2016 Tampa Bay Derby Featuring #9 Destin.
2016 San Felipe Stakes Featuring #20 Danzing Candy.
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cool, that's one of the names I like
Louisiana Derby Featuring #5 Gun Runner.
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This is the favorite Nyquist working out a few days ago.
This is Nyquist winning in October.....2015 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
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Could be one of the slowest Derbys in years which is why it's such a wide open race. Danzig Candy and Outwork will be setting the pace but the question is how fast will that pace be? If Danzig Candy runs his best race he could go gate to wire and steal this race. But if he goes too fast it will set up for a stampede of closers in the home stretch. I like Mohaymen to rebound and run a big race. If the pace is real fast, look for Creator, Suddenbreakingnews and Brody's Cause to be flying at the end. I think the horse that could get a dream trip is Gun Runner from the 5 post. He has all deep closers who normally break slowly around him so if he breaks well he should get an easy path out of gate and get great position on the inside behind the speed. So many things can happen in this race and I think it's as wide open of a race as I've seen in years
Temperatures are forecast to be in the low 80s under sunny skies Saturday afternoon for the Derby.....Fast Track.
BRODY’S CAUSE/CHERRY WINE – Trainer Dale Romans sent Albaugh Family Stable’s Brody’s Cause and William Pacella, Frank L. Jones Jr. and Frank Shoop’s Cherry Wine to the Churchill Downs track Thursday morning for 1 ½-mile gallops.
Brody’s Cause, the Blue Grass (GI) winner, drew post 19 and is rated at 12-1 in the morning line for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, while Blue Grass third-place finisher Cherry Wine is second on the also-eligible list and will need two defections by 9 a.m. Friday to draw into the field.
Romans was joined by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer during the training session for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses Thursday morning. A lifelong resident of Louisville, Romans will be seeking his first Kentucky Derby success.
“A lot is being made about me being from Louisville. But it wouldn’t mean any more to me than anyone else in this game,” Romans said. “Once you come into this game, walk through the gate at any racetrack and starting taking care of horses, you’ve got to be thinking about Kentucky Derby. It would mean as much to the Japanese who came over here to go back home and say, ‘Konnichiwa, everybody,’ and wave the trophy.”
Brody’s Cause has given his trainer a lot of confidence about his Derby chances.
“Because he’s peaking at the right time; he’s as good right now as he could possibly be; he’s extremely sound; he likes this racetrack; he’s won over this racetrack; he’s beaten a 14-horse field; he’s beaten an 11-horse field; he was third in a 14-horse field; he’s not a plodding closer; he’s an accelerating closer,
“He went from the half-mile pole to the quarter pole in the Blue Grass and passed – what? – 10 horses? I thought it was pretty amazing. He’s not one who’s going to be a victim of horses stopping in front of him. He’s one who, when he’s ready, he’ll catch up to them.
“In this race, what I’ve seen all the times I’ve tried it, acceleration is important. When the hole opens, you can get through it. He can get to it quickly. There will be trouble for anyone passing horses,” Romans added. “Those horses that can accelerate can get to the spot the jockey wants them and won’t get in trouble.”
Brody’s Cause, the Blue Grass (GI) winner, drew post 19 and is rated at 12-1 in the morning line for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, while Blue Grass third-place finisher Cherry Wine is second on the also-eligible list and will need two defections by 9 a.m. Friday to draw into the field.
Romans was joined by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer during the training session for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses Thursday morning. A lifelong resident of Louisville, Romans will be seeking his first Kentucky Derby success.
“A lot is being made about me being from Louisville. But it wouldn’t mean any more to me than anyone else in this game,” Romans said. “Once you come into this game, walk through the gate at any racetrack and starting taking care of horses, you’ve got to be thinking about Kentucky Derby. It would mean as much to the Japanese who came over here to go back home and say, ‘Konnichiwa, everybody,’ and wave the trophy.”
Brody’s Cause has given his trainer a lot of confidence about his Derby chances.
“Because he’s peaking at the right time; he’s as good right now as he could possibly be; he’s extremely sound; he likes this racetrack; he’s won over this racetrack; he’s beaten a 14-horse field; he’s beaten an 11-horse field; he was third in a 14-horse field; he’s not a plodding closer; he’s an accelerating closer,
“He went from the half-mile pole to the quarter pole in the Blue Grass and passed – what? – 10 horses? I thought it was pretty amazing. He’s not one who’s going to be a victim of horses stopping in front of him. He’s one who, when he’s ready, he’ll catch up to them.
