|
Derby Entrants
 |
|
|
|
Trainer |
Jockey |
Owner |
Breeder |
O'Neill, 37, is a Michigan native and currently resides in Santa Monica California with his wife and son. He began working at the track in 1986, learning under trainers Richard Mandella, Doug Peterson, and Hector Palma for eight years before going on his own in 1994. He has been the leading trainer at Fairplex and Hollywood Park, where he is currently based. He is well-known for his ability to move horses up off the claim, as he did with Fleetstreet Dancer, winning the 2003 Japan Dirt Cup at 48-1 after claiming the horse for $40,000 in 2002. He had a great 2005, winning 158 and over $9.4 million in purses to rank fifth nationally. He's been the leading trainer multiple times at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Fairplex Park. O'Neill has yet to have a Derby starter. |
Garrett Gomez was born on January 1, 1972. A native of Tucson, he now lives in southern California, where he rides on the circuit. He began riding at Santa Fe Downs in 1988, riding the midwest fair circuit before moving to California in 1998. He won the autumn Hollywood riding title that same year. He also has ridden for a time at Churchill Downs, where he was based before a self-imposed sabbatical in 2002 due to substance abuse problems. Returning to the saddle in September, 2004, Gomez has enjoyed tremendous succes, including winning the 2005 spring/summer Hollywood meet title. He's won major races for the last twelve years, including Arkansas Derby, the Secretariat, the Pacific Classic and most recently this year's Breeders' Cup Mile and Juvenile. A winner of over 2,000 races for his career, Gomez tallied 245 wins and $14.2 million in earnings last year. |
A household name to several generations who watched The Merv Griffin Show, Griffin hosted 5,500 shows, interviewed more than 25,000 guests, and won 15 Emmys over 23 years. He also created Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! --the two most successful game shows in television syndication history--as well as writing their theme songs. In 1986, Forbes named Griffin the richest Hollywood performer in history on its annual list of the 400 wealthiest people in America. The 1987 purchase of the landmark Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, which he sold in December 2003, became the flagship for Merv Griffin Hotels. In addition to hotels, The Griffin Group includes Merv Griffin Entertainment, a film and television production company; Griffin & Company,LLC, which specializes in real estate investment banking; The Griffin Ranch of La Quinta, California; Teleview Racing Patrol, which provides closed-circuit coverage of horseracing at; and the Merv Griffin Ranch, home to his racing stable.
|
A native of Vancouver, B.C., John Gunther owns a stock brokerage firm in his native city as well as Glennwood Farm in Versailles, Ky. He was raised on farm in Alberta, Canada and has owned Thoroughbreds for over 20 years. Among his stakes winners to race are: Bending Strings, Two Trail Sioux, Molto Vita, Wall Sreet Dancer, Kimberlite Pipe and American Chance (in partnership with fellow Vancouver businessman Hugh Harlingten), as well as owner and breeder of Eye of the Tiger, who finished fifth in the 2003 Derby. He is also the breeder of leading 2006 Derby contender First Samurai. Holmes is a New Zealand native, where he his family was involved in the standardbred breeding business. Now a resident of Lexington, KY, he runs a commercial breeding farm with his wife, housing about 20 broodmares. Zent is a veterinarian who has served on numerous equine veterinary committees. |
|
|
|
|
 |
02.06.2006 - Stevie Wonderboy Off Derby Trail with Injury<>
01.14.2006 - Brother Derek Bests Stevie Wonderboy In San Rafael
01.12.2006 - Stevie Wonderboy, Brother Derek Face Off In San Rafael
|
DRF Past Performances
Next Race: 03.04 - Santa Cantalina (GII) @ Santa Anita
Future Wager Odds
|
Pool # |
Date |
Horse # |
Final Odds |
|
1 |
01.26-29 |
22 |
8-1 |
|
 |
Race History :: Graded Earnings: $1,049,340 (as of 01.14.05) - Race Record: 6-3-2-1
|
Date |
Race |
Finish |
Chart |
Recap |
Video |
Comments |
|
1.14.2006 |
San Rafael (GII) |
2nd |
Chart |
Recap |
Video |
Game try in four horse field |
|
10.29.2005 |
BC Juvenile (GI) |
1st |
Chart |
|
Video |
Big finish; closed from 12th |
|
09.07.05 |
Del Mar Futurity (GII) |
1st |
Chart |
|
Video |
Wide trip; got up late |
|
08.06.05 |
Maiden Special Weight @ Del Mar |
1st |
|
|
Video |
Odds-on winner after Hol. Juv. 3rd |
|
07.16.05 |
Hollywood Juvenile (GII) |
3rd |
Chart |
|
Video |
In retrospect, needs more distance |
|
07.18.05 |
Maiden Special Weight @ Hollywood |
2nd |
Chart |
|
|
2nd to What a Song no disgrace |
Recent Workouts
|
Date |
Track |
Distance |
Time |
Rank |
|
02.06.2006 |
Hollywood |
6 furlongs (fast) |
1.13:40 B |
1/6 |
|
01.05 |
Hollywood |
6 furlongs (fast) |
1:12.60 |
2/6 |
|
|
|
 |
Stevie Wonderboy is by the Grade I winning millionaire Stephen Got Even, who himself ran in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 14th in the 1999 renewal. Stephen Got Even, who is by the great A.P. Indy out of the long-winded Cox Ridge female line, excelled at Classic distances during his race career. Both of his stakes wins, in the Galleryfurniture.com (GII) and the Donn Handicap (GI), came at nine furlongs, and the balance of his five victories all were at least at 1 1/16 miles. Stevie Wonderboy propelled his sire to fourth place on the 2005 leading sires of two-year-olds list and third place on the second crop list. Stephen Got Even's son Don't Get Mad ran fourth in the 2005 Derby.
Stevie Wonderboy is the fourth winner, and the first stakes horse, from his dam, Heat Lightning. She was a product of Lane's End farm, and was winless in 13 starts. However, she is a half-sister to Fair Judgement, a grade two winner in both Ireland and the United States, as well as minor stakes winner Linda Coqueta. Their dam, Mystical Mood, won the Schuylerville (GIII) at age two.
Probably the most interest facet of Stevie Wonderboy's pedigree is the fact that he is inbred 3x3 the great mare Weekend Surprise, dam of both A.P. Indy and Summer Squall. She is a daughter of Secretariat who is a half-sister to no less than six stakes winners as well as producing six stakes winners herself. The 1992 broodmare of the year, Weekend Surprise is one of only seven mares to produce two winners of Triple Crown races.
Dosage Index: 1.86 |
 |
Starter analysis coming Derby week |
|
|
|
 
Derby Info
|
