Kentucky Derby Field Set; Brown #1
BBJ, Denis of Cork and Calvin Borel, Halo Najib Miss Latest Cut
Who will beat the Derby ghosts of distance, dirt, and running style? Big Brown is Vegas's No.1, while Bob Black Jack, Denis of Cork, and Halo Najib miss the latest cut.
Las Vegas likes Big Brown as the Kentucky Derby victor. But does he have the right stuff? Last year's winning jockey, Calvin Borel is standing by with Denis of Cork, who resides on the graded stakes earnings bubble with Bob Black Jack and Halo Najib. Those three horses have the earnings to get into the Derby field of twenty if three horses with earnings above them falter out of contention for whatever reason.
In alphabetical order, with their trainers and probable riders is the Derby field:
- Adriano - Graham Motion - Edgar Prado
- Anak Nakal - Nick Zito - Rafael Bejarano
- Big Brown - Richard Dutrow, Jr. - Kent Desormeaux
- Big Truck - Barclay Tagg - Javier Castellano
- Colonel John - Eoin Harty - Corey Nakatani
- Cool Coal Man - Zito - Julien Leparoux
- Court Vision - Bill Mott - Garrett Gomez
- Cowboy Cal - Todd Pletcher - John Velazquez
- Eight Belles (f) - Larry Jones - Ramon Dominguez, or undetermined
- Gayego - Paulo Lobo - Mike Smith
- Massive Drama - Dale Romans - undetermined
- Monba - Pletcher - Dominguez, or undetermined
- Pyro - Steve Asmussen - Shaun Bridgmohan
- Recapturetheglory - Louis Roussel III - E.T. Baird
- Salute the Sarge - Eric Guillot - Michael Baze
- Smooth Air - Bennie Stutts, Jr. - Manoel Cruz
- Tale of Ekati - Tagg - Eibar Coa
- Visionaire - Michael Matz - Jose Lezcano
- Z Fortune - Asmussen - Robby Albarado
- Z Humor - Mott - Rene Douglas
What Are The Question Marks for Big Brown as The Betting Favorite?
He's inexperienced with just three career starts, all of which he won by huge margins, however. He's run for distance, 1-1/8 miles in the Florida Derby, is brawny, willing, and ...able? In the recent past, he has suffered from hoof problems. Although the word is that problem is under control, will it recur during the longer distances of the Triple Crown races? And will the huge field in the Derby bother him?
The Logical Choice for The Derby Title May Be Colonel John
This colt has all the assests and has passed all the preparatory tests. He's proven in distance and experience in 6 career starts, and he's unbeaten at three, having won the Sham Stakes in March and the Santa Anita Derby earlier this month. He's a rally type runner, and that can work at Churchill Downs.
Pyro Seems For The Moment To Be the Forgotten Colt
Pyro ran through the spring races a strong No.2 choice to War Pass's No.1 crowning. Steve Asmussen's colt has all the assests, too. With 7 career starts and strong performances in the Risen Star Stakes and the Louisiana Derby, he has distance, style, and grit. The question mark for him is why he ran so poorly in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, his final prep.
The Blue Grass winner, Monba, and the Arkansas Derby winner, Gayego, are capable of the Derby distance and have both started 5 times in their careers. Monba likes to rally, and Gayego prefers to stay close to the pace. Either could be winners if they blast from the gate in the big Derby field and get early position.
Visionaire is a pace closer, while Cool Coal Man likes to stalk. These colts have quality distant races under their girths, and they have 6 and 8 starts, respectively.
The Wood Memorial victor, Tale of Ekati, was sharp in that, his last prep race, and he's a rally off the pace type, but he started just 2 races this season.
Anak Nakal and Big Truck have question marks of poor performances and just one big win between them, BT's Tamp Bay Derby triumph.
The filly, Eight Belles, is unbeaten this year, but the Derby doesn't favor the females. Only three ladies in history have won the Run for the Roses.
Cowboy Cal likes the front running style, as does Smooth Air, and Z Humor prefers to be on the pace. This is usually not a winning way in the Derby.
Bob Black Jack, Z Fortune, Recapturetheglory, Court Vision, and Behindatthebar, may not be up to the difficulties a large field presents, but any horse can break loose and surprise at Churchill Downs.
Much has been made of Edgar Prado's pick of Adriano for his Derby ride, but the choice was more of an obligatory move in favor of Prado's employer, trainer Graham Motion. Prado and Motion have a long working history.