“In this race, what I’ve seen all the times I’ve tried it, acceleration is important. When the hole opens, you can get through it. He can get to it quickly. There will be trouble for anyone passing horses,” Romans added. “Those horses that can accelerate can get to the spot the jockey wants them and won’t get in trouble.”
CREATOR/GUN RUNNER – Trainer Steve Asmussen sent WinStar Farm's Creator and Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner to the starting gate for schooling after the renovation break Thursday. For exercise, the colts galloped.
Asmussen said that the colts, "to this point,'' have behaved well at the gate. "The Derby and that many runners, and both of them drawn considerably inside, it's going to test their patience,'' he said.
Creator will break from post position three and Gun Runner drew post five in the 20-horse Derby field. Since the draw Wednesday, Asmussen said, he has been envisioning race scenarios and trying to come up with the best strategies for both colts.
"Nothing but,'' he said. "Nothing but. Simulate it in your head. You know, who's where and who's doing what? You know, tendencies. Then go back and watch the replays of them. See if there's a reason they were where they were.''
And there are two more days to gather information and form plans. "Overanalyze it to say the least,'' Asmussen said.
Asmussen said that the colts, "to this point,'' have behaved well at the gate. "The Derby and that many runners, and both of them drawn considerably inside, it's going to test their patience,'' he said.
Creator will break from post position three and Gun Runner drew post five in the 20-horse Derby field. Since the draw Wednesday, Asmussen said, he has been envisioning race scenarios and trying to come up with the best strategies for both colts.
"Nothing but,'' he said. "Nothing but. Simulate it in your head. You know, who's where and who's doing what? You know, tendencies. Then go back and watch the replays of them. See if there's a reason they were where they were.''
And there are two more days to gather information and form plans. "Overanalyze it to say the least,'' Asmussen said.
DANZING CANDY – Trainer Cliff Sise Jr. continues to be pleased with Danzing Candy’s training and schooling sessions as the big day nears.
“He really settled in right away, and has been perfect,” Sise said Thursday morning before sending out the colt for a gallop under Rolando Quinones and to stand in the gate. “This weather is cold for us, but for the horses, they like it.”
Perfect wouldn’t be the word to describe post 20 the front-runner drew for the Derby, but Sise and jockey Mike Smith prefer to put a positive spin on it.
“Mike texted me yesterday and said, ‘Well, it’s better than one,’ ” Sise said. “We’ll just let (Danzing Candy) do his thing, which means go to the front, because it’s really up to the owner (Ted Aroney) and he’s a kind of a speed-bias type of owner. If it were up to me, I would lay second, because Nyquist has speed, too.”
Aroney of Halo Farms co-owns Danzing Candy with Jim and Dianne Bashor. Aroney bred Danzing Candy from his dam, Talkin and Singing. The colt’s sire is Twirling Candy, a son of Candy Ride.
“Compared to my other 2-year-olds early last year, I (ranked Danzing Candy), at times, second, third, or maybe fourth,” Aroney said this week. “He started to come around in July, and then he became No. 1, without even making his first start.
“Every day after the Santa Anita Derby, he kept getting better and better and better. I wouldn’t run him if he didn’t have a chance; and I think he has a good chance.”
Danzing Candy, who is 15-1 in the morning-line odds, was scheduled to school in the paddock Thursday during the first race.
“He really settled in right away, and has been perfect,” Sise said Thursday morning before sending out the colt for a gallop under Rolando Quinones and to stand in the gate. “This weather is cold for us, but for the horses, they like it.”
Perfect wouldn’t be the word to describe post 20 the front-runner drew for the Derby, but Sise and jockey Mike Smith prefer to put a positive spin on it.
“Mike texted me yesterday and said, ‘Well, it’s better than one,’ ” Sise said. “We’ll just let (Danzing Candy) do his thing, which means go to the front, because it’s really up to the owner (Ted Aroney) and he’s a kind of a speed-bias type of owner. If it were up to me, I would lay second, because Nyquist has speed, too.”
