Contenders

Doug O'Neill

O'Neill, 38, 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.

Victor Espinoza

A native of Mexico City, Victor Espinoza began riding professionally in 1993, following in the footsteps of his uncle and brother. He garnered his first win at Hippodromo de las America in Sept. 1993 and moved to Southern Calif. soon after. He was the leading apprentice rider at Bay Meadows (1993-94) and at Golden Gate Fields (1994); in 2000, he captured the Hollywood Park spring-summer riding title. His biggest stakes wins to date have been on War Emblem in 2002 Derby and Preakness (GI), The Tin Man in the 2006 Arlington Million (GI), Early Pioneer in the 2000 Hollywood Gold Cup (GI) and Spain in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) and Great Hunter in the Lane's End Breeder's Futurity. In 2006, his mounts earned in excess of $16.1 million, good for 3rd nationally. He has had three Derby mounts in addition to War Emblem: Congaree (3rd in 2001), Borrego (10th in 2004), and Sinister Minister last year.

The Merv Griffin Ranch Company

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. Griffin's Stevie Wonderboy was the 2005 Breeder's Cup Juvenile champ, but his Derby hopes were dashed when he was injured early the following year.

Adena Springs (FL)

Adena Springs is breeding/racing name of owner Frank Stronach. Born in Austria in 1932, Stronach is the founder of Magna International, an international automotive parts company based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, and Magna Entertainment Corp., which specializes in horse-racing entertainment. He left his native country in 1954, moving to Montreal. Three years later he started his first business, Multimatic Investments Ltd. Stronach has been involved in Thoroughbred horse racing since the 1970s. With Nelson Bunker Hunt as a partner, they co-owned the 1980 Sovereign Award winner for Canadian Horse of the Year, Glorious Song. Stronach's horses have won the Queen's Plate in 1994 and 1997, the Belmont Stakes in 1997, and the Preakness Stakes in 2000. His horse Ghostzapper won several major races including the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic, was voted the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year, and named the World's Top Ranked Horse for 2004. He has won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder in 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2006 as well as leading owner for 1998-2000. Adena Springs has breeding farms in Kentucky, Florida and Canada, which include more than 500 broodmares and 17 stallions.

Cobalt Blue is a son of the Adena Springs stallion Golden Missile, himself by 1992 Horse of the Year A. P. Indy and out of the multiple graded stakes winning mare Santa Catalina. Golden Missile was slow to develop, racing only once at two and five times at three. He did, however, win the Cumberland Stakes in his sophomore year. He blossomed in his four and five year old campaigns, winning four stakes, including the Pimlico Special (GI) and Stephen Foster Handicap (GII), as well as finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (GI). He wrapped up his career with nearly $2.2 in earnings, hitting the board in 21 of 25 starts. With four crops of racing age, he has sired five stakes winners to date, topped by In the Gold, winner of the Gazelle (GI) and second in the 2005 Kentucky Oaks.

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Cobalt Blue is one of a pair of foals from his dam Prado Star, with the other yet to win. Prado Star, a daughter of top sire El Prado (IRE), who also stands at Adena Springs. Prado Star won over $200,000 and was stakes placed in Canada. Cobalt Blue’s second dam was also a Canadian-bred, but did not have the success of Prado Star. His third dam, Queen to Be, however, was an accomplished runner and producer. She took the Del Mar Debutante (GII) and Sorrento at two and the California Oaks the following season. Queen to Be foaled seven winners, among them Queen Joan, dam of stakes winner and Fonner Park track record setter Sahara King. In addition, two of her half-brothers, Fair Test (San Gabriel GIII) and Time Call (2^nd<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> in the Illinois Derby GIII), were stakes winners.

Cobalt Blue has a unique pedigree that says he should be able to get the Derby’s 10 furlongs without a problem. He is a complete outcross in his first four generations, and his paternal and maternal grandsires, Seattle Slew and Sadler’s Wells, are arguably the two most influential sires in the United States and Europe, respectively, of the last quarter century. Add to that the speed influences of Cure the Blues and Star de Naskra, the other two sires in Cobalt Blue’s second generation, and he has a solid balance to give him the perfect combination of speed and endurance. Dosage Index: 1.55 – by Mark Hoard

Coming Derby Week.