Is anyone else feeling like this Derby field is quickly going downhill? I mean, who is Derby Kitten? Half of the field is going to be horses lucky enough to get in from real graded stakes winners defections.
[QUOTE=MightyBobbyMagee;5587139]
Is anyone else feeling like this Derby field is quickly going downhill? I mean, who is Derby Kitten? Half of the field is going to be horses lucky enough to get in from real graded stakes winners defections.[/QUOTE]
Well, he won the Lexington, so he is a “real graded stakes winner”.
Many folks haven’t been super impressed with the field or this crop for quite some time.
[QUOTE=MightyBobbyMagee;5587139]
I mean, who is Derby Kitten?[/QUOTE]
http://www.drf.com/news/derby-kitten
After Keeneland I wouldn’t dismiss any Ramsey-bred-owned horse sired by Kitten’s Joy 
He likes distance and won’t get caught up in any early race to the first turn - unless they get the dreaded 1 post position. A long shot but there are “worse” choices in this field IMHO. Considering not one of the most recent major prep races produced a winning Beyer Speed Figure of 100, Derby’s Kitten’s best is 92 so right in there with the field.
9 starts 2-3-1, so off the board only three times in his career which frankly has been more extensive and diverse then almost any other starter. Dirt, grass, synthetic - he’s been on them all.
He comes up to the Kentucky Derby in by far the best form of his career, having won well in the G2 Lexington Stakes on April 23 at Keeneland.
Derby Kitten is a full brother to William’s Kitten, who won the $148,000 Sunday Silence Stakes on dirt going 1 1/16 miles at Louisiana Downs. William’s Kitten finished second behind eventual Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs and was third in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes around a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park.
No Julien Leparoux aboard him this time and Javier Castellano gets the mount - so hopefully Calvin and he will steer clear of one another 
[QUOTE=MightyBobbyMagee;5587139]
Is anyone else feeling like this Derby field is quickly going downhill? I mean, who is Derby Kitten?[/QUOTE]
You mean you’re not super excited for another installment of Ramsey turf horse goes dirt for the biggest race in the country, part 57?:lol:
I tell ya, one of these times they’re going to win it… :winkgrin:
Reminder: Kentucky Derby Draw, 5:00-6:00PM EST, VERSUS
The ‘feel good’ runner of the field
In case it was missed … not only is Mucho Macho Man a favorite of The Village People (his name comes from their “Macho Man” hit song; the colt has an autographed photo tacked up outside his stall. The disco group sent Ritvo a “Macho Woman” T-shirt) but also the corporation 3M will be sponsoring him in the Derby.
Mucho Macho Man (“3M”) meets Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (“3M”) … according to the Wall Street Journal trainer Kathy Ritvo [Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team One Racing Stable] called 3M’s 1-800 number and worked her way into the marketing department.
Lisa Underwood, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, said the plan is to advertise 3M on the jockey’s pants and possibly on the front of the neck area (on a turtleneck or other undergarment).
For those who can recall there is a 3M Corporation connection to one of racings greatest runners: Dr. Fager. William L. McKnigh was 3M’s chairman of the board from 1949 to 1966. Intentionally his horses raced under the Tartan Stables (e.g. scotch as in scotch tape)
Further there is the good the Mucho team is doing: from the DRF
First by his magnanimous gesture of presenting the injured Eibar Coa with a check for $18,000, equal to the rider’s share of the purse for Mucho Macho Man’s victory this winter in the Risen Star Stakes, and for his efforts to use his horse’s notoriety to promote the growing movement to legalize Thoroughbred racing in his native Georgia.
Plus trainer Kathy Ritvo is a heart-transplant survivor.
Reeves has encouraged the media and racing fans alike to visit Mucho Macho Man in Barn 41 at Churchill.
“The number of fans Kathy’s story and Eibar’s story have created is great for racing, and anything we can do to promote the sport is fantastic,” Reeves said. “I wouldn’t mind if thousands of people came by the barn as long as they don’t bother Kathy. We’re all here for the fun and enjoyment. Win, lose, or draw, I wouldn’t trade my position for anything. The next few days will be nerve-racking. Right now, I just want to take that walk over with him to the paddock and get him to the gate. I don’t know what I’d do if he won. You’ll probably have to pick me up off the floor.”
As has been the lingering question - will Uncle Mo even start in the Derby.
USA Today 5-4-11 “Owner: Uncle Mo’s status for Kentucky Derby is still fuzzy”
“If he’s not what I feel is 100%, he will probably not be in the starting gate,” Repole said on Tuesday after arriving at the barn for a visit.
The owner described gallops scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday morning as “crucial.”
“You’re either going to see a horse who is a potential Derby winner or a horse who maybe shouldn’t be in the race,” he said.
If that much doubt exists I don’t know why anyone would wager on him to win if he does start in the race.
Final entries as the cutoff has arrived and it was oversubscribed with 22 entries. No AE for the Derby so only 20 accepted with post position to be drawn this afternoon. Despite common ownership and trainer, Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty cannot be a coupled entry. In alpha order:
Animal Kingdom
Archarcharch
Brilliant Speed
Comma to the Top
Decisive Moment
Derby Kitten
Dialed In
Master Of Hounds
Midnight Interlude
Mucho Macho Man
Nehro
Pants On Fire
Santiva
Shackleford
Soldat
Stay Thirsty
Twice the Appeal
Twinspired
Uncle Mo
Watch Me Go
More of the same: TB Times Wed morning - “Champion Uncle Mo entered, not definite for Kentucky Derby”
Photos from Wednesday morning’s (5-4) activity at CD with the Derby contenders
example: Nick Zito enjoying horse play with Dialed In. Dialed In’s exercise rider is Carlos Correa
OMG do they need to work on getting accurate captions.