Aroney of Halo Farms co-owns Danzing Candy with Jim and Dianne Bashor. Aroney bred Danzing Candy from his dam, Talkin and Singing. The colt’s sire is Twirling Candy, a son of Candy Ride.
“Compared to my other 2-year-olds early last year, I (ranked Danzing Candy), at times, second, third, or maybe fourth,” Aroney said this week. “He started to come around in July, and then he became No. 1, without even making his first start.
“Every day after the Santa Anita Derby, he kept getting better and better and better. I wouldn’t run him if he didn’t have a chance; and I think he has a good chance.”
Danzing Candy, who is 15-1 in the morning-line odds, was scheduled to school in the paddock Thursday during the first race.
DESTIN/OUTWORK – The Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Destin and Outwork were trackside at 8:30 Thursday morning to take advantage of Churchill Downs’ special Derby/Oaks training period. It was chilly and it had rained earlier and the track had gone from “wet-fast” early to “good,” but the two colts and their showcase training partners warmed things up noticeably.
With exercise rider Ovel Merida in the saddle on Destin and Hector Ramos aboard Outwork, the two moved handily over the track for solid gallops of a mile and three-eighths.
The evening before they had drawn posts for Saturday’s $2,391,600 Kentucky Derby (GI) with Destin being slotted in post nine and Outwork in post 15.
Pletcher spoke to the fact that it appears that the way the Derby horses drew, the majority of the “speed” horses – which would include Outwork – have drawn outside in the 20-horse field.
“It looks like the speed is on the outside and most of the deep closers have drawn inside,” the trainer said. “That certainly is something that has to be considered coming up to the race. I’ll have my thoughts on what I think should be our race strategy and my riders (Javier Castellano on Destin and John Velazquez on Outwork) will have their ideas, too. They’ll be riding (other) horses for me during (Saturday) and walking back after races we can discuss what we’re likely to do for the Derby. Waiting until then gives us the extra advantage of seeing how the track is playing that afternoon, which is another factor that has to be considered. We’ll work up a plan; we’ll get it figured out.”
With exercise rider Ovel Merida in the saddle on Destin and Hector Ramos aboard Outwork, the two moved handily over the track for solid gallops of a mile and three-eighths.
The evening before they had drawn posts for Saturday’s $2,391,600 Kentucky Derby (GI) with Destin being slotted in post nine and Outwork in post 15.
Pletcher spoke to the fact that it appears that the way the Derby horses drew, the majority of the “speed” horses – which would include Outwork – have drawn outside in the 20-horse field.
“It looks like the speed is on the outside and most of the deep closers have drawn inside,” the trainer said. “That certainly is something that has to be considered coming up to the race. I’ll have my thoughts on what I think should be our race strategy and my riders (Javier Castellano on Destin and John Velazquez on Outwork) will have their ideas, too. They’ll be riding (other) horses for me during (Saturday) and walking back after races we can discuss what we’re likely to do for the Derby. Waiting until then gives us the extra advantage of seeing how the track is playing that afternoon, which is another factor that has to be considered. We’ll work up a plan; we’ll get it figured out.”
EXAGGERATOR – The Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Exaggerator headed to the track at 8:30 a.m. Thursday to train with other Derby and Oaks contenders. Trainer Keith Desormeaux’s dark son of Curlin had exercise rider Peedy Landry attached and the two did a double “wrong way” jog around the track.
Among those watching the two-mile exercise was one of the colt’s owners, Matt Bryan, who is the “big chief” in the Big Chief Racing stable.
“You dream about this,” the tall Texan said. “It is a blessing. If you’re in the horse business, this is where you want to be. Just to be in the Derby is great. And then to have a horse that has a real chance to win (Exaggerator is the 8-1 second choice in the 20-horse Derby field), that is so special.”
Bryan recalled his initial meeting with Desormeaux at a horse sale in Texas in 2012.
“Keith was there trying to pick one out and I saw how hard he was working,” Bryan remembered. “I think I have a bit of a gift to be able to read people and I just got a really good vibe off him. We were together for about 30 minutes and in that time I just knew he was the guy I was looking for. I grew up around horses; not Thoroughbreds, but work horses, Quarter Horses. I know a bit about them. And I could tell that Keith knew a lot about them and that he had an eye for them. I saw the way he looked at horses, how focused he was. I knew he was good. So I signed on with him and the first horse we bought – Ive Struck a Nerve – turned into a stakes winner. We bought others (including Exaggerator, of course) and now I think I’ve got about 20 horses with him.
