[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6287672]
Look for a Hansen toy at the Derby![/QUOTE]
Oh boy! I hope he has people handing them out walking ring side instead of throwing them. I’d take one. Can it have a partially dyed blue tail?
I have to say that Union Rags looks big, thick (in a good way) and muscular. He certainly looks the part of a would-be Derby winner. On HRTV that showed Julien on him from the weekend and frankly Leparoux looked small on him.
Video: Union Rags’ Keeneland work
Video: Union Rags arriving at Churchill via Brook Ledge horse van
Video: nice compilation of works from Sat morning at CD
Daddy Long Legs won’t get out of quarantine to do a work until Friday. Not a lot of time to get acclimated to the track and surroundings. His exposure to the heat of Dubai may be an advantage as Derby day looks to be HOT.
Weather projections: 89-degrees F on Friday and 85-degrees F on Derby Day - with a chance of thunderstorms. Who is a mudder? 
With Optimizer getting into the Kentucky Derby that means D. Wayne Lukas will be in the big dance against three of his former assistants: Mike Maker, Kiaran McLaughlin, and Todd Pletcher.
If anyone thinks this year’s contenders are a weak field its quite the opposite. An interesting fact: with Optimizer making it into the Derby field, that means 9 of the 13 horses that ran in BC Juvenile are in the Derby.
Speaking of Kiaran McLaughlin it appears Alpha still is without a jockey. And he also got nicked up today (May 1st) too
On Tuesday, Alpha suffered a superficial cut to the back of his right front ankle jogging in the shed row for the state veterinarians.
Alpha also received a shot of the medication Polyglycan, which he receives weekly. The therapeutic drug is used to heal cartilage.
McLaughlin said he planned on taking Alpha to the starting gate Wednesday.
“I want the gate crew to see how much better he is now,” McLaughlin said. “I feel like that’s all behind us, but with 150,000 people screaming, you don’t know.”
With Mark Valeski out of the Derby picture one might think that his jockey, Rosie Napravnik, might get the mount on Alpha. Although it’s doubtful: Rosie is most likely riding back at Belmont Park on Derby Day. She is riding in the Kentucky Oaks aboard Larry Jones trained “Believe You Can”
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6288137]
I have to say that Union Rags looks big, thick (in a good way) and muscular. He certainly looks the part of a would-be Derby winner. On HRTV that showed Julien on him from the weekend and frankly Leparoux looked small on him.
Video: Union Rags’ Keeneland work
Video: Union Rags arriving at Churchill via Brook Ledge horse van
Video: nice compilation of works from Sat morning at CD
Daddy Long Longs won’t get out of quarantine to do a work until Friday. Not a lot of time to get acclimated to the track and surroundings. His exposure to the heat of Dubai may be an advantage as Derby day looks to be HOT.
Weather projections: 89-degrees F on Friday and 85-degrees F on Derby Day - with a chance of thunderstorms. Who is a mudder? ;)[/QUOTE]
Well, Union Rags has a win in the slop at Saratoga…remember, he was “just a two year old frolicking in the mud” - at least I think how the race was called.
Yep - Tom Durkin made that remark - "just a 3-yr old frolicking in the mud. (It was the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special)
An interesting -“Where are they now … 2011 Kentucky Derby starters”
A lot of runners, who were off the board considerably, are win-less since the big dance. Always a bit of reality for those owners/trainers who are just looking to enjoy the party but a slim chance of winning or hitting the board.
Another article with “why he can, why he cannot” win in the Derby - excerpt
Daddy Long Legs
Why he can’t: The one time he ran on dirt, he was 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He beat up on grass horses in the UAE Derby. Since 1937, no horse has won the Derby off only one start at 3.
Sabercat
Why he can’t: He’s not fast enough. He’s bred to finish second.
Went the Day Well
Why he can’t: No Derby winner since at least 1929 broke his maiden in March (either at 2 or 3). His first victory was March 3, 2012. The only time an owner, trainer and jockey teamed for back-to-back Derby wins was 1972-73 with Riva Ridge and Secretariat. He’s not Secretariat.
NBC Coverage for the Oaks and Derby
Wed. May 2nd
5 p.m. - 6 p.m. EST; Kentucky Derby Draw (NBC Sports Ntwk)
Thur. May 3rd
5 p.m. - 6 p.m. EST; Live from Churchill (NBC Sports Ntwk)
Fri May 4th
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST; Live from Churchill (NBC Sports Ntwk)
5 p.m. - 6 p.m. EST; Kentucky Oaks (NBC Sports Ntwk)
Sat May 5th
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST; Live from Churchill (NBC Sports Ntwk)
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. EST; Kentucky Derby (NBC)
7 p.m. - 7: 30 p.m. EST; post-Derby (NBC Sports Ntwk)
What time is the draw tomorrow???
