- Kentucky Derby Post Time: Saturday, May 5 @ 6:04 p.m. ET
Monday, February 05, 2007
TOP KENTUCKY DERBY 133 STORIES:
KENTUCKY DERBY, TRIPLE CROWN ATTRACT RECORD 450 NOMINATIONS - James Tafel's homebred 2-year-old champion Street Sense and Frank Calabrese's homebred juvenile filly champion Dreaming of Anna head a record 450 horses on the roster of early nominees to the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) and the Triple Crown.
The three-race series of spring classics begins with the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 5. The $1 million guaranteed Preakness (GI) at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 19 is the second jewel of the Triple Crown, and the series concludes with the $1 million guaranteed Belmont Stakes (GI) at New York's Belmont Park on June 9.
The coveted series is one of the most difficult achievements in sports. Only 11 horses have won all three races, with Affirmed in 1978 being the most recent.
The 450 nominations, at $600 each, top the previous record of 446 nominees posted in 2003. The early nomination period ended Saturday, Jan. 21. A late-nominating period, in which nominations require a fee of $6,000, closes on Saturday, March 31.
Street Sense, a son of Street Cry who scored a record 10-length victory in the $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) at Churchill Downs, heads the list of nominees. Carl Nafzger, who saddled Unbridled to win the 1990 Kentucky Derby, trains Street Sense.
The unbeaten Dreaming of Anna, the winner of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) for trainer Wayne Catalano, is one of five fillies nominated to the Triple Crown.
Twenty-seven Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown nominees came from across the Atlantic, with champion Irish trainer Aidan P. O'Brien leading the list of nominations with nine, followed by countryman Dermot Weld's seven. O'Brien's group is headed by multiple stakes winner Holy Roman Emperor. Weld trained 1990 Belmont Stakes winner Go and Go. The 27 nominees from Europe and the United Arab Emirates represent a big jump from the 15 foreign-based runners nominated in 2006.
SOUTHEAST/NOBIZ LIKE SHOWBIZ THRIVES IN HOLY BULL SPOTLIGHT -Elizabeth Valando's Nobiz Like Shobiz avenged the only loss of his young career and took a successful first step on the road to Kentucky Derby 133 with a 1 ½-length victory in Saturday's $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes (Grade III) at Gulfstream Park.
The 3-year-old son of Albert the Great turned back Scat Daddy, who had handed Nobiz Like Shobiz the only loss of his career in last year's Champagne (GI) at Belmont Park, and then held off a late run by longshot Drums of Thunder to win the one-mile race under regular rider Cornelio Velasquez.
Barclay Tagg, who saddled Funny Cide to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby, trains Nobiz Like Shobiz. Assistant trainer Robin Smullen said on Sunday that the colt had come out of his third victory in four starts in good shape and would likely run next in the $350,000 Fountain of Youth (GII) at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream on March 3.
"That's the way Barclay is leaning right now," said Smullen. "If there are any glitches along the way, he can come back the next week in another race someplace else, but the plan is to point for the Fountain of Youth."
Nobiz Like Shobiz completed the mile in a sharp 1:35.47. The victory boosted the career earnings of Nobiz Like Shobiz to $316,400.
John D. Murphy's homebred Adore the Gold also turned in an impressive run on Saturday's Gulfstream Park program when he dueled with Forefathers most of the way and pulled away late for a three-quarter length win in the $150,000 Swale Stakes (GII).
The son of Formal Gold won for the fourth time in five career outings and covered the 6 ½ furlongs over a "fast" track in 1:15.86. Favored Cowtown Cat finished third, 6 ¼ lengths behind the top pair.
Cornelio Velasquez rode the winner for trainer Michael Gorham. Forefathers, who started his career in England, made his stakes debut for two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito.
One "horse to watch" after the weekend at Gulfstream could well be Midnight Cry Stable's Curlin, a son of Smart Strike who was impressive on Saturday in his career debut.
Curlin, trained by Helen Pitts, scored a 12 ¾-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden race under jockey Rafael Bejarano.
"We were excited about what he might be able to do, but I didn't think we'd see him dominate the way he did," said Pitts.
The colt could leap right into stakes company as Pitts indicated that he could run next in the $150,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. His rivals in that race could include Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) runner-up Any Given Saturday, who is considered likely for that 1 1/16-mile test.
Eldon Farm Equine and John Luke's Spin Master turned in another strong Saturday effort when he upset heavily favored Soaring By in a seven-furlong allowance race. The son of Distorted Humor is trained by Dale Romans and was ridden by Mark Guidry.
WEST/RAVEL PASSES FIRST BIG TEST IN SHAM - Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Ravel came into Saturday's $100,000 Sham Stakes (GIII) at Santa Anita with a big reputation following a dazzling performance at Hollywood Park in his first career victory. The impressive son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus lived up to his pre-race hype with a strong victory in the 1 1/8-mile West Coast Kentucky Derby prep.
Ravel and jockey Garrett Gomez rolled past stakes veteran Liquidity in the stretch on their way to a one-length victory in the Sham, a race named for the runner-up to the legendary Secretariat in the 1973 Kentucky Derby. Ravel made a successful debut in stakes company as he covered the distance over a "fast" track in 1:48.91. The winning time was the second fastest in the seven-year history of the Sham.
