The field for the 142nd Kentucky Derby will learn their starting gates at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

[Greenbacks]

MY MAN SAM/SHAGAF – Trainer Chad Brown's Kentucky Derby duo followed their usual routine of going to the track to gallop 1 3/8 miles Thursday during the special 8:30 a.m. training time. Daniel Bernardini was on My Man Sam and Gian Cueva was on Shagaf.

On Wednesday evening, My Man Sam drew post position six and Shagaf got the 16 hole. Both positions were just fine with Brown.
“I'm happy with them,” Brown said. “I was hoping for more of inside post for My Man Sam and I wanted more of an outside post for Shagaf. He's just a big, steady moving horses and I don't want him losing his momentum once he gets to running. He should be OK from the 16.”

 

[Greenbacks]

NYQUIST – The Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite Nyquist was in the sizable grouping of Derby/Oaks horses who slipped through the six-furlong gap on the Churchill Downs’ backside Thursday morning at 8:30 to take advantage of a cleared racetrack for a bit of training. He was led out by assistant trainer Jack Sisterson on a pony with regular exercise rider Jonny Garcia in the tack.

Trainer Doug O’Neill and a sizable contingent of the Nyquist “family” -- including owner Paul Reddam – watched the bay colt set out on his own and accomplish a gallop of a mile and three-eighths in strong fashion.

On Saturday, the man in the saddle for Nyquist will be Mario Gutierrez, the same fellow who piloted the Reddam-owned and O’Neill-trained I’ll Have Another to Derby glory in 2012.

What, O’Neill was asked, did the I’ll Have Another experience in Derby 138 do for him coming up to this year’s Derby 142?

“It has allowed me to not be overwhelmed this time,” O’Neill said. “We found out that time that we had success doing what we’d been doing all along. It worked. So we’re just doing that again – same patterns, same style. We just want to stay on course. That’s what’s going to work. We know that now.”

 

[Greenbacks]

OSCAR NOMINATED – Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Spiral (GIII) winner Oscar Nominated galloped at 8:30 Thursday morning with exercise rider Joel Barrientos at the controls. The son of Kitten’s Joy, a $200,000 supplemental nominee, arrived from nearby Trackside Training Center on Wednesday, and Thursday marked his first day on the Churchill track, although the colt had his final work for the big dance here April 29.

Back at the barn after Oscar Nominated’s Thursday training session, trainer Mike Maker, said it was business as usual for his 50-1 Derby entrant.

“Didn’t see anything that we don’t see every day from him — nice, smooth action,” Maker said.

Oscar Nominated will be Maker’s ninth Kentucky Derby starter and his fourth for the Ramseys.

“Ken’s enthusiasm is contagious — what a fun ride we have had together,” Maker said of the 13 years he has trained for the loquacious owner.

 

[Greenbacks]

SUDDENBREAKINGNEWS – Trainer Donnie Von Hemel and jockey Luis Quinonez have teamed for a lot of races together over the past 20 years, but Saturday will be biggest one when Quinonez rides the Von Hemel-trained Suddenbreakingnews in his first Kentucky Derby.


Overall, the two have won 202 races together, including such graded stakes as the Southwest Stakes (GIII) with Suddenbreakingnews, the Azeri Stakes (GII) with Gold Medal Dancer and Oaklawn Handicap (GII) and Pimlico Special (GIII) with Alternation.

“Luis has proven to be a very good jockey,” Von Hemel said. “He has a good, level head. He can tell you a lot about a horse. He's always been known as a strong finisher, which fits well with this horse. This race won't be too big for him.”

Suddenbreakingnews, owned by Texan Samuel F. Henderson, continued to prepare for his start in the Kentucky Derby by galloping 1 ½ miles Thursday morning under regular exercise rider Ramiro Gorostieta.

 

[Greenbacks]

TOM’S READY – G M B Racing's Tom's Readldy, with exercise rider Emerson Chavez aboard, galloped a mile and a half Thursday after the renovation break.

