For those without access to HRTV, the position draw - at 12 pm Eastern - will be also on the official webiste (or so they say): http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/
There will be 20 entrants; 20 starters? Who knows
Holy Cow - Nick Zito has entered Nowhere to Hide into the Derby taking the position vacated by Win Willy.
Now you have all three prominent members of the Legends Fund with a Derby starter: Luka, Baffert, Zito.
Zito, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner, said Shaun Bridgmohan would ride Nowhere to Hide.
LIVE Internet video feed of the post-position draw
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090429/SPORTS08/90429019
Final order …
PP - Horse: ML Odds
1 - West Side Bernie: 30-1
2 - Musket Man: 20-1
3 - Mr Hot Stuff: 30-1
4 - Advice: 30-1
5 - Hold Me Back: 15-1
6 - Friesan Fire: 5-1
7 - Pappa Clem: 20-1
8 - Mine That Bird: 50-1
9 - Join in the Dance: 50-1
10 - Regal Ransom: 30-1
11 - Chocolate Candy: 20-1
12 - General Quarters: 20-1
13 - I Want Revenge: 3-1 (favorite)
14 - Atomic Rain: 50-1
15 - Dunkirk: 4-1 (co-2nd choice)
16 - Pioneerof The Nile: 4-1 (co-2nd choice)
17 - Summer Bird: 50-1
18 - Nowhere to Hide: 50-1
19 - Desert Party: 15-1
20 - Flying Private: 50-1
I know who I would be betting my paycheck on at a price!
[QUOTE=justalittlex;4056296]
Blinkers On, go California horses![/QUOTE]
Well, I’m with y’all on that one too. I may live on the east coast now, but I cannot ever forget my horse racing roots.
What happened to theregoesjojo? I have lost some money on that horse this spring!
Well at least the relatively much unliked ESPN’s Joe Tessitore is good for something … 
You can get into a restricted parking lot in the morning at Churchill Downs with a friendly wave, even without proper identification, but don’t try to get to the Derby draw without a press credential or a ticket.
That’s what Eoin Harty, who trains Mr. Hot Stuff, found out on Wednesday morning. En route to the draw in Churchill’s Marquee Village adjacent to the clubhouse turn, several journalists Harty was walking with breezed in, but Harty was stopped. He had to wait anew even after producing identification with his name on it.
Finally, Joe Tessitore, the host of ESPN’s racing telecasts, showed the admissions clerk a list of Derby trainers. “See this name?” Tessitore said, pointing to a sheet with Harty listed as the trainer of Mr. Hot Stuff. “It’s the same as on his ID.”
With that, Harty was allowed in.
Seemingly not being cited that much - although I have a few future wagers on him - is Chocolate Candy and I cannot say Mike Smith’s remarks are giving me a lot of warm fuzzy vibes:
Smith has already made two trips east from his Southern California base to work Chocolate Candy over the Churchill Downs surface. Smith will ride Chocolate Candy for the first time in the Derby.
“Some people felt he got too tired in his first work, but remember the track was wet and laboring that day,” said Smith. "Pioneerof the Nile had the bullet work that morning in 1:01, and Chocolate Candy went the first five furlongs of his work in 1:01 and change. Then he came back on Monday with a faster work with me never really asking him. The one thing I like about this horse is that he’s jockey-friendly. He’s got a great head on his shoulders. He’s going to come running at the end in the Derby. It’s just a question of whether he’s good enough to catch those horses."
Doesn’t sound like the most confident quote a jockey can make.
Never underestimate Hollendorfer. The horse is a closer and will come running! I’ll bet on that! Jerry Might be due.
Was it a wise move? Thurs morning Papa Clem worked 3 furlongs in :34. The upside is that it was a vastly more appreciated work compared to his work last week which was not well received.
Also doing a last blowout was Nowhere to Hide who has been shipped all over the place in search of a graded victory. It would be tough to see him hit the board (but not impossible) let alone win. While I like Nick Zito a lot I don’t think Leonard Riggio, the founder and chairman of Barnes & Noble, will be taking the roses this year.