“And one of the nicest parts of all this is that Keith has become one of my best friends. I like him so much and the team and family he has here at the barn. It’s just all so good.”
Exaggerator will break from post 11 Saturday in Kentucky Derby 142 and be ridden by three-time Derby winner (and Keith’s brother) Kent Desormeaux.
Among those watching the two-mile exercise was one of the colt’s owners, Matt Bryan, who is the “big chief” in the Big Chief Racing stable.
“You dream about this,” the tall Texan said. “It is a blessing. If you’re in the horse business, this is where you want to be. Just to be in the Derby is great. And then to have a horse that has a real chance to win (Exaggerator is the 8-1 second choice in the 20-horse Derby field), that is so special.”
Bryan recalled his initial meeting with Desormeaux at a horse sale in Texas in 2012.
“Keith was there trying to pick one out and I saw how hard he was working,” Bryan remembered. “I think I have a bit of a gift to be able to read people and I just got a really good vibe off him. We were together for about 30 minutes and in that time I just knew he was the guy I was looking for. I grew up around horses; not Thoroughbreds, but work horses, Quarter Horses. I know a bit about them. And I could tell that Keith knew a lot about them and that he had an eye for them. I saw the way he looked at horses, how focused he was. I knew he was good. So I signed on with him and the first horse we bought – Ive Struck a Nerve – turned into a stakes winner. We bought others (including Exaggerator, of course) and now I think I’ve got about 20 horses with him.
“And one of the nicest parts of all this is that Keith has become one of my best friends. I like him so much and the team and family he has here at the barn. It’s just all so good.”
Exaggerator will break from post 11 Saturday in Kentucky Derby 142 and be ridden by three-time Derby winner (and Keith’s brother) Kent Desormeaux.
LANI – Koji Maeda’s Lani returned to the track Thursday morning for a half-hour exercise under exercise rider Eishu Maruuchi for trainer Mikio Matsunaga.
Lani came on the track at the five-eighths gap, walked to the head of the stretch and jogged around for his first lap. Lani combined a jog and a gallop on his second circuit, galloped a third circuit and part of a fourth before slowing at the three-quarter pole and turning right to walk in the mile chute before walking back to the gap on which he entered the track.
“I have seen him many mornings here and today was his best form,” Matsunaga said.
Lani, winner of the UAE Derby (Group II) in his most recent start, drew post position eight for Saturday’s Run for the Roses and will be ridden by Yutaka Take. Lani was listed at 30-1 on the morning line.
Matsunaga has had Lani visit the starting gate twice in the past week, but has no paddock schooling planned for his runner.
“He has raced at several courses in Japan and behaved well, so I am not concerned,” Matsunaga said. “He has a strong mind of himself. He may get aggressive when horses come to him, but in the race he always concentrates. If horses don’t want to be around him that is good for the horse.”
With an early 10:30 a.m. post time Friday, training hours will be from 5:45-8 a.m. with the 5:45-6 slot reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses. Matsunaga indicated that Lani would take advantage of the reserved time Friday.
Mansunaga was not fazed by his colt’s longshot status.
“Someone has to make the odds, but that doesn’t matter to me,” Matsunaga said.
Lani came on the track at the five-eighths gap, walked to the head of the stretch and jogged around for his first lap. Lani combined a jog and a gallop on his second circuit, galloped a third circuit and part of a fourth before slowing at the three-quarter pole and turning right to walk in the mile chute before walking back to the gap on which he entered the track.
“I have seen him many mornings here and today was his best form,” Matsunaga said.
Lani, winner of the UAE Derby (Group II) in his most recent start, drew post position eight for Saturday’s Run for the Roses and will be ridden by Yutaka Take. Lani was listed at 30-1 on the morning line.
Matsunaga has had Lani visit the starting gate twice in the past week, but has no paddock schooling planned for his runner.
“He has raced at several courses in Japan and behaved well, so I am not concerned,” Matsunaga said. “He has a strong mind of himself. He may get aggressive when horses come to him, but in the race he always concentrates. If horses don’t want to be around him that is good for the horse.”
