2009 Kentucky Derby Connections
Baffert Back, Jerry Hollendorfer Contending, Jimmy Jerkens Leads
Apr 6, 2009
Its likely that Quality Road, trained by savvy Jimmy Jerkens, will lead the Kentucky Derby favorite's board on May 2 for the 135th running of the classic, but veteran trainer Bob Baffert will be pushing the envelope with his first KD kid, Pioneerof The Nile, since his smartly rated War Emblem raced for the Triple Crown title in 2002.
In hot pursuit of that training duo is Jerry Hollendorfer, who thinks highly of his entrant, Chocolate Candy, a strong second place finisher to Pioneerof The Nile in the April 4 Santa Anita Derby.
Baffert and the Kentucky Derby
Baffert is easily spotted in racing crowds when not attending one of his Thoroughbreds in training. His white, ear lobe-length hair is familiar to any race fan and instantly connected to Kentucky Derby titles, as well as several "almost" Triple Crown championships.
In the 1990s, when Baffert and D.Wayne Lukas were regular residents of the KD winner's circle, Baffert had three Derby winners, all of whom were favored to capture a Triple title. None did, but two were a whisker away, Silver Charm in 1997 and Real Quiet the next year. War Emblem stumbled at the Belmont gate in 2002, spoiling his chances to corral the elusive third TC jewel.
Looking at 2009 Kentucky Derby Connections
Likely top ten (alphabetically) qualifying KD entrants and their connections:
- Chocolate Candy -- Jerry Hollendorfer; Russell Baze; breeder -- Sid and Jenny Craig/owners -- Sid and Jenny Craig Trust
- Desert Party -- Saeed bin Suroor; Frankie Dettori; Godolphin Racing
- Friesan Fire -- Larry Jones; Gabriel Saez; Grapestock, Kentucky/Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm
- I Want Revenge -- Jeff Mullins; Joseph Talamo; b/o -- David J. Lanzman Racing, Kentucky
- Mafaaz -- qualified by winning England's first Win-and-You're-In race -- John Gosden; Richard Hills; The Complimentary Pass Partnership, England/Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
- Musket Man -- Derek S. Ryan; Eibar Coa; Jim E. Nelson and Sergio De Sousa, Kentucky/Eric Fein and Vic Carlson
- Pioneerof The Nile -- Baffert; Garrett Gomez; b/o -- Zayat Stables, Kentucky
- Quality Road -- Jerkens; John Velazquez; b/o -- Edward P. Evans, Virginia
- Regal Ransom -- Suroor; Alan Garcia; Diamond A. Racing, Kentucky/Godolphin Racing
- Kelly Leak -- Michael Machowsky; Mike Smith; Luis de Hechavarria, Florida/Blahut Racing, Dennis Avila, Dave Johnson, et al
Next most likely qualifying entrants and their connections:
- Azul Leon -- Doug O'Neill; Joel Rosario; b/o -- Joseph Lacombe Stables, Inc., Kentucky
- Bittel Road -- Todd Pletcher; John Velazquez (?); John Iracane, Kentucky/James T. Scatuorchio and John Iracane
- Crowded House (Great Britain) -- Brian Meehan; Jamie Spencer; Car Colston Hall Stud, Great Britain/J. Paul Reddam and partnership
- Hold Me Back -- William I. Mott; Kent Desormeaux; Haras Santa Maria de Araras S.A and WinStar Farm, Kentucky/WinStar Farm
- Old Fashioned -- J. Larry Jones; Ramon Dominguez; Rod and Lorraine Rodriguez, Kentucky/Fox Hill Farms
- Papa Clem -- Gary Stute; Rafael Bejarano; b/o -- Bo Hirsch, Kentucky
- Terrain -- Al Stall Jr.; Julien Leparoux; b/o -- Adele B. Dilschneider, Kentucky
- The Pamplemousse -- Julio C. Canani; Alex Solis; Clarkland Farm, Kentucky/Bienstock and Winner Stables, Alex Solis II, Jeff Strauss, Tom Lenner, Tom Murray, Skyline Stable
- West Side Bernie -- Kelly Breen; Elvis Trujillo; Polo Green Stable and Mr. Andrew Savas, Kentucky/George and Lori Hall
- Win Willy -- Mac Robertson; Cliff Berry; Overbrook Farm, Kentucky/Jer-Mar Stable
The Kentucky Derby Lineup may not be a certainty until race day the first Saturday in May.