Trainer Dallas Stewart said he's relieved that in the post draw Wednesday Tom's Ready avoided landing in one of the inside three positions. He drew No. 12.

"When the one, two, three are sitting down in there, you're sitting there like, 'We've got to get by this,' '' Stewart said. "The maiden (Trojan Nation) gets the one. Now the two's laying out there. And somebody jumped in the three. Then they call out the 12, and your name goes out, and you go, ‘Whew. I'll take it.'

"The horse just needs to get out of the gate good, get a position, hopefully not get in trouble. A lot of things can happen with a 20-horse field. Don't kid yourself.''

Stewart said he's expecting a fast pace.

"Mohaymen is going to rock and roll,'' he said. "I think he'll rock and roll. If you work in :46, :47 in the morning, you can look for that in the afternoon, in my opinion.''

Positioning for Tom's Ready, of course, will be up to jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

"You just have to leave it up to him,'' Stewart said. "You can't over-coach him. ... You just have to let it play out. I don't want him to be thinking (too much). I hired him to do the job. He knows how to get it done.''

 

[Greenbacks]

TROJAN NATION – The big Street Cry colt Trojan Nation went out during the special Derby/Oaks training period at 8:30 Thursday morning just two days ahead of his attempt to become the first non-winning winner of the Kentucky Derby in 83 years.

Trainer Paddy Gallagher had exerciser rider Andy Durnin take the Kentucky-bred maiden for a mile and one-half gallop on the Churchill strip. They reported back to Barn 41 in good order following the exercise.

Trojan Nation drew post number one for the mile and a quarter test Saturday, which is sort of a “good news/bad news” thing in the trainer’s mind.

"I don’t mind the post at all for position,” Gallagher said Thursday. “We’re going to come from the back anyway, so we’re on the rail right away and able to save ground. But I don’t like the fact that we’ll load first and will have to wait for everyone else to come in. But what are you going to do? That’s horse racing.”

 

[Greenbacks]

WHITMORE – Earlier in the week, trainer Ron Moquett used the word “happy” to describe his second straight Kentucky Derby starter and that continues to be the case, although Whitmore is putting more of a game face on each day.

“He cracks me up. He's all attitude,” said Moquett, who described how Whitmore threw him a warning kick Thursday morning when he was in his stall. “It's got to be his way. If we get the trip, they're going to know who we are after the race.”

Whitmore, accompanied by a stablemate, galloped one mile under Laura Moquett during the special 8:30 a.m. training session and also schooled in the paddock during this time.

 

[Greenbacks]

Trojan Nation - Race Results & Past Performances.

04/09/16

Trojan Nation

2nd

Aqu

10

1 1/8 m

D

Wood Memorial-G1

3 M

Outwork

Trojan Nation

Adventist

1:52.92

03/06/16

Trojan Nation

3rd

SA

6

1 mile

D

MSW

3 M

Hoffenheim

One More Round

Trojan Nation

1:37.39

02/07/16

Trojan Nation

3rd

SA

3

1 1/16 m

D

MSW

3 M

Cupid

Inhibition

Trojan Nation

1:43.78

12/27/15

Trojan Nation

4th

SA

4

1 1/16 m

D

MSW

2 M

French Getaway

Hoffenheim

Police Escort

1:43.97

11/15/15

Trojan Nation

3rd

Dmr

4

1 mile

D

MSW

2 M

Urlacher

Sorryaboutnothing

Trojan Nation

1:37.84

10/10/15

Trojan Nation

6th

SA

8

6 f

D

MSW

2 M

Dr. Dorr

Basinca

Esposito

1:10.56

<tbody>
</tbody>

 

[Greenbacks]

Suddenbreakingnews - Race Results & Past Performances.