With an early 10:30 a.m. post time Friday, training hours will be from 5:45-8 a.m. with the 5:45-6 slot reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses. Matsunaga indicated that Lani would take advantage of the reserved time Friday.
Mansunaga was not fazed by his colt’s longshot status.
“Someone has to make the odds, but that doesn’t matter to me,” Matsunaga said.
MAJESTO – Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Majesto was sent to the Churchill Downs track Thursday morning for an easy gallop.
“He is very, very happy,” trainer Gustavo Delgado said. “He went very easy. He had his open gallop (Tuesday), he doesn’t need to do more.”
The Florida Derby (GI) runner-up drew the No. 18 post and was rated at 30-1 in the morning line.
“I prefer to be inside more, but what can I do?” Delgado said. “But you don’t know what will happen. Anything can happen.”
Delgado reported that jockey Emisael Jaramillo is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Thursday evening.
“He is very, very happy,” trainer Gustavo Delgado said. “He went very easy. He had his open gallop (Tuesday), he doesn’t need to do more.”
The Florida Derby (GI) runner-up drew the No. 18 post and was rated at 30-1 in the morning line.
“I prefer to be inside more, but what can I do?” Delgado said. “But you don’t know what will happen. Anything can happen.”
Delgado reported that jockey Emisael Jaramillo is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Thursday evening.
MOHAYMEN – Shadwell Stable’s Mohaymen galloped once around the Churchill Downs track Thursday morning.
“The track superintendent and his crew have again done a great job. We were able to gallop after the break. We changed up today and went off to the right and just went once around, because it was a little wet,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “He went great. He wasn’t too keen. We had another great morning.”
Mohaymen, who had won his first five races before sustaining his first loss in a fourth-place finish in the Florida Derby (GI) at Gulfstream Park April 2, will be looking to rebound from post 14 Saturday.
“The outside horse (Danzing Candy) and Mike Smith are probably going to have to go to clear. Hopefully, we break good and follow Nyquist and him and see how it unfolds,” McLaughlin said. “We won’t be too far away – stalking from fifth-ish, hopefully.”
“The track superintendent and his crew have again done a great job. We were able to gallop after the break. We changed up today and went off to the right and just went once around, because it was a little wet,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “He went great. He wasn’t too keen. We had another great morning.”
Mohaymen, who had won his first five races before sustaining his first loss in a fourth-place finish in the Florida Derby (GI) at Gulfstream Park April 2, will be looking to rebound from post 14 Saturday.
“The outside horse (Danzing Candy) and Mike Smith are probably going to have to go to clear. Hopefully, we break good and follow Nyquist and him and see how it unfolds,” McLaughlin said. “We won’t be too far away – stalking from fifth-ish, hopefully.”
MOR SPIRIT – Michael Petersen's Mor Spirit, runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (GI) in his most recent start, galloped once around the Churchill track for the second straight day under exercise rider George Alvarez during the special 8:30 a.m. training time.
“He's doing well,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “I'm happy with him. He's a nice horse. He's just as good as any of them here.”
The Eskendereya ridgling drew post position 17 Wednesday night, a spot that has yet to produce a Kentucky Derby winner in the 141-year history of the race.
“The last time I had post 17, it was with Gary Stevens and Point Given (in 2001),” Baffert said. “And, we all know how that turned out. But, it wasn't the post that got him beat that day. We'll just have to make history again this year.”
Point Given and Stevens, who will be aboard Mor Spirit on Saturday, did go on to win the Preakness (GI) and Belmont Stakes (GI) as well as Horse of the Year after finishing fifth as the 9-5 favorite in the Kentucky Derby.
“He's doing well,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “I'm happy with him. He's a nice horse. He's just as good as any of them here.”
The Eskendereya ridgling drew post position 17 Wednesday night, a spot that has yet to produce a Kentucky Derby winner in the 141-year history of the race.
“The last time I had post 17, it was with Gary Stevens and Point Given (in 2001),” Baffert said. “And, we all know how that turned out. But, it wasn't the post that got him beat that day. We'll just have to make history again this year.”
