Most jockeys spend all winter in search of the horse they will ride in the Kentucky Derby. Javier Castellano thought he had found his Derby mount nine months ago.
After Castellano guided Union Rags to a 7 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 15, he thought to himself “that’s my Derby horse.” He felt only stronger about it after he rode Union Rags to a 5 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont in October.
The Dosage theory, originated in the early 1900s and later modified and refined, contends that it’s possible to mathematically determine a horse’s performance potential over different distances, based on the presence of certain influential sires in the horse’s pedigree.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville was not waiting with bated breath for the horse van from Laurel Park to pull through the Churchill Downs stable gate Sunday afternoon. The horse that walked down the van’s ramp, Done Talking, epitomizes the term, ‘plain bay,’ and though he wore a yellow Kentucky Derby saddle towel to train Tuesday, Done Talking radiates none of the flash of Derby runners like Union Rags or Bodemeister.
DRF handicappers Brad Free, Marcus Hersh, and Dan Illman hosted a live chat during Wednesday's Kentucky Derby draw. Here are the highlights below. For complete handicapping information on the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby, including past performances, expert picks, and more, check out our Kentucky Derby All-Access Package.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Despite some heavy downpours the previous evening, the racetrack was in nice shape for training Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs with the course rated good for the early session before being upgraded to fast following the renovation break.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said there were a lot of reasons that led him to choose New York-based Jose Lezcano to ride Rousing Sermon in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
Hollendorfer noted that a lot of big-name trainers such as Bill Mott and Tom Proctor use Lezcano regularly, he’s fearless, and he competes on a daily basis with the top riders in the country.
“He’s a fearless rider, and you need a fearless rider in the Derby,” Hollendorfer said. “He’s someone who’s ridden against many of the guys he will be riding against in the Derby.”
Following his Monday arrival, Wood Memorial runner-up Alpha was on the track Tuesday morning for a 1 3/8-mile gallop. Though a routine exercise, it was significant in the fact that his presence here made the Derby seem more of a reality to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
Alpha suffered a cut on his left shin in the Wood that developed into an infection that needed to be treated with antibiotics and forced Alpha to miss one work.
Michael Kipness, AKA The Wizard, picked Animal Kingdom to win last year's Derby. Go here for his pick and wagering strategies for this year's Derby. The Wizard joined DRF.com users for a Kentucky Derby preview chat on Tuesday night.
On the West Coast horses in this year's field:
The southern california form seems a bit weaker than at other venues around the country.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – D. Wayne Lukas has trained four winners of the Kentucky Derby, and three of his former assistants have horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Now they can have a reunion in the saddling paddock on Saturday afternoon, because on Tuesday morning, Lukas got the word he so desperately craved for days, that enough horses above Optimizer on the graded earnings list had come out to allow him in.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Rousing Sermon worked five furlongs in 1:00.13 at Churchill Downs on Tuesday, the only potential Kentucky Derby starter to work over a racetrack upgraded from good to fast following the renovation break.
