LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Art Sherman first came to Churchill Downs in 1955 as a stablehand associated with Swaps, who won that year’s Kentucky Derby. The other day, Sherman, now 77 and the trainer of California Chrome, paid a visit to the gravesite of Swaps, whose remains are at the Derby Museum at Churchill Downs, and said a little prayer.
“It came true,” he said. “I was hoping he was another Swaps.”
Steve Coburn knew when he saw the newborn colt.
“I saw this baby twice,” the co-owner of California Chrome said. “Once in a dream, and then the day after he was born.”
Since the chestnut colt with the white face hit the ground Feb. 18, 2011, the clock has been ticking down to today. Tick-tock.
On Saturday morning, California Chrome went for an easy one-mile jog with exercise rider Willie Delgado aboard, the sun just beginning to brighten the twin spires as they loomed over the Kentucky Derby favorite.
Saturday, May 3, preview
Happy Derby Day! We’re looking at a fast track, a firm course, and nice weather, with Weather.com calling for a mix of sun and clouds. Temperatures should be in the 50s when the card kicks off at 10:30 a.m. and warm to about 70 degrees by the time the Derby is run.
Now to the question of the day: Who’s going to win the Derby?
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After the close of ontrack wagering Friday, Santa Anita Derby winner California Chrome was the 3-1 favorite in advance wagering for Saturday's Kentucky Derby, with Wood Memorial winner Wicked Strong and Arkansas Derby winner Danza co-second choices at 8-1.
Ride On Curlin, to be ridden by three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel, was next at 12-1 odds, followed closely by Louisiana Derby runner-up Intense Holiday at 13-1.
All 75 blood samples pulled from horses entered on the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby cards at Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday tested negative for blood-doping drugs and illegal peptides, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced on Friday morning.
Since 20-horse fields have become the norm in the Kentucky Derby, America’s most famous race also is its most inscrutable race. It has produced many surprising winners and some who defy comprehension, such as 50-1 shots Mine That Bird in 2009 and Giacomo in 2005. It is so contentious that no horse in the last four years has gone to the post at odds of less than 4-1.
[bc_video_id:323235:]LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There were two horses on the radar when the racetrack opened for training Thursday morning at Churchill Downs: the Derby favorite, California Chrome, and second choice, Hoppertunity. Ultimately, only one of the pair showed up, with Hoppertunity scratched from the Derby shortly after the Oaks/Derby training session concluded at 8:45.
