) and then second again to Good Magic in the [/FONT]Toyota Blue Grass Stakes[FONT=&quot]. The major drawback when assessing his race record is stamina: does he have enough to keep battling through a mile and a quarter? Trainer Mark Casse may instruct Jose Lezcano to wrest the lead in the Derby from probable early front-runner Promises Fulfilled somewhere in the middle of the backstretch, but at any rate, he’ll be among the front group as long as he can last. Casse’s best finish with five Kentucky Derby horses so far came last year when John Oxley’s [/FONT]Classic Empire[FONT=&quot] checked in a troubled fourth. Lezcano finished second in the 2010 Derby aboard Ice Box, his best showing from five appearances. Oxley has sent six horses to the Derby, led by 2001 winner Monarchos who finished the classic in the second-fastest time in history.[/FONT]

 

[Greenbacks]

Solomini

Notable achievements and interesting facts:[FONT=&quot] This well-bred colt co-owned by Zayat Stables enters the Kentucky Derby after finishing third behind Magnum Moon and [/FONT]Quip[FONT=&quot] in the [/FONT]Arkansas Derby[FONT=&quot], a race in which he unfortunately continued to show immaturity and erratic racing action. In that race, he failed to switch leads in the stretch and could not overtake pace-pressing Quip, who held second by a neck. He’s gone up against several of the best horses in his age group since last fall — and in six career starts, he’s finished no worse than third, one of those coming when disqualified from first in the [/FONT]Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity[FONT=&quot] for bumping in deep stretch. But it’s a major concern as to how he’ll fare when racing in heavy traffic against 19 other horses in the Kentucky Derby. Jockey Flavien Prat made his Kentucky Derby debut a successful one last year when riding Battle of Midway to a third-place finish. Bob Baffert and Zayat Stables wrote a chapter of horse racing history in 2015 when [/FONT]American Pharoah[FONT=&quot] won the Triple Crown for the first time in 37 years and then the Breeders’ Cup Classic. See Justify’s profile for Baffert’s other Derby highlights. Zayat Stables also owned 2009 and 2011 Derby runner-ups Pioneerof the Nile and Nehro, and co-owned 2012 runner-up Bodemeister. Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith were profiled in Mendelssohn’s capsule.[/FONT]