Point Given and Stevens, who will be aboard Mor Spirit on Saturday, did go on to win the Preakness (GI) and Belmont Stakes (GI) as well as Horse of the Year after finishing fifth as the 9-5 favorite in the Kentucky Derby.
MO TOM – G M B Racing's Mo Tom, with exercise rider Mario Garcia aboard, jogged to the starting gate for schooling before having a short gallop. On Friday, he'll gallop his usual two miles, trainer Tom Amoss said.
The colt was to go to the gate Wednesday, but Amoss said he called a last-minute audible. "I ended up changing my mind, because I was schooling him in the paddock, and I didn't want to throw too much at him.'' he said.
Corey Lanerie, Mo Tom's jockey, said he's grateful to have retained the mount. Lanerie's status was uncertain after the Louisiana Derby (GII), in which Mo Tom had a troubled stretch run. Lanerie tried to move him along the rail, but couldn't find running room. Mo Tom had to be checked for about a sixteenth of a mile and finished fourth.
After the race, Amoss strongly chewed out Lanerie, and in newspaper reports, Amoss put the blame squarely on the jockey.
"Like I tell everybody, the minute I came back on the horse, I wanted to get under a rock,'' Lanerie said. "And I could hear Tom, and I was just like, 'You know what Tom, give me what you've got. I'm sorry. There's nothing I could do. It's my fault. I don't remember what he said. ...
“I told that to him. I don't know if he heard it, but he's hollering. ... I was so embarrassed with myself for what had happened and for all the connections. I was so sorry for them. And I couldn't take it back and go do it again. So, I was heartbroken and embarrassed. I was in another world. I didn't hear him. I know he was mad and hollering, but I didn't know what he said.''
Back in the jockeys' room, Lanerie received a text from Amoss, who apologized for his outburst. "But like I told him, he really didn't have to do that, because, anybody in my life will tell you, I'm not a mean person,'' Lanerie said. "I give everybody all kind of options and look at things from the other side. It's not going to change our relationship. If he never rides me on another horse, I'll play golf with him next week or do whatever. Tom's a great guy and a great trainer, and he's been really helpful in my career.''
Mo Tom also had encountered traffic trouble in the stretch in the Risen Star (GII). Bistraya crossed toward the rail in front of him and Lanerie had to check Mo Tom sharply. He finished a close third.
"You know, everybody says, twice; I did it to him twice,'' Lanerie said. "The first time was not my fault at all.''
Amoss agrees that Lanerie wasn't at fault in the Risen Star. "He did nothing wrong,'' Amoss said.
But the Louisiana Derby was different, Lanerie said. "I really hadn't moved yet, and I ended up in a bad spot,'' he said. "I watch the replay, and I don't know how I ended up there. But it's only really been one time where I might have made a bad choice. So, we all make mistakes, and I know the horse. I don't blame them for sticking with me, but if they would not have, I could not be mad at them one bit. I'm human. My dad trains. I could have been on the other side of the fence. ... You can see them going somewhere else. But thank God, they didn't.''
Amoss said that as he was driving to Louisville on the Monday after the Louisiana Derby, he and Lanerie talked by telephone and tried to figure out how Lanerie could stay on Mo Tom. Emotions had cooled.
"I know the media played it out for a long time after that, but Corey had other horses to ride in preps, and so we didn't want to say, ‘Corey's our rider’, and have Corey tell us, 'Listen, you know, I'm going to do something different.' So we wanted to wait for Corey. ... That's why we didn't say anything.''
Lanerie said that his non-combative response to the situation probably helped him stay on the horse. Also, Lanerie said, his success at Churchill Downs probably helped him, too.
"We all make mistakes, and I've done really well at Churchill, obviously,'' Lanerie said. "If I hadn't been leading rider here 10 times, I'm sure I wouldn't be on the horse. But I've done really well here.''
Amoss said: "It's a huge advantage. You know, people are like, 'Are you going to tell him not to go to the inside?' I'm not going to tell him anything. Corey knows how to ride a horse. I watched him win on the rail yesterday. If that's where he chooses to go, he thinks it's the best move.''
Lanerie, who will be riding in the Derby for the second time, finished 16th on Harry's Holiday in 2014. Mo Tom is a much different animal, Lanerie said.