The colt had stamped himself as a potential star with a dazzling maiden victory over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track surface in early December. He covered 1 1/16 miles that day in a sharp 1:41.80.
"From the first time I sat on him and rode him in his maiden win, I had high hopes for him," said Gomez. "He's a big horse and I was able to find a spot with him there at the five-eighths pole and he finished up like a mature colt. I like him."
Mike McCarthy, who handles the California stable of trainer Todd Pletcher, said the next start for Ravel would likely come in the Santa Anita Derby (GI) on April 7.
The victory improved Ravel's career record to 2-1-0 in three races and he has earned $96,100. Ravel was a $950,000 yearling sales purchase at Keeneland.
On Friday, Marta Racing Stable's Court the King rallied past favored Tenfold in the stretch to notch a two-length victory in a one-mile allowance race at Santa Anita. Court the King, a son of Doneraile Court trained by Deborah Wilson, covered the distance in 1:37.59. The winner was not on the list of early nominees to the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown.
EAST/CRAFTY BEAR SURPRISES IN LAUREL'S MIRACLE WOOD - Harry and Tom Meyerhoff's Crafty Bear, the longest shot in a field of four, rallied on the rail to score a mild upset in Saturday's $90,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel.
The gelded son of Yonaguska rallied from last and pulled away for a 3 ¾-length win under jockey Mike Pino. Saratoga Lullaby finished second and favored Roaring Lion was last.
Crafty Bear, who is not nominated to the Triple Crown, is a recent arrival in the barn of trainer Michael Trombetta. Hall of Famer Bud Delp, who died on Dec. 29, had previously trained Crafty Bear. Delp saddled Spectacular Bid to win the 1979 Kentucky Derby.
CENTRAL/CIRCULAR QUAY HEADS FULL GATE OF 14 FOR RISEN STAR - Michael and Doreen Tabor's Circular Quay, winner of Saratoga's Hopeful (GI) and runner-up to juvenile champion Street Sense in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI), heads a field of 14 3-year-olds entered for Saturday's $300,000 Risen Star Stakes (GII) at the Fair Grounds.
The 1 1/16-mile race is the featured event among five stakes races on "Louisiana Derby Preview Day" at the New Orleans track and is the major local prep for the 94th running of the Louisiana Derby, the historic track's premier race scheduled for March 10.
Two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey John Velazquez will travel to the Fair Grounds for the first time to ride Circular Quay, a stretch-running son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch who also won the Bashford Manor (GIII) at Churchill Downs. The Todd Pletcher trained colt has been installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite for the Risen Star.
The first lucky break in the race for Circular Quay may have come at the post draw when he drew post position five. Several other major contenders were not as fortune and drew posts on the far outside of the packed field.
That group includes J. Paul Reddamn's Notional, the winner of Santa Anita's San Rafael who drew post 12 and is the 9-2 second choice. The son of In Excess is trained by Doug O'Neill and will be ridden in the Risen Star by Robby Albarado.
Others on the outside include Zanjero, the Steve Asmussen-trained runner-up to Nobiz Like Shobiz in the Remsen (GII) at Aqueduct, who will break from post 10 under Jesus Castanon, and Buffalo Man, the winner of the $100,000 Spectacular Bid at Gulfstream Park who drew the outside gate. The Ol' Memorial Stable of University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino and Louisville attorney and civic leader Ed Glasscock own Buffalo Man, who is trained by Cam Gambolati, who saddled Spend A Buck to win the 1985 Kentucky Derby. Jose Lezcano will ride Buffalo Man in the Risen Star.
Teufelsberg, winner of the Sugar Bowl at the Fairgrounds, landed in post 13 and will be ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson.
Others in the field for the Kentucky Derby prep include Slew's Tizzy, Makeithapencaptain, Beta Capo, Izzie's Halo, Westwon, Scat Thief, Imawildandcrazyguy, Spankey Come Home, and Weather Warning.
Post time for the Risen Star, the last of the stakes races on "Louisiana Derby Preview Day" is 4:28 p.m. (CST).
DERBY FUTURE WAGER OPENS THURSDAY - Racing fans across North America will get the chance to state an early opinion on top contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands when the first of three pools for the 2007 Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens on Thursday, Feb. 8.
The wager, now in its ninth year, will feature 24 wagering interests that consist of 23 individual horses and a mutuel field comprised of all other 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. A total of $1,471,606 - the third highest total ever - was wagered on last year's three pools.
The roster of wagering interests for Pool 1 of the Derby Future Wager will be released on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Last year's Future Wager saw Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro return $40.20 (Pool 1), $32.20 (Pool 2) and $20.80 (Pool 3) on the minimum $2 wager. The unbeaten Barbaro returned $14.20 on a $2 win wager on Derby Day.
Derby Future Pool 2 is set for March 8-11, and the third and final pool is scheduled for April 12-15.
More information and real time odds on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be available on the official Kentucky Derby Web site at http://www.kentuckyderby.com/.
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