Can’t recall the name, but it didn’t get to wear the garland of roses that’s presented to the victor. “I don’t know is the honest answer, and not for one moment do we think this is going to be straightforward, though that is stating the obvious”. But this reader apparently believed “If it’s in the Gazette, it must be true”.
Advertisement
“Good Magic looks to really be in a zone right now”, said Brown, who is still seeking his first Derby victory. I thought I was silly to wear a trench coat that day; I should’ve worn a parka. It was quite simple.
Not that he would ever suggest otherwise, but Mendelssohn jockey Ryan Moore is upbeat about his horse’s chances at the Derby. Perhaps one of them will be good enough to outrun or squeeze Justify.
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes champion galloped 1 3/8 miles Thursday morning under exercise rider Walter Malasquez. Hall says he likes a horse called Good Magic. Justify will start from the No. 7 post position; he has plenty of quickness and should be able to hustle to a position behind and outside Promises Fulfilled and Flameaway.
She took the lead and wired the field, holding off Forty Niner to win by a neck.
Pace is likely to play a key role in determining the victor, as it does in most races. At the same time, you have to respect 136 years of history. “We’d really have a 1-2 here”.
Dale Romans said that conventional wisdom is falling by the wayside pretty often these days when it comes to the Kentucky Derby. Fast forward to 2015, and I had the chance to be a part of his history-making run with American Pharoah, the first Triple Crown victor since 1978.
Vino Rosso, trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, is another that may be overlooked by bettors. The last long-shot was Animal Kingdom at 20-1 in 2011, but that paled compared to Mine That Bird at 50-1 in 2009 with the toothless jockey Calvin Borel aboard, and Giacomo at 50-1 in 2005. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt, who won the UAE Derby by 181⁄2 lengths, does seem to have a lot more going for him than previous Dubai shippers. This is a race for 3-year-old female horses, and it traditionally held the day before the Kentucky Derby.
“When they’re good, they’re good”, said jockey Javier Castellano, who faced Justify on Santa Anita Derby runner-up Bolt d’Oro and will ride Florida Derby victor Audible in the Derby.
Mike Smith appears to be in the enviable position of riding favored Justify in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, in addition to second choice Midnight Bisou in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks.
O’Brien also saddles current favourites in the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas (Happily and Gustav Klimt) some 6,500km away at Newmarket this weekend while Mendelssohn is not the only visitor to Kentucky. You have to let them regroup a little bit after their first race or two.
“After 25 years, I’m finally getting horses that I don’t have to buy”, he said.
Justify won’t be the only undefeated horse trying to break the Curse of Apollo Saturday.
“There’s so many horses that have that, it’s pretty minor”, Baffert said, noting his 2010 Preakness victor Lookin at Lucky also had it.
Advertisement
“But I have one good one in the field that I’m very happy with”.
