Tue, 02/28/2006 - 00:00

Nine new names featured in Pool 2

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Brother Derek is the 6-1 second choice in Pool 2 of the Derby Future Wagers. The mutuel field is the 5-1 favorite.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Lineups for Pool 2 in the Kentucky Derby and Oaks future wagers were released Tuesday by Churchill Downs, and true to the wide-open nature of each race, there are numerous changes from Pool 1 and no clear-cut favorites. Wagering into both pools begins Thursday at noon Eastern at racetracks and wagering outlets throughout North America.

Tue, 02/28/2006 - 00:00

Pool 2 gets nine new names

Lineups for Pool 2 in the Kentucky Derby and Oaks Future Wagers were released Tuesday by Churchill Downs, and true to the wide-open nature of each race, there are numerous changes from Pool 1 and no clear-cut favorites. Wagering into both pools begins Thursday at noon Eastern at racetracks and wagering outlets throughout North America. Nine horses have been displaced from the Derby Futures, and eight from the Oaks, since wagers on Pool 1 were taken Jan. 26-29.

Wed, 02/22/2006 - 00:00

Here's your early favorite

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Brother Derek, training at Santa Anita last month, is 3 for 3 at two turns, including in the San Rafael and Hollywood Futurity in his last two starts.

ARCADIA, Calif. - When the horses crossed the wire in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile nearly four months ago at Belmont Park, Brother Derek was only the fourth-best horse in the race. Since then, however, the victorious Stevie Wonderboy has been injured, runner-up Henny Hughes has gone to the black hole of Dubai, and First Samurai has yet to prove his ability around two turns.

Wed, 02/22/2006 - 00:00

Derby Watch rankings for Feb. 24

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Who's Hot, Who's Not

WHO'S HOT: Todd Pletcher, the nation's Eclipse Award-winning trainer the past two years, had the most nominees to this year's Triple Crown, and has the most representation on the inaugural top 25 of Derby Watch, with three runners, including two of the top six choices in Bluegrass Cat and Keyed Entry. Both Steve Asmussen, whose best prospect is Private Vow, and Bob Baffert, a three-time Derby winner, have a pair of runners.

Mon, 05/09/2005 - 00:00

Pletcher takes Derby defeat in stride

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Mike Smith, celebrating his Derby win aboard Giacomo, liked the colt from the start.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Kentucky Derby remains about the only thing missing from trainer Todd Pletcher's resume as his three runners failed to fire in Saturday's Derby. Pletcher is now winless with 12 Derby starters.

Bandini, the Blue Grass Stakes winner and the third betting choice on Saturday, finished 19th in the field of 20. Flower Alley finished ninth. and Coin Silver was 12th.

Mon, 05/09/2005 - 00:00

Wild ride for superfecta winner

Just hitting the Kentucky Derby superfecta for an incredible $864,253 for a $1 investment is amazing enough, but Christopher Hertzog had to hit it twice.

That's because the Turf Paradise patron inadvertently threw away his winning ticket. Fortunately, before Hertzog could find a bridge, the ticket was found at Turf Paradise Sunday.

"I never knew I had so many emotions," said Hertzog, 39, a 16-year veteran of the Phoenix Fire Department. "I couldn't believe I lost this once in a lifetime payday. It's unbelievable that it was found."

Sun, 05/08/2005 - 00:00

Many to try again at Preakness

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Giacomo (#10) edges Closing Argument (#18) and Afleet Alex at the wire to win the 131st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A number of horses who competed in the on Saturday at Churchill Downs, including the race's first three finishers, are all likely to move on to the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, on May 21 at Pimlico Race Course.

Giacomo, Closing Argument, and Afleet Alex were the first three across the line in the 131st Derby, and are expected to meet again in the 130th Preakness. Afleet Alex will be the first to arrive at Pimlico. He is scheduled to travel to Baltimore on Wednesday.

Wilko, who finished sixth, is also likely for the Preakness.

Sat, 05/07/2005 - 00:00

Zito's high hopes end in letdown

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - One of trainer Nick Zito's pet sayings is, "Great expectations bring great disappointment."

Expectations were never greater for Zito than in Saturday's 131st Kentucky Derby when he ran five horses, including the 5-2 favorite, Bellamy Road. Alas, disappointment was never greater as none of Zito's five runners hit the board. Bellamy Road trudged home seventh, about seven lengths behind longshot winner Giacomo.

Zito's other runners were Andromeda's Hero (8th), High Fly (10th), Noble Causeway (14th), and Sun King (15th).

Sat, 05/07/2005 - 00:00

Giacomo leads longshot parade

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Giacomo (center), ridden by Mike Smith, rallies in the stretch at 50-1 to trigger Derby record payoffs in the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jerry Moss has another hit.

The successful record producer went to the top of the charts on Saturday at Churchill Downs when Giacomo, the colt he owns with his wife, Ann, came from far back under jockey Mike Smith to score a 50-1 upset in the 131st .

The victory was sweet vindication for trainer John Shirreffs, who never gave up on Giacomo despite his below-par efforts this spring at Santa Anita, and for Smith, whose biggest disappointment came aboard Giacomo's sire, Holy Bull, who finished 12th as the favorite in the 1994 Derby.

Sat, 05/07/2005 - 00:00

This year, wealth is in fashion

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Churchill Downs was filled to capacity for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Among the many celebrities on hand was Jamie-Lynn DiScala, who plays Meadow Soprano on The Sopranos.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - You don't have to be rich to own a Kentucky Derby runner. But it helps.

There are feel-good stories surrounding the Derby every year, like the 10 high school buddies who pooled their money and came up with Funny Cide, or the elderly car dealer who bred and owned Smarty Jones. This year, five horseplaying friends from Philadelphia were here at Churchill Downs with Afleet Alex, whom they bought for $75,000 last year.

But the majority of the runners in this year's race are owned by people of great wealth.