LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The historic day began in their hotel lobby where Roy and Gretchen Jackson watched on television as George Washington, a horse they bred, won the prestigious 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in England.
"Phew, that was exciting," Gretchen Jackson said a few hours later. "Really exhilarating."
And the day only got better from there.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Fresh, trainer Michael Matz believed all along, was best. Barbaro proved it on Saturday at Churchill Downs, recording a runaway victory over 19 rivals in the 132nd to become the first horse to win the Derby off a five-week layoff since Needles in 1956.
Barbaro ($14.20), who received a perfect trip under jockey Edgar Prado, surged to the lead nearing the top of the stretch, opened up a commanding lead at midstretch, and breezed home 6 1/2 lengths best over 30-1 shot Bluegrass Cat. Steppenwolfer, a 16-1 shot, rallied for third, two lengths behind Bluegrass Cat.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The wide-open nature of the 132nd Kentucky Derby may be best illustrated by the win odds after preliminary wagering closed Friday at Churchill Downs. With $421,152 already in the win pool, Barbaro was the favorite at 5-1, followed by Sweetnorthernsaint (7-1), Sinister Minister (7-1), Point Determined (8-1), Brother Derek (9-1), and Lawyer Ron (9-1).
The highest odds for a favorite in Derby history was Harlan?s Holiday, who finished seventh as the $6.00-1 choice in 2002.
Here follow the Derby odds, as of the 6:30 p.m. Eastern closing:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Something's gotta give. Whether it's the unbeaten record of Barbaro or Showing Up, the lengthy winning streak of Brother Derek or Lawyer Ron, or the front-runners that many trainers expect to set a blistering pace, something's gotta give in the on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
A full field of 20 was entered in this Derby, and it is one of the most compelling in years, not only because of the quality of this group of 3-year-olds, but also because of the myriad emotional story lines.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A majority interest in Lawyer Ron, one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby, has been sold to Stonewall Stallions of central Kentucky, but the colt will race in the name and silks of his breeder and owner, the estate of James T. Hines Jr., in the 132nd Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Six of the 20 starters are listed at 50-1 on the morning line, and of those, there seems to be a consensus that Seaside Retreat will wind up being the longest of the longshots.
"If handicappers have watched him train, I don't think they'd make us the longest price," said Mark Casse, who trains Seaside Retreat for Bill Farish. "But I still think they will."
BRAD FREE
Pace-presser Sweetnorthernsaint acts as if he can handle the likely fast pace of this year's Derby. And if he does, he can win. Sweetnorthernsaint relaxed off tepid fractions and finished strongly in his last two starts, and along with Brother Derek enters with four straight 100-plus Beyer Figures. The difference is Sweetnorthernsaint appears comfortable rallying from behind; Brother Derek does not.
Ask anyone who does it, and they will tell you that training racehorses is a full-time job on its own. But until recently, when he was done training in the morning, Michael Trombetta would put down his stopwatch, pick up a hardhat, and work construction.
Trombetta did it in part to support his growing family and in part because it was his brother Dino's company for whom he worked.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The best thing that could happen for future Kentucky Derbies would be for Saturday's renewal to produce a formful and logical result, which might restore some seriousness and encourage some restraint going forward. Horsemen and bettors alike are still reeling from Giacomo's implausible victory last year, entering and backing abjectly unqualified horses under the theory that if Giacomo could win the 131st Derby, anyone can win the 132nd.
