Kentucky Derby Field Could Be Smallest Since 1998

(Apr. 22, 2003) - As few as 15 3-year-olds could go to the starting gate in the 129th running of the Kentucky Derby May 3 at Louisville’s historic Churchill Downs as the Visa Triple Crown and $5-million Visa Triple Crown Challenge opens its run to gold and glory.

That would be the smallest field since 1998 when Real Quiet outran 14 other starters.

Of even greater interest is the fact Empire Maker, owned by Juddmonte Farms and trained by Hall of Famer Robert Frankel, figures to be the shortest favorite since Spectacular Bid went to the post in 1979 at 60 cents for a dollar. Empire Maker has been quoted at this point as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. The son of 1990 Derby winner Unbridled, who sired 1996 winner Grindstone, certainly seems to rate the favoritism after handily winning the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial, both Grade I events, in his most recent two starts.

As of now, 15 horses are committed to run in the Derby, with two more as outside prospects. Those two are New York Hero, who finished fourth in the Wood Memorial in his last outing, and Senor Swinger, who was fifth in the Wood in his first start for trainer Bob Baffert after he was bought for Robert and Beverly Lewis. The connections for New York Hero, owner Ernie Paragallo’s Paraneck Stable and trainer Jennifer Pedersen, have all but ruled out a start in the Derby and Baffert intends to watch Senor Swinger’s training at Churchill Downs before making a firm decision.

As for the committed 15, here are thumbnail sketches, in alphabetical order:

ATSWHATIMTALKNBOUT – This son of A.P. Indy has turned an abundance of talent into an abundance of questions after a less-than-sterling performance in the Santa Anita Derby as the 3-2 favorite. Even as his star quality grew with the addition of a group of Hollywood types becoming partners with owner B. Wayne Hughes, his racing star began to fade with the Santa Anita performance, which dropped his record to two wins in five lifetime starts. Ron Ellis, making his first foray onto the Visa Triple Crown trail, trains the $900,000 purchase as a 2-year-old. David Flores is set to ride.

BRANCUSI – This son of Deputy Commander is one of the Derby prospects who is on the rise even though he was well-beaten second in Keeneland’s Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. Trainer Patrick Biancone, who has been a classic winner on two continents, is primed to make a bold bid with this colt owned by Michael Tabor, who sent Thunder Gulch to the Derby winner’s circle in 1995. Tony Farina has the call.

BUDDY GIL – Here’s the blue-collar class of this race, born in Kentucky, raised in Idaho and raced in Northern and Southern California. His grit and good training by Jeff Mullins have sent him to three consecutive graded victories in his last three outings. He punched his ticket to Churchill Downs with a gutsy head victory in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby, which followed wins in the Grade III Baldwin Stakes and the Grade II San Felipe Stakes. He’s owned by fishing and hunting buddies Scott Guenther (as Desperado Stables), Charlie Johnson (as Merrill Stables), Donnie McFadden (who’s also the breeder), Tom Schriber and Rogers Severson.

EMPIRE MAKER – This colt is far and away the most accomplished of all his prospective race mates. He’s always been highly thought of, but his most recent two races have really showcased his talents. He has run 1 1/8 miles four times, and the extra eighth of a mile at Churchill Downs isn’t expected to be a bother. Jerry Bailey has ridden him in all five of his races and will be back in the saddle in search of Derby victory No. 3 to go along with 1993’s Sea Hero and 1996’s Grindstone.

FUND OF FUNDS – A runner-up finish in the Illinois Derby sends this son of Saint Ballado to test his talents to the utmost in the Kentucky Derby. He’s owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by Richard Violette, both making their first Derby appearances. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride.

FUNNY CIDE – A game second to Empire Maker in the Wood Memorial followed a third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby for this New York-bred owned by Jackson Knowlton’s Sackatoga Stable. The gelded son of Distorted Humor is trained by Barclay Tagg and will be ridden by Jose Santos.

INDIAN EXPRESS – After making his mark in Panama as a 2-year-old, this son of Indian Charlie, third-place Derby finisher in 1998, was bought by trainer Bob Baffert for owners Phil and Sheva Chess at the end of last year. After a fourth-place finish in a Santa Anita sprint stakes, this colt gamely battled Buddy Gil before bowing by a head in the Santa Anita Derby. He could be Baffert’s best prospect to make the mile and a quarter distance of the Derby. Young Tyler Baze gets the call in his first trip to the Kentucky Derby.

