In fact, it brought back good memories.
Advertisement
Trainer Brad Cox has a Kentucky Derby hopeful in his barn, dressed up but perhaps with nowhere to go.
“The post draw didn’t matter to us a ton but we’re happy being more toward the outside for sure”, O’Neill said. “He’s thriving on all the positive attention”.
Recent Derby history shows it can be a mistake to overlook lightly raced horses – not because they’re more likely to win, but because sometimes they’ve yet to show what they can really do. Owned by G M B Racing – the nom de course for Tom and Gayle Benson, owners of the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and Pelicans (NBA) – Tom’s Ready has one win from nine career starts but owns a pair of runner-up finishes in the Grade II Louisiana Derby and Grade III Lecomte Stakes this year. “The whole team is pumped up. I was just kind of, I don’t know… hanging around”, Stuard said after his final-round 69, which wasn’t even among the top 20 scores on the day.
The connections of Kentucky Derby favorite Nyquist are hoping that Post 13 works for them as well as the last time he carried that number, when he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in October. Bailey Desormeaux is the son of Keith Desormeaux, who trains Exaggerator, and nephew of the colt’s jockey, Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux. Every year I’m looking forward to having a horse for the Derby and win the Derby. “I think we got a little off track this winter in New Orleans with the horse”. The other six horses will be in the auxiliary gate. “What’s there to worry about?”
Creator, Gun Runner and Mohaymen are the co-third choices at 10-1. Creator drew the No. 3 post, while Gun Runner was assigned No. 5. 3, Steve Asmussen. 4, Tom Amoss. Mohaymen, conditioned by Kiaran McLaughlin, will break from No. 14.
Barry Soper: John Key’s China visit a disruption to city Should a land tax apply to foreign-based house buyers? .
It marked the fourth Kentucky Derby win for horse trainer Bob Baffert and the third win for Espinoza. It was the only race Broker’s Tip ever won – with the rest of his career amounting to about the same as any broker’s tip.
Last year, Baffert won with American Pharoah, who swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to win the sport’s first Triple Crown in 37 years. I would not have wanted to be down on the inside. His Beyer Speed Figures, which adjust a horse’s times to account for track conditions and the overall speeds of races, are not the best in the field.
“I rather play it safe and rest up now”, said Federer, 35, who is still expected to play at the Rome Masters before heading to France for Roland Garros. “He can come over gradually and won’t sit in the gate long”. “I don’t need someone doing a mathematical formula to tell me he did well”. Hannah Pletcher, daughter of Todd Pletcher, also has two horses to tweet about: Destin and Outwork. Although it’s a long 1.25-mile trek, being pinned on the rail at the start of the race can prove far too much to overcome.
Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey paid the $200,000 supplemental fee to make Oscar Nominated eligible to the Triple Crown. Since 1991, 19 horses ran in the Derby after competing overseas in their previous start; the best finish of any of them was fifth place by Master of Hounds in 2011, and the most notable flop was the eighth-place finish by Arazi in 1992 as the 4-5 favorite.
Advertisement
The Military Armed Forces Ceremony is scheduled for around 1:20 p.m.in the trackside winner’s circle.