Wha’s with the pom pom in Trinnenberg’s forelock??? It’s effing ugly. Live or in pictures!
Thanks once again, GG, for making this your “one stop shopping place” for KD links, especially the media schedule.
In the next couple of days, I’m hoping to find prep races on Youtube and elsewhere to review, and see if I can find anything no one else has…LOL
From this Aiken Standard article - Alpha was broken and trained in Aiken, SC by Tim Jones:
No rider has been named yet for Alpha, but it will more than likely be Rajiv Maragh, said McLaughlin.
Although done deal? according to the Courier-Journal: “trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he wanted to see if any other jockeys [besides Rajiv] become available by today.”
Pix of Daddy Long Legs in Quarantine Barn 48 following a 5-am arrival from Ireland.
Rajiv Maragh was confirmed by McLaughlin as the named jockey for Alpha’s when his entry was taken.
Has anyone ever read the late Hunter S. Thompson’s account of the Kentucky Derby from 1970? Jay Hovdey recount its with a re-release of the article on a recording by actor Tim Robbins. It’s light on the race and even Churchill Downs but heavy on the era with civil discord - police, riots, protests, black panthers, and the like.
The piece that HST wrote is here: “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved”
Video: Gemologist and El Padrino getting a bath at Churchill Downs on 5/2/2012. They look great!
TVG has some video profiles of the contenders on youtube:
Creative Cause (May 1, 2012) 1M 50Sec
You can see all their video profiles here
If you want to read something and get irked, as I did, here you go: Kentucky Confidential: "Get Rid of “My Old Kentucky Home” by Eric Banks
Strictly my guess but it seemingly is one of those topics of the era done intentionally to enrage people to the point where they are vocal and thus boost the number of page views. Blah!
While Optimizer is a closer (without excuse in the Arkansas Derby where he simply didn’t fire) and that seems like a handy trait with several very fast horses likely to set a quick [if not too quick] pace is anyone apt to pick him as their dark horse?
I do like Jon Court, a patient level headed rider, and D. Wayne certainly isn’t in his first rodeo. However it’s the absolutely ice cold record of Lukas that spooks me:
Lukas, who has sent 44 thoroughbreds (40 colts, four fillies) to the Derby and won four of them and who has won 13 Triple Crown races, is currently living on the dark side of racing’s moon. He has lost 109 graded stakes races in a row; He hasn’t won this Derby in 13 years.
Even with the talented workhorse gal of Absinthe Minded he still hasn’t broken that streak.
I’ll Have Another seems to be skirting all the media but he’s worth noting…much depends on the draw this year I think.
Nancy
So if an also eligible gets to move up this year into the actual race, what about the post positions? Will that horse take the position drawn by the horse who scratched? Or does that horse automatically get #20 or something and others adjust in, since he was last in earnings?
Agreed! QUITE the opposite. I can’t recall in the past few years or so of such a strong field.
[QUOTE=dressagetraks;6289805]
So if an also eligible gets to move up this year into the actual race, what about the post positions? Will that horse take the position drawn by the horse who scratched? Or does that horse automatically get #20 or something and others adjust in, since he was last in earnings?[/QUOTE]
I had posted the same question when this came up 
As many as four also-eligible horses outside of the Kentucky Derby’s 20-horse field would be listed, in order of preference, with program numbers 21, 22, 23 and 24.
In the event of a scratch, horses in post positions outside of the scratched horse would move in a spot, and the also-eligible horse would then occupy the outermost position in the starting gate.
Also-eligible entrants are not required to compete in either race in the event of a scratch.
So everyone moves in one space. #1 scratches and the horse at #2 moves into that spot (but keeps saddle cloth #2), #3 moved to the #2 gate and all the way through to the end where the AE of #21 takes the 20th gate position (and keeps his #21 saddle cloth)
Technically that means you could see a horse with #24 saddle cloth in the race
I thought just maybe Hero of Order (not Triple Crown nominated) wouldn’t been entered as AE #22 but that failed to happen … the entries - which cost $25,000 and those who actually start have to pay another $25,000
Announced entries Wed Morning (presented by graded stakes earnings):
1 – Hansen - $1,550,000
2 – Daddy Long Legs - $1,294,030
3 – Union Rags - $1,170,000
4 – Dullahan - $855,000
5 – Creative Cause - $836,000
6 – Gemologist - $703,855
7 – Sabercat - $701,429
8 – Take Charge Indy - $698,400
9 – Bodemeister - $660,000
10 – I’ll Have Another - $601,000
11 – Daddy Nose Best - $545,558
12 – Liaison - $393,000
13 – Alpha - $380,000
14 – Prospective - $367,327
15 – Trinniberg - $324,500
16 – Done Talking - $311,000
17 – Went the Day Well - $282,000
18 – Rousing Sermon - $270,000
19 – El Padrino - $250,000
20 – Optimizer - $184,708
21 (AE) My Adonis - $140,000
Just some historical perspective: Steve Cauthen, the last jockey to win the Triple Crown, turned 52 yesterday. Born 5/1/60 he was just 18 when he won the Kentucky Derby aboard Affirmed.
