Derby field shows rising influence of modern racing partnerships
This year, nine of the 20 horses currently projected to start in the Kentucky Derby are owned by partnerships, and that list is top-heavy.
Matt HegartyApr 27, 2018
This year, nine of the 20 horses currently projected to start in the Kentucky Derby are owned by partnerships, and that list is top-heavy.
For the first time in four days, the main track was listed as fast at Churchill Downs, with the most noteworthy name on Thursday's rather extensive work tab not that of a potential Kentucky Derby winner, but that of a past one.
Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady has already produced three Grade 1 winners, including four-time champion Beholder. Mendelssohn could make her the dam of a Kentucky Derby winner as well.
If the horse had been named Fish Cakes or Jabbering Jack, everything might be different. “The curse of Fish Cakes” or “the curse of Jabbering Jack” – no one is saying that. But no, his name was Apollo, and “the curse of Apollo,” well, that's got a ring to it, and for decades now it's been ringing through every Kentucky Derby that includes a starter who didn't race at age 2.
The weather remains the main story this week at Churchill Downs, where rain has put a damper on training hours since Sunday. The main track was listed as “sloppy” on Tuesday and “muddy” on Wednesday for the special Oaks/Derby training sessions, with no scheduled workers either morning.
The Kentucky Derby will be run for the 144th time on May 5, yet in the prior 143 runnings, only once have the same jockey, trainer, and owner teamed to score consecutive victories.
Combatant and Instilled Regard moved into the Derby Watch top 20 owing to defections that vaulted them up the points list. Both are 30-1 on the Kentucky Derby line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper.
The changes to the Kentucky Derby field this week served to further highlight the standout penultimate crop by the late sire Scat Daddy. Multiple graded stakes-placed Combatant is among the final horses guaranteed a spot in the starting gate on points, which would give the late stallion four starters, along with unbeaten Santa Anita Derby winner Justify, United Arab Emirates Derby winner Mendelssohn, and multiple graded stakes winner Flameaway.
The English-based colt Gronkowski, who was declared out of the Kentucky Derby on Monday with an infection, is expected to return to training next week and point to the Belmont Stakes, according to a press release from the colt’s owner, Phoenix Thoroughbreds.
The unpredictable spring weather at Churchill Downs that has prompted the connections of many of the top contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby to complete most if not all of their final preparations for the race at home reared its ugly head on Monday.