Date <tbody> </tbody>

<tbody> </tbody>

Horse <tbody> </tbody>

Fin <tbody> </tbody>

Tr <tbody> </tbody>

# <tbody> </tbody>

Dist. <tbody> </tbody>

Sf. <tbody> </tbody>

Race <tbody> </tbody>

$ <tbody> </tbody>

Cnd <tbody> </tbody>

1st <tbody> </tbody>

2nd <tbody> </tbody>

3rd <tbody> </tbody>

Time <tbody> </tbody>

04/16/16

Suddenbreakingnews

2nd

OP

11

1 1/8 m

D

Arkansas Derby-G1

3 M

Creator

Suddenbreakingnews

Whitmore

1:50.14

03/19/16

Suddenbreakingnews

5th

OP

10

1 1/16 m

D

Rebel Stakes-G2

3 M

Cupid

Whitmore

Creator

1:43.84

02/15/16

Suddenbreakingnews

1st

OP

9

1 1/16 m

D

Southwest Stakes-G3

3 M

Suddenbreakingnews

Whitmore

American Dubai

1:45.14

12/13/15

Suddenbreakingnews

2nd

RP

10

1 mile

D

Remington Springboard Mile

2 M

Discreetness

Suddenbreakingnews

Esposito

1:39.15

11/06/15

Suddenbreakingnews

1st

RP

7

7 f

D

Clever Trevor

2 M

Suddenbreakingnews

Cash Bonus

Royal Lion

1:24.01

10/17/15

Suddenbreakingnews

2nd

RP

7

1 mile

D

AlwOC

2 M

Royal Lion

Suddenbreakingnews

Aztec Lion

1:38.30

09/24/15

Suddenbreakingnews

1st

RP

6

1 mile

D

MSW

2 M

Suddenbreakingnews

Infinite Fiesta

Cutacorner

1:38.57

08/28/15

Suddenbreakingnews

2nd

RP

2

7 1/2 f

T

MSW

2 M

Royal Ransom

Suddenbreakingnews

Shaboxxo

1:32.82

<tbody>
</tbody>

 

[Greenbacks]

Here`s a link to the past performances.....Just click on the name.

http://www.horseracingnation.com/p/c/Kentucky_Derby_2016_Contenders

 

[DrunkenHorseplayer]

5,13,15/5,9,13,15/5,9,11,13,15; $27 for a shot at a good trifecta.

 

[Greenbacks]

5,13,15/5,9,13,15/5,9,11,13,15; $27 for a shot at a good trifecta.

Good luck!

 

[Greenbacks]

e

 

[Greenbacks]

$1 Tri Box.....$1 Exacta Box

8,4,5,3

 

[Greenbacks]

Recent Deep Closers to Win the Kentucky Derby.

The 2016 Kentucky Derby seems to have several deep closing horses that stand a good shot. Exaggerator, Mo Tom, Brody’s Cause, and Suddenbreakingnews have all shown they have a late kick to them and could be a force to reckon with if they get clear of traffic in the 20 horse field. Though the large Kentucky Derby field can be a challenge for deep closing horses, it’s been proven that horses can win from the back, both race favorites and longshots.

Orb (2013): Orb almost always found himself starting in the back of the field. In both his maiden win and an allowance race at Gulfstream, he started as the last of seven horses before working his way past the field. The son of Malibu Moon then won the Fountain of Youth starting from his usual position in the back of the field before taking the Florida Derby, where he came from mid-pack. Orb entered the Kentucky Derby as the favorite where he settled in 16th on a sloppy Churchill Downs surface, but lived up to his odds and won the Run for the Roses by 2 1/2 lengths.

Mine That Bird (2009): It was fairly normal for Mine That Bird to run his race from the back of the field. In the Kentucky Derby, the 50-1 shot sat dead last in the field of 19 before jockey Calvin Borel rode the gelding close to the rail to win by 6 3/4 lengths. He also came from the last of 13 in the Preakness to finish a length behind 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.

Street Sense (2007): Street Sense found success running from both the middle of the field and further back. In the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Street Sense found himself in second-to-last before winning the race by 10 lengths. He again found himself in the same position when going off as the favorite for the Kentucky Derby. The far back position did not stop him though, and he ran by the field to cross the wire 2 1/4 lengths ahead of the rest.