He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat. He rode his first winner (Red Pipe) less than a week later, at River Downs. Yet one year later was the nation’s leader in race wins in 1977 with 487. In only his second year of riding, he became the first jockey to win $6 million in a single season on the day in December, 1977 he rode Little Happiness (three-year-old filly) in the sixth race at Aqueduct Racetrack. After that, he was called “The Six Million Dollar Man,” and “Stevie Wonder.”
With that much success he was able to release a music album. Had 1978 been like 2012 I’m sure he would’ve had his own reality show, clothing line, and a blog/twitter/facebook empire.
While not tweeted by Graham Motion he did mention during an HRTV interview that jockey John Velazquez, on Went the Day Well, was injured in his leg requiring stitches.
A tweet from the DRF at Belmont:
J. Velazquez sustained cut left leg gate mishap w/Orient Moon, taken to hospital for stitches;
Motion said he’ll still be flying down to Louisville Thursday to put in a ride on WTDW and is fully expected to ride in the Derby regardless of stitches.
Post
[B] Horse[/B]
[B] Tra[/B]
[B] [B]Daddy Long Legs[/B][/B]
[B] A. O'Brien[/B]
[B] C. O'Donoghue[/B]
[B] 30-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/2.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Optimizer[/B][/B]
[B] D.W. Lukas[/B]
[B] J. Court[/B]
[B] 50-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/3.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Take Charge Indy[/B][/B]
[B] P. Byrne[/B]
[B] C. Borel[/B]
[B] 15-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/4.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Union Rags[/B][/B]
[B] M. Matz[/B]
[B] J. Leparoux[/B]
[B] 9-2[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/5.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Dullahan[/B][/B]
[B] D. Romans[/B]
[B] K. Desormeaux[/B]
[B] 8-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/6.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Bodemiester[/B][/B]
[B] B. Baffert[/B]
[B] M. Smith[/B]
[B] 4-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/7.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Rousing Sermon[/B][/B]
[B] J. Hollendorfer[/B]
[B] J. Lezcano[/B]
[B] 50-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/8.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Creative Cause[/B][/B]
[B] M. Harrington[/B]
[B] J. Rosario[/B]
[B] 12-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/9.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Trinniberg[/B][/B]
[B] B. Parboo[/B]
[B] W. Martinez[/B]
[B] 50-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/10.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Daddy Nose Best[/B][/B]
[B] S. Asmussen[/B]
[B] G. Gomez[/B]
[B] 15-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/11.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Alpha[/B][/B]
[B] K. McLaughlin[/B]
[B] R. Maragh[/B]
[B] 15-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/12.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Prospective[/B][/B]
[B] M. Casse[/B]
[B] L. Contreras[/B]
[B] 30-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/13.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Went The Day Well[/B][/B]
[B] H.G. Motion[/B]
[B] J. Velazquez[/B]
[B] 20-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/14.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Hansen[/B][/B]
[B] M. Maker[/B]
[B] R. Dominguez[/B]
[B] 10-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/15.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Gemologist[/B][/B]
[B] T. Pletcher[/B]
[B] J. Castellano[/B]
[B] 6-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/16.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]El Padrino[/B][/B]
[B] T. Pletcher[/B]
[B] R. Bejarano[/B]
[B] 20-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/17.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Done Talking[/B][/B]
[B] H. Smith[/B]
[B] S. Russell[/B]
[B] 50-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/18.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Sabercat[/B][/B]
[B] S. Asmussen[/B]
[B] C. Nakatani[/B]
[B] 30-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/19.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]I'll Have Another[/B][/B]
[B] D. O'Neill[/B]
[B] M. Gutierrez[/B]
[B] 12-1[/B]
[B] [IMG]http://www.drf.com/sites/default/files/u40/20.jpg)[/B]
[B] [B]Liaison[/B][/B]
[B] B. Baffert[/B]
[B] M. Garcia[/B]
[B] 50-1[/B]
