KENTUCKY DERBY FAVE LOOKIN AT LUCKY (by Canadian bred stallion Smart Strike) is the Derby fave but he drew post 1
Sarah K Andrew photo
FAVES GET RAIL… AND POST 20 FOR KENTUCKY DERBY
wet track very possible
Everyone has their positions and now its up to the equine stars, their riders and mother nature to give us what is sure to be an intriguing Kentucky Derby, the 136th edition of the legendary race.
In recent years the Derby has not given us many stars. certainly last year’s edition, while fun for everyone associated with Woodbine racing as we cheered Mine That Bird, was an average group at best.
This year’s field may not be much stronger with the average Beyer Figure for the top runners being in the 96-98 range, high claiming horse status at many A tracks.
But it’s still the Derby and when favoured LOOKIN AT LUCKY (blinkers off) drew post 1 in the huge field, and speed 2nd fave SIDNE’Y CANDY drew post 20, well, things got even more interesting.
22 horses were entered but Pleasant Prince and Setsuko were excluded because of earnings and a 20 horse limit.
ICE BOX, a stone cold closer, has a good chance in the Derby.
Cindy Pierson Dulay photo
CAN-CON, ALL GONE
Is it a fluky year in that there are now Canadian owners, trainers, riders, or locally bred horses in the Derby? Perhaps not since the number of Canadian-breds or true Canadian runners in the famous race has been so small for many years.
Sure, there has been the WILD GALES (trained by Mike Doyle), REGAL CLASSIC, TALKIN MAN, many local heroes who tried and failed.
Last year, MINE THAT BIRD, the Canadian based gelding who raced for local owners, used Woodbine to win the race. Who can forget his wild rail rally in the mud?
This year, there is simply nothing to hang our hats on unless you consider STATELY VICTOR one to cheer for since he was bred by Frank Stronach and family in Florida.
Or SIDNEY’S CANDY, the great great great grandson of CRELITA, the Candian bred mare who gave Kinghaven Farms its first Queen’s Plate win with STEADY GROWTH.
CRELITA produced Woolly Willow for Kinghaven (she was y the farm’s own stallion IRISH STRONGHOLD) who produced graded stakes winner EXCHANGE, the 2nd dam of Sidney’s Candy.
LOOKIN AT LUCKY is by the Sam-Son Farms’ stallion SMART STRIKE, that’s Canadian. AWESOME ACT is by a Canadian stallion too, Awesome Again.
Certainly memberships of owners/breeders at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s are down while more and more folks get horses in partnerwhips. Canada does not have a large horse population compared to the U.S., so the chances that a top 3yo from here will be good enough to battle down there is a question.
And hey, our best 3yos in recent years, the ones who have won the Plate, have not been some of the best Canadian breds we have seen for sure.
Let’s hope it’s not too long before we can have another local hero to cheer for in the Derby.
Post Horse Jockey Weight Odds
1 Lookin At Lucky Garrett Gomez 126 3-1
2 Ice Box Jose Lezcano 126 10-1
3 Noble’s Promise Willie Martinez 126 12-1
4 Super Saver Calvin Borel 126 15-1
5 Line of David Rafael Bejarano 126 30-1
6 Stately Victor Alan Garcia 126 30-1
7 American Lion David Flores 126 30-1
8 Dean’s Kitten Robby Albarado 126 50-1
9 Make Music For Me Joel Rosario 126 50-1
10 Paddy O’Prado Kent Desormeaux 126 20-1
11 Devil May Care John Velazquez 121 10-1
12 Conveyance Martin Garcia 126 12-1
13 Jackson Bend Mike Smith 126 15-1
14 Mission Impazible Rajiv Maragh 126 20-1
15 Discreetly Mine Javier Castellano 126 30-1
16 Awesome Act Julien Leparoux 126 10-1
17 Dublin Terry Thompson 126 12-1
18 Backtalk Miguel Mena 126 50-1
19 Homeboykris Ramon Dominguez 126 50-1
20 Sidney’s Candy Joe Talamo 126 5-1
PADDY O’PRADO gallops in the mud at Churchill Downs yesterday. www.horse-races.net photo
KENTUCKY OAKS
Big field, big favourite
BLIND LUCK, by the vision-impaired stallion POLLARD’S VISION is a huge favourite in the Kentucky Oaks based on her romping win in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn but is the race really that cut and dried with a 14-horse field?
Blind Luck ran a 104 Beyer Figure last time in the 4-horse Fantasy and deserves to be favourite but there are others in the field that offer value and some breeding for what could be a sloppy track.
AMEN HALLELUJAH (Montbrook), with Julien Leparoux on board, had a regression last time off a huge effort in the Davona Dale at GUlfstream. She is bred to be a better miler but a patient journey gets her close. Her dam was 3 for 4 in the mud.
TIDAL POOL has an intriguing Beyer Figure pattern as well, but also needs to distribute her energy a good way to be successful. The Yankee Gentleman filly has won in the mud for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
And for a nice up and comer, how about IT’S TEA TIME, (Dynaformer) who has only raced 3 times and never on dirt, but she just missed in the Ashland at Keeneland and she is a closer.
Post
Position Horse Jockey M/L
Odds
1 It’s Tea Time Alan Garcia 15-1
2 Jody Slew Miguel Mena 30-1
3 Quiet Temper Robby Albarado 10-1
4 Age of Humor Rajiv Maragh 30-1
5 Blind Luck Rafael Bejarano 6-5
6 Beautician Alex Solis 15-1
7 Crisp Joel Rosario 8-1
8 Tidal Pool Calvin Borel 8-1
9 Bella Diamante Mike Smith 30-1
10 Champagne d’Oro Martin Garcia 30-1
11 Evening Jewel Kent Desormeaux 10-1
12 Ailalea John Velazquez 15-1
13 Amen Hallelujah Julien Leparoux 8-1
14 Joanie’s Catch Paco Lopez 30-1
SATURDAY AT WOODBINE
Roan Inish heads Fury
Popular filly ROAN INISH (Elusive Quality-Inish Glora) was the first winner for trainer Carolyn Costigan and that win came in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes last fall.
A favourite for the Woodbine Oaks, the filly is making her season debut on Saturday in the Fury Stakes at 7 furlongs and with 1st time Lasix.
RESENTLESS, a fast one by Ontario sire TRAJECTORY is also making her 2010 debut in the 7 furlong dash for ONtario bred gals.
From the rail out is maiden COPPERELLE, stakes winner ATTITUDE INCLUDED, ROAN INISH, maiden OIL PAINTING, stakes winner Bodua, resentless, Jenny’s So Great and Tee Game.
You can follow ROAN INISH’S PROGRESS at her trainer’s website at the following link, sign up today for cool news!
http://www.arravaleracing.com/horses-in-training.html