Giacomo (2005): Giacomo was another horse usually found closer to the back of the field. The son of Holy Bull was 18th of 20 in the Kentucky Derby before shocking the field to win by half a length. Off at 50-1, Giacomo sat far back for the majority of the race before being angled out by Mike Smith to make a determined rally to victory.

 

[Greenbacks]

All-Time Biggest Kentucky Derby Longshots.

With Nyquist looking like the Kentucky Derby 2016 favorite, he may feel like a secure horse to bet money on. Although everyone wants to make some money, betting the favorite will not provide much of a return. The high payoffs come with the longshots. Since 1911, it’s been tradition to place a $2 bet, and betting $2 on a longshot is a minimum loss compared to what you could win. Below are the 10 horses with the highest payoffs since the $2 bet came into play.<o></o>

1.) Donerail (1913): No other horse has come close to the longshot win that Donerail had in the Kentucky Derby. He was sent off at odds of 91-1 and paid $184.90. Donerail had a short career at stud in Lexington before being donated to the Remount Service to produce horses for the cavalry.<o></o>

2.) Mine That Bird (2009): Mine That Bird had four wins as a two-year-old in Canada and finished second and fourth in New Mexico at age three. His trainer loaded the gelding in a trailer attached to his pick-up truck and drove to Churchill Downs with a broken foot. Mine That Bird was given 50-1 odds and paid $103.20 after his shocking win up the rail. He may not have won another race after the Kentucky Derby, but his victory that day is not forgotten.<o></o>

3.) Giacomo (2005): Giacomo ties with Mine That Bird for having the second highest Kentucky Derby odds at 50-1. He looked promising after breaking his maiden by 10 lengths as a two-year-old, but that was his only win going into the Kentucky Derby. His surprising win paid $102.60. Giacomo only won once more in his racing career when he crossed the wire first by a head in the 2006 San Diego Handicap.<o></o>

4.) Gallahadion (1940): Gallahadion was owned by Ethel V. Mars’ Milky Way Farm. The farm’s name came from the chocolate bar that Mars’ company produced. Gallahadion was another horse that did not see as much success outside the Kentucky Derby. He was unplaced in two California Derby preps, but the decision was made to enter him for the first Saturday in May after he won the San Vicente and finished second in the Derby Trial. Off at odds of 36-1, his win paid $72.40.<o></o>

5.) Charismatic (1999): Before winning the Kentucky Derby, Charismatic’s record held 3 wins out of 14 races. Those victories came from a maiden claiming race, another claiming race, and the Lexington Stakes. His 31-1 odds in the Kentucky Derby paid $64.60 to win.<o></o>

6.) Proud Clarion (1967): Coming from a top pedigree, Proud Clarion was given high expectations that he did not quite live up to. He had no wins from three starts as a two-year-old, and only won a few sprint races before the Kentucky Derby. His best prep for the race was the Blue Grass where he finished second. He went off just over 30-1 in the Kentucky Derby and paid $62.20. He had no wins outside his three-year-old year. <o></o>

7.) Exterminator (1918): When his owner’s U.S. Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Sun Briar scratched from the Kentucky Derby, Exterminator was grudgingly entered instead. Having been bought merely as a work mate for Sun Briar, no one expected much and Exterminator stunned the field at odds of 30-1 to pay $61.20. The gelding became known as “Old Bones” by his fans and raced 99 times. He retired at age nine with a record of 50-17-17.<o></o>

8.) Dark Star (1953): Even with odds at 25-1, Dark Star won the Kentucky Derby and handed Native Dancer his only defeat. The upset paid $51.80. Dark Star won 6 of 13 races during his career.<o></o>

9.) Thunder Gulch (1995): Though he had won both the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby, Thunder Gulch was given odds of 25-1 in the Kentucky Derby, where his win paid $51.00. He went on that year to win the Belmont, the Swap Stakes, the Travers, and the Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap, earning Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Colt. <o></o>

10.) Gato Del Sol (1982): With his only two wins before the Kentucky Derby being at two-years-old, Gato Del Sol went off at Churchill Downs with odds of 21-1. His Kentucky Derby victory paid $44.40. He ran 39 times in his racing career, but only won four other races after the Kentucky Derby.