"I only rode the Derby once, so it's easy to say it's my best chance, but I really think he has a real good chance,'' he said. "In my mind, he's one of the favorites. Besides what Nyquist has done, I think it's wide-open, and, you know, I really haven't had a chance to see his quarter of a mile run, except for in the LeComte.''
The colt was to go to the gate Wednesday, but Amoss said he called a last-minute audible. "I ended up changing my mind, because I was schooling him in the paddock, and I didn't want to throw too much at him.'' he said.
Corey Lanerie, Mo Tom's jockey, said he's grateful to have retained the mount. Lanerie's status was uncertain after the Louisiana Derby (GII), in which Mo Tom had a troubled stretch run. Lanerie tried to move him along the rail, but couldn't find running room. Mo Tom had to be checked for about a sixteenth of a mile and finished fourth.
After the race, Amoss strongly chewed out Lanerie, and in newspaper reports, Amoss put the blame squarely on the jockey.
"Like I tell everybody, the minute I came back on the horse, I wanted to get under a rock,'' Lanerie said. "And I could hear Tom, and I was just like, 'You know what Tom, give me what you've got. I'm sorry. There's nothing I could do. It's my fault. I don't remember what he said. ...
“I told that to him. I don't know if he heard it, but he's hollering. ... I was so embarrassed with myself for what had happened and for all the connections. I was so sorry for them. And I couldn't take it back and go do it again. So, I was heartbroken and embarrassed. I was in another world. I didn't hear him. I know he was mad and hollering, but I didn't know what he said.''
Back in the jockeys' room, Lanerie received a text from Amoss, who apologized for his outburst. "But like I told him, he really didn't have to do that, because, anybody in my life will tell you, I'm not a mean person,'' Lanerie said. "I give everybody all kind of options and look at things from the other side. It's not going to change our relationship. If he never rides me on another horse, I'll play golf with him next week or do whatever. Tom's a great guy and a great trainer, and he's been really helpful in my career.''
Mo Tom also had encountered traffic trouble in the stretch in the Risen Star (GII). Bistraya crossed toward the rail in front of him and Lanerie had to check Mo Tom sharply. He finished a close third.
"You know, everybody says, twice; I did it to him twice,'' Lanerie said. "The first time was not my fault at all.''
Amoss agrees that Lanerie wasn't at fault in the Risen Star. "He did nothing wrong,'' Amoss said.
But the Louisiana Derby was different, Lanerie said. "I really hadn't moved yet, and I ended up in a bad spot,'' he said. "I watch the replay, and I don't know how I ended up there. But it's only really been one time where I might have made a bad choice. So, we all make mistakes, and I know the horse. I don't blame them for sticking with me, but if they would not have, I could not be mad at them one bit. I'm human. My dad trains. I could have been on the other side of the fence. ... You can see them going somewhere else. But thank God, they didn't.''
Amoss said that as he was driving to Louisville on the Monday after the Louisiana Derby, he and Lanerie talked by telephone and tried to figure out how Lanerie could stay on Mo Tom. Emotions had cooled.
"I know the media played it out for a long time after that, but Corey had other horses to ride in preps, and so we didn't want to say, ‘Corey's our rider’, and have Corey tell us, 'Listen, you know, I'm going to do something different.' So we wanted to wait for Corey. ... That's why we didn't say anything.''
Lanerie said that his non-combative response to the situation probably helped him stay on the horse. Also, Lanerie said, his success at Churchill Downs probably helped him, too.
"We all make mistakes, and I've done really well at Churchill, obviously,'' Lanerie said. "If I hadn't been leading rider here 10 times, I'm sure I wouldn't be on the horse. But I've done really well here.''
Amoss said: "It's a huge advantage. You know, people are like, 'Are you going to tell him not to go to the inside?' I'm not going to tell him anything. Corey knows how to ride a horse. I watched him win on the rail yesterday. If that's where he chooses to go, he thinks it's the best move.''
Lanerie, who will be riding in the Derby for the second time, finished 16th on Harry's Holiday in 2014. Mo Tom is a much different animal, Lanerie said.
"I only rode the Derby once, so it's easy to say it's my best chance, but I really think he has a real good chance,'' he said. "In my mind, he's one of the favorites. Besides what Nyquist has done, I think it's wide-open, and, you know, I really haven't had a chance to see his quarter of a mile run, except for in the LeComte.''