Video: DRF’s top clocker Mike Welch’s assessment of the Thursday works - interestingly this morning was the first time all 20 horses went on the track at one time or another. No this wasn’t a photo op – but at least Air Force One wasn’t flown over either. “Hey wouldn’t it be great to have the entire starting field for the Derby in the picture with the President’s plane? Order it up - but keep it top secret!”
Due to the impending heavy rains it is possible this was the last work they can get in.
Interesting with Andy Beyer. Two conflicting articles or maybe not if he’s wearing a journalist hat while penning one and then his wagering hat while the other. He states that on dirt the choice is obvious with a pick being I Want Revenge. That said he also writes in the Washington Post this very negative piece on Jeff Mullins. Both were published April 29th.
That work by Clem is classic “old school” training. Allen Jerens still uses it but not many others. I love that stuff. In fact Clem is my “live longshot” in the Derby.
I can’t stand Mullins or IWR’s owners but I think he’s the most likely winner, so I “get” Beyer’s points.
Totally Linny. And you can never count Gary out either. He wins races at a price with some regularity!
What I want to know is who’s tack is Clem wearing? Very different from the standard Stute attire.
I do hate that Raphael let him gallop out that far this close to the race.
Gary is rather cagey.
In case folks though Quality Road would re-appear in the Preakness - that’s a no go
And - cited by the DRF - what horse in the history of the Kentucky Derby started the race of with the longest odds ever? Would you believe 294-1?
Yep: 1958 Kentucky Derby had “A Dragon Killer” who finished seventh of 14 starters held that dubious dismissal from the betting public
Being that I have only seen races of half of these kids going into the derby, who is our mud runner?
I have a feeling the track is going to be a good bit swampy tomorrow evening… I haven’t seen any of them run in the rain. Each race I have caught has been sunny and dry.
Freisan Fire performed impressively in the mud when winning the LA Derby.
The New York Times’ Joe Drape put out his selections (4-30-09) which aren’t as off-the-wall as his rankings have been this year. Per Joe:
(excerpted)
1 - Friesan Fire: “Louisiana Derby Champ has won three in a row. He is sound. He is fast. He will deliver Jones his first Derby victory.”
2 - Papa Clem: “Finished second behind top pick in Louisiana, then followed with a victory in the Arkansas Derby.”
3 - Regal Ransom: “UAE Derby winner has worked well here, and will be leading when the field hits the mile mark. He won’t be able to hold on.”
4 - Dunkirk: “This gray son of Unbridled’s Son has won two of three in his career. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for in talent.”
5 - Pioneerof the Nile: “Santa Anita Derby winner is in expert hands. The colt, however, has never run on dirt, and that will be his undoing.”
Joe lists out the field from 6th (I Want Revenge) out to 20th (Atomic Rain) with his comment on that last horse of “Last and only victory was in June, and he is way out of his league.”
Does anyone know how many hands Dunkirk is? On HRTV I saw Todd Pletcher and an assistant trainer handling him while he grazed (he cannot use a hotwalker and generally requires two handlers!) and he didn’t look that small. Yet a lot of commentators are saying he’s “small”. Anyone know?
Another feel good news segment - Video: CBS News April 30th on Tom McCarthy (General Quarters)
So who gave that name and what is it? Original owner Ken Ramsey gave him that name. GQ is a naval military command used in drills and emergencies to ensure that movement around the ship is minimal and orderly. All personnel have an assigned station and task when a General Quarters is sounded.
I’m in the Friesian Fire camp. Especially after reading the NYTimes story on drugs and his owner’s turning over his vet records for review.
For those with limited access to HRTV - and in light of ESPN having zero coverage plus TVG cut out of the equation - you can watch yesterday’s installment of “Pursuit of the Crown”:
Video 4-30-09 HRTV ‘Pursuit of the Crown’ (26 min) with Laffit Pincay III and Jeff Siegel, et al
They do a decent job although I think TVG’s “The Works” is far better
Why look - one of the horses once on the KY Derby trail and looking very promising too has reappeared at Churchill Downs: Race 5, May 1, 2009: $50,000 allowance on dirt at Seven Furlongs
Munnings with John Velazquez up
ETA: Munning’s took 2nd to Warrior’s Reward who “shockingly” skimmed up from last to first along the rail under the guidance of Calvin Bo-RAIL …