 

[Greenbacks]

Cathryn Sophia wins the Kentucky Oaks!

 

[Greenbacks]

Things are quiet for now.

 

[Greenbacks]

Clocker Gary Young Discusses Kentucky Derby 2016 Contenders.


Gary Young has been clocking horses for more than 35 years and the past week he has been at Churchill Downs observing this year’s crop of contenders for the 2016 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

A year ago, the Southern California-based private clocker and bloodstock agent tipped all who’d listen that American Pharoah was one of the best horses he’d ever seen.

“I have been doing this for 35 years,” Young told the Kentucky Derby Notes Team on the Sunday before the race, “and he might be the best horse I’ve ever seen. He’s simply like Michael Jordan and stays in the air like he did in his rookie year. He stays in the air longer than any horse and you get the feeling that there’s not one gear left, but he may have two, three or four gears.”


Young knows what he likes and dislikes and here are his thoughts on this year’s field.


BRODY’S CAUSE
April 30 – :12, :23.40, :47.40, gallop out in 1:13.40 and 1:28.40. The Blue Grass winner was just one of two Derby horses to work Saturday and it was evident he exited his recent victory in fine shape as he showed good energy when he broke off at the 1/2 mile pole. He seemed to lose perhaps a little interest nearing the wire but a light nudge from Tammy Fox got his interest back and he worked nicely to the 7/8 pole. The gallop out was fine and as he entered the backstretch his ears went up indicating he was looking for more. He will get his chance a week from today.

CREATOR
May 2 – :25.20, :38 and :50.60. A mirror image of his stablemate’s work (Gun Runner). He looked fine in this leg stretcher and appears to be coming into this the right way.

May 1 – Galloped with his blinkers on and was strong. He works tomorrow.

DANZING CANDY
May 3 – Danzing Candy had a good first day. His attitude will have a big bearing on his performance but who am I to talk about attitude?

DESTIN
April 29 – :12.60, :24.80, :37.40, :49.60, 1:01.40, gallop out in 1:14.20 and 1:27.40. Worked outside of recent impressive allowance winner Stradavari and proved best despite appearing to lose some focus past the wire. He did not get washy as he has been known to do in the past, and bested a top prospect. Given eight weeks since his last race by design, he gives Pletcher another contender in the Derby.

EXAGGERATOR
May 3 – Exaggerator had decent energy in his gallop.

April 30 – :12.80, :25.20, :37.80, 1:02.60, gallop out in 1:15.60 and 1:29.60. Somewhat lanky colt eased away from the 5/8 pole and caught his fluid stride while going easy throughout. This was an appropriate work considering he’s exiting a very powerful win. It was your typical “don’t leave your race on the track work.” He also threw his ears up as entered the backstretch. Like so many others, I’m anxious to see if what we saw in the Santa Anita Derby was a result of a wet surface and a wicked pace or whether he is truly an emerging star and I was hoping to get a clue to that today but such was not the case. We will learn the answer in seven days.

FELLOWSHIP
April 29 – :12.20, :23.60, :35.40, :47, gallop out in 1:00. Much the best beating an overmatched workmate. He will need a defection to crack the starting 20. I’m still trying to figure out why Stanley Gold got the ax as his trainer…

GUN RUNNER
May 2 – :25 :37.80, :50.40, gallop out 1:04.40. Typical final work for his trainer. He was on his own throughout and has been moving like a happy horse this week. We find out Saturday if he is good enough.

May 1 – He also galloped well for Asmussen. Like the favorite (Nyquist), he got a little sweat on his neck but this is of little or no concern. He also will have his final drill for the roses tomorrow.

LANI
May 3 – The “Iron Horse” with a mind and a will of his own entered the building at 8:35 a.m. He had the same look on him as Russell Crowe in “Gladiator” as he entered the Coliseum. The plan was to break off at the 3/4 pole if the beast so desired. He declined. This is a prime case of the inmates running the prison but by the time he saw the 5/8 pole he decided to work. He went smoothly throughout in :24.40 and :36.60 and got to the wire under light coaxing in 1.01. He may lose the Derby but it won’t be because he’s undertrained. After he pulled up from his work, he came to a walk and was asked to walk another lap around the main track. I’m starting to believe his toughness and attitude is the stuff Godzilla was made of.