KAFWAIN – This son of Cherokee Run has been Mr. Consistency for trainer Baffert, in search of his fourth Derby triumph since 1997. Kafwain, owned by The Thoroughbred Corp., which owned last year’s Derby winner War Emblem, has been in the money in his last eight outings, including three victories. Being by Cherokee Run suggests the Derby distance could be a problem for him. He’ll be ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, who will be making his first Derby appearance since 1993. He won the 1989 Derby with Sunday Silence.

OFFLEE WILD – This son of Wild Again came back from an illness to run a very creditable third in Keeneland’s Blue Grass and is expected to improve off of that in the hands of respected trainer Thomas V. “T.V.” Smith, whose home base is Churchill Downs. He started the year with a victory in Gulfstream’s Grade III Holy Bull Stakes before finishing fourth in the Grade I Fountain of Youth, after which the sickness was discovered. Offlee Wild races for Azalea Stables and gets Robby Albarado in the irons.

OUTTA HERE – This son of Dehere that cost $37,000 as a yearling is the only horse in the prospective Derby field to have competed at the Derby distance of a mile and a quarter. He finished fourth in the Grade II, 1 1/4-mile United Arab Emirates Derby in Dubai in his last outing. Unlike so many who have gone to Dubai to race in the spring, he has experienced no problems since returning, according to trainer and co-owner William Currin. He and his long-time ownership partner, Al Eisman, could see no reason not to run in the Derby. Jockey Kent Desormeaux rides, as he has in all but one start for the colt.

PEACE RULES – For a colt that seemed destined to make his mark on the turf – and did four times as a 2-year-old – he has taken to the dirt with a vengeance as a 3-year-old. Master trainer Robert Frankel decided that since the son of Jules had been training so well on the main track he would send him into the Grade II Louisiana Derby and see how he might fare. Well, he won that race easily and came back for another easy win in Keeneland’s Grade I Blue Grass, giving Frankel a legitimate chance to post an exacta in the Derby. The colt is owned by longtime Frankel owner Edmund Gann and will be ridden by Edgar Prado.

SCRIMSHAW – Could this be another miracle horse for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas? He is Lukas’ third Lexington Stakes winner in the past five runnings and each of those horses have acquitted themselves well in the Derby, Charismatic winning in 1999 and Proud Citizen being runner-up in 2002. This son of Gulch, a $550,000 yearling purchase, is owned by Robert and Beverly Lewis, who owned 1997 Derby winner Silver Charm as well as Charismatic. Lukas has not named a rider at this point.

SIR CHEROKEE – A blinding flash down the stretch at Oaklawn Park brought victory in the Grade II Arkansas Derby to this son of Cherokee Run and sends him on to the Kentucky Derby. The colt will be trying to be the first Arkansas Derby winner to also capture the Kentucky Derby since 1983’s Sunny’s Halo. Sir Cherokee is owned by Domino Stud and trained by Churchill Downs-based Michael Tomlinson. He’ll be ridden again by Terry Thompson.

SUPAH BLITZ – With 15 lifetime starts, this son of Mecke is the veteran of the field. Though he has only two victories, he’s been in the money 12 times, including seven second-place finishes. He’s owned by Bee Bee Stables and Jackie Tortora and trained by Calder-based Emanuel Tortora. He’ll be ridden by Rosemary Homeister Jr., who guided his to runner-up spots in the Fountain of Youth and the Aventura Stakes, both at Gulfstream Park.

TEN MOST WANTED – This is the second Deputy Commander-sired colt in the field and comes to the race from an imposing victory in the Grade II Illinois Derby. He’s been in the money in four of his five lifetime starts under the training of Southern California-based Wallace Dollase, who also trained the sire to victories in the Travers Stakes and Louisiana Super Derby and a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, all in 1997. The colt is owned by J. Paul Reddam, Michael Jarvis, James Chisholm and Dollase’s Horizon Stable. Pat Day, winner of the 1992 Derby aboard Lil E. Tee and Churchill Downs’ all-time winning rider, will ride, as he did in the Illinois Derby.

Visa is the world’s leading payment brand and largest consumer payment system, enabling banks to provide their consumer and merchant customers with a wide variety of payment alternatives. Nearly 14,000 U.S. financial institutions rely on Visa’s processing system, VisaNet, to facilitate $949 billion in annual transaction volume - including about half of all Internet payments - with virtually 100 percent reliability. U.S. consumers carry 383 million Visa-branded smart, credit, commercial, prepaid and check cards, accepted at approximately 24 million locations worldwide. Visa’s people, partnerships, brand, payment technology and security standards are helping to create universal commerce - the ability to safely conduct transactions anytime, anywhere, anyway. For more information about Visa, please visit www.visa.com.

« Back To Derby News