James is an Englishman. And really not that “tan”!!!
And I love how Pletcher’s guy is captioned as being on Mo and Stay Thirsty in two different outfits and with a whole new look to his face!!
Not to mention Carlos Correa vs. Carlos Borrea
Sorry to be nit picky but everyone in those pics deserves the recognition afforded world class connections of Derby runners. They all work just as hard to get there as the horses.
~Emily
Animal Kingdom’s jockey Albarado tossed, taken to hospital
Jockey Robby Albarado was tossed from his mount. Smoke ‘n Al in the post parade before the third race at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.
Albarado was pitched forward and then Smoke ‘n Al stepped on the rider before running off. Albarado laid on the track for several minutes while being attended to by track personnel. He was placed on a stretcher and then put in an ambulance and taken to Audubon Hospital.
Albarado did not lose consciousness.
He’s also is slated to ride in Kentucky Oaks aboard Bouquet Booth
[QUOTE=Texarkana;5587173]
You mean you’re not super excited for another installment of Ramsey turf horse goes dirt for the biggest race in the country, part 57?:lol:
I tell ya, one of these times they’re going to win it… :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
Ugh, exactly. I’m not a big fan of the Ramseys.
It could have zero impact come Derby day who knows, but Calvin Borel was taken off all his mounts today due to illness. Considering the guy would ride with broken bones, has an iron constitution, and lousy weather just makes him work harder … it could just be a precaution to ensure he’s 100% on Saturday.
An article I’d recommend on one of the nicest, hard working jocks out there who has had some pronounced success but is just isn’t a household name - yet. May 4, 2011 “Kentucky Derby ride a long time coming for Court”
excerpt
Court said the pain of having Derby mounts slip away was nothing compared to losing his younger brother, Jay, “when I was just six months into my apprenticeship,” and his older brother, Jim, several years ago. Both were struck and killed by automobiles, Jay as a pedestrian, Jim as a cycling enthusiast.
Court concedes that he probably doesn’t have the flash that more nationally known riders bring to the table, nor is youth on his side any longer. Still, he has bridged the gaps in talent and notoriety by working hard and leading an exemplary lifestyle, avoiding trouble and controversy at every one of his many stops.
“I love being 50,” he said. “People want to stigmatize it, but I feel as good as I ever have.”
And one of those small things but speak volumes of who he is:
Even for routine morning gallops during Derby week, Court has been getting aboard Archarcharch for Fires, an often mundane task typically reserved for an exercise rider. But Court has been reveling in the Derby atmosphere as his long-awaited date with destiny approaches. He even has taken it upon himself to take the yellow, custom-lettered Derby saddletowel home with him every night to launder it for the next morning.
“Sometimes I double-wash it, use Shout or Oxyclean on it,” he said with a grin. “I want it to be pristine. I just want everything to be perfect this week. We’ve never gone down this road, and I want to savor it as much as possible.”
The Kentucky Derby draw will be aside from on Verses live, also blogged live on the PaulickReport.com - and also video simulcast on here at the Courier-Journal site.
Oh and as expected - with 3M’s sponsorship of Mucho Macho Man - Mike Repole’s snack company - Pirate’s Booty will sponsor Mo and Thirsty
Initial odds being release by Mike Battaglia with the four favorites:
4-1: Dialed In
9-1: Uncle Mo
6-1: Nehro
8-1: Archarcharch
Initial word: Jockey Robby Albarado will ride in the Derby with a broken nose, as he was kicked in the face with the fall
Final.
Poor Jinx and Court got screwed with the unluck-of-the-draw with the 1-hole
PP. Horse. Morning Line Odds
#1 Archarcharch 10-1
#2 Brilliant Speed 30-1
#3 Twice The Appeal 20-1
#4 Stay Thirsty 20-1
#5 Decisive Moment 30-1
#6 Comma To The Top 30-1
#7 Pants On Fire 20-1
#8 Dialed In 4-1
#9 Derby Kitten 30-1
#10 Twinspired 30-1
#11 Master Of Hounds 30-1
#12 Santiva 30-1
#13 Mucho Macho Man 12-1
#14 Shackleford 12-1
#15 Midnight Interlude 10-1
#16 Animal Kingdom 30-1
#17 Soldat 12-1
#18 Uncle Mo 9-2
#19 Nehro 6-1
#20 Watch Me Go 50-1
[QUOTE=MightyBobbyMagee;5588720]
Ugh, exactly. I’m not a big fan of the Ramseys.[/QUOTE]
Is anyone? :lol:
Poor Jinx and Court got screwed with the unluck-of-the-draw with the 1-hole
And with that unfortunate starting position the only reply from Jon Court: “We’re just going to make it work”
Just down right odd with Uncle Mo:
TB Times 5-4-11 “Panel of five will decide whether Uncle Mo starts”
Owner Mike Repole will consult with a trio of veterinarians plus trainer Todd Pletcher before deciding whether champion Uncle Mo will start on Saturday.
“He’s 50-50, but keep in mind that any horse is only ‘possible’ at this point,” Repole said.
TV heads-up for Thursday Morning
The North American Racing Academy will be featured on NBC’s “Today” on Thursday, between 8-9 a.m. EDT. Anchor Jenna Wolfe will introduce the live interview from Churchill Downs.
(Unfortunate that Jenna will be overseeing the segment as she is vastly too silly IMHO with any topic.)
For all of Repole’s flaunted sportsmanship about making Mo accessible to fans and revolving everything around the fans, he’s certainly being…coy?..annoying? with this Uncle Mo entry the past couple of days.
Is triple A doomed with the #1 pp? Opinions please, before I finalize my bet:winkgrin: Can’t decide now if I should keep him in my tri.