May 2 – Lani is one of the most oddly trained horses I’ve seen in my 35 years at this wacky occupation. He went around three times this morning before working down the stretch in :25.20. He was on the track for 45 minutes this morning. I wish I could train that long on the elliptical machine. In theory, after he leaves the barn the groom could take a mini-nap, grab some breakfast, read the paper and still have plenty of time to clean his stall and prepare his bath water. He did not seem near as interested in mounting another horse today and it will be very intriguing to see how he behaves and performs this Saturday.

May 1 – Continues to appear to have his mind on things other than roses as he has been a handful since he got off the plane. He has won a major prep, and being by Tapit, he will surely go to stud one day. I hope and pray the night before he breeds his first mare that his handlers get a good night’s sleep…

MAJESTO
April 29 – :12.80, :24.80, :36.80, 1:01.40. Was the final work of the morning for Derby horses. There was no smell of roses in the air as he passed the Twin Spires…

MO TOM
May 1 – Rangy colt galloped twice around and looked fine. He certainly is due for a good trip and could be live at a price Saturday.

April 29 – :12.20, :24.40, :48.60, gallop out in 1:02.20 and 1:15.40. Tall narrow colt has been a victim of two well-publicized trips recently and looked decent in a “not so serious” looking drill. Before he got stopped in his last race, he was moving with picture perfect action coming around the turn. One of many 10-1 and up types that have some sort of look.

MOHAYMEN
May 3 – Needs to chill out and calm down.

April 29 – :12.60, :23.80, :47.40, gallop out in 1:00.80. Two months ago he was the “flavor of the month” but after a woeful effort in the Florida Derby he has been dropped like a hot potato. He is certainly not a stout horse and was pulling going to the pole today. His ears were laid straight back as usual, and while I believe there is talent there, I don’t care for him next Saturday.

MOR SPIRIT
May 2 – :23.60, :35.40, :46.80, :59.80 and 1:13.20. Left the 1/2 mile pole about a length behind his workmate Jimbo Fallon and was a much easier animal to control than in his previous work. Gary Stevens was just along for the ride and the adjustment in blinker cups seemed to work very well. One of many in this year’s edition that could wear roses if Nyquist loses the puck.

May 1 – Very leggy colt galloped through the wet surface and, though he looked fine, I get the feeling he will appreciate the return to a dry surface that is predicted to be in place for the Derby.

MY MAN SAM
April 29 – :25.60, :49.60, gallop out 1:02.20 and 1:14.80. Standard modern day “final work” as he worked outside of workmate and went on his own. The gallop out was good. He appears to be a stayer but the lack of pace could compromise him and many other deep closers in this year’s edition.

NYQUIST
May 3 – Galloped well, the occasional swapping of leads is normal for him.

May 2 – Jogged two miles this morning and looked fine.

May 1 – The Derby favorite got his first feel of the Churchill strip with a jog and looked fine and was moving freely. He accumulated a little lather on his neck but it was his first day in new surroundings and there was still some humidity left from last night’s rain. He looks good.

OUTWORK
May 2 – Had a good morning and seems to be peaking.

April 29 – :13, :37.40, 1:01, gallop out in 1:13.60. The “work of the day” as far as this observer saw it. This massive colt broke about a length behind Azar and blew him away down the lane with Johnny V. just sitting still. He worked behind horses nicely in his last work, according to those who witnessed it, and followed it up with a very good drill today.

SHAGAF
April 29 – :24.20, :47.80, gallop out in 1:00.20. Just when everybody, myself included, was ready to bail on him he comes with a pretty darn good Derby work. Maybe he didn’t like the track at Aqueduct, maybe he’s just starting to figure things out, maybe we are all confused by a horse that has been highly thought of for a long time by his connections. He went good today.


SUDDENBREAKINGNEWS
May 1 – Exited his very positive work on Friday with a light jog and looked happy as a clam.

April 29 – :35.40, :59.60, gallop out in 1:13 and 1:28. This colt would get my 1st runner up to Outwork as far as today’s works. He was equipped with a shadow roll and looked very nice throughout. He’s another one that could be affected by a seemingly moderate pace picture but I couldn’t knock this work.


WHITMORE
April 29 – :24, :35.60, 1:00, gallop out in 1:14. Smallish-sized colt proved best while working inside of workmate in first Derby work of the morning. He has shown ability at Oaklawn but the jury is still out on him being a 1 ¼-mile colt.

 

[Greenbacks]

To win the Kentucky Derby at least once is part of every jockey's dream, but to win it two, three, four, and even five times really puts a jockey's name in high regard. Featured here are the 10 jockeys with the most Kentucky Derby wins in history, and some of them you can still see riding today.


Victor Espinoza: Espinoza finally got his Triple Crown victory in 2015 with American Pharoah. He won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with War Emblem (2002) and California Chrome (2014), but did not capture the Belmont with them.

Calvin Borel: The recently retired jockey had a lot of success on the Churchill Downs track, including three Kentucky Derby wins with Street Sense (2007), Mine That Bird (2009), and Super Saver (2010). He was the leading jockey at Churchill Downs for four meets.

Kent Desormeaux: Already winning the Kentucky Derby with Real Quiet (1998), Fusaichi Pegasus (2000), and Big Brown (2008), Desormeaux is looking for his fourth Kentucky Derby win with this year’s Santa Anita Derby winner, Exaggerator. Real Quiet lost the Triple Crown by a nose in a photo finish.

Gary Stevens: Stevens was second in the 2015 Kentucky Derby with Firing Line and will likely be seen riding Mor Spirit, one of Bob Baffert’s Derby hopefuls, this year. One of Steven’s best known mounts was Winning Colors, the last filly to win the Kentucky Derby in 1988. Stevens won the 1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont with Thunder Gulch, and missed the 1997 Triple Crown by 1 3/4 lengths with Silver Charm.

Bill Shoemaker: Shoemaker’s Kentucky Derby wins came with Swaps (1955), Tommy Lee (1959), Lucky Debonair (1965), and Ferdinand (1986). In 1957, Shoemaker was second with Gallant Man after misjudging the finish line and standing up in his stirrups too soon. He lost to Bill Hartack on Iron Liege that year.

Angel Cordero, Jr.: Cordero, Jr. was the jockey of Kentucky Derby winners Cannonade (1974), Bold Forbes (1976), and Spend a Buck (1985). He was born into Thoroughbred racing through his family and stuck with it. Cordero, Jr. now works as a jockey agent.

Bill Hartack: Hartack ties the record for the most Kentucky Derby wins. He won with Iron Liege (1957), Venetian Way (1960), Decidedly (1962), Northern Dancer (1964), and Majestic Prince (1969). Decidedly ran the fifth fastest Kentucky Derby and Northern Dancer ran the third fastest.

Eddie Arcaro: Arcaro ties with Hartack for winning five times, but two of Arcaro’s mounts were Triple Crown winners, those two horses being Whirlaway (1941) and Citation (1948). Arcaro also won the Kentucky Derby with Lawrin (1938), Hoop Jr. (1945), and Hill Gail (1952). Whirlaway, Citation, and Hill Gail were all owned by Calumet Farm.


Earl Sande: Sande only had three Kentucky Derby wins, but one of those was Gallant Fox, the 1930 Triple Crown winner. His other winning mounts were Zev (1923) and Flying Ebony (1925). He became a trainer after retiring as a jockey.

Isaac Murphy: Murphy is the oldest jockey on this list. He won the Kentucky Derby with Buchanan (1884), Riley (1890), and Kingman (1891). The National Turf Writers Association established the Isaac Murphy Award in 1995 and it is given to the jockey with the highest winning percentage for the year in North America. The winning jockey must ride at least 500 times in that same year.