Pioneerof The Nile Gets Two of Three Derby Polls

I Want Revenge Also Holds Number One -- Friesan Fire Second

Apr 28, 2009 BarbaraAnne Helberg

Two of three polls rank Pioneerof The Nile as the No. 1 choice for Saturday's 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. Friesan Fire and I Want Revenge follow as No. 2.

Thoroughbred Times writers and USA Today's Tom Pedulla rank Bob Baffert-trained Pioneerof The Nile as the No. 1 horse to beat on May 2 in the Kentucky Derby. The Blood-Horse magazine's chief Thoroughbred predictor Steve Haskin continues to rank I Want Revenge, who stormed to the Wood Memorial title in a sizzling come-from-last reversal, as the number one bet to beat in the classic.

Pioneerof The Nile is Baffert's first strong Derby contender since War Emblem won the Run for the Roses in 2002. Baffert, who has won three Derbies with War Emblem, Silver Charm (1997), and Real Quiet (1998), was elected this year to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.

Last out, Pioneerof The Nile impressed with a victory in the Santa Anita Derby. Pioneerof The Nile is number two on Haskin's "Derby Dozen". Friesan Fire, the A.P. Indy son trained by Larry Jones who is a three-time stakes winner this season, is the Thoroughbred Times second choice, while I Want Revenge holds down the number two position in the USA Today Pedulla poll.

Thoroughbred Times Poll

  • No. 1 --- Pioneerof The Nile ----- record, 8: 5 - 0 - 1; trainer, Bob Baffert
  • No. 2 --- Friesan Fire ----- 7: 4 - 1 - 1 ----- Larry Jones
  • No. 3 --- I Want Revenge ----- 8: 3 - 1 - 4 ----- Jeff Mullins
  • No. 4 --- Dunkirk ----- 3: 2 - 1 - 0 ----- Todd Pletcher
  • No. 5 --- Papa Clem ----- 6: 2 - 2 - 0 Gary Stute
  • No. 6 --- Regal Ransom ----- 5: 2 - 2 - 0 ----- Saeed bin Suroor
  • No. 7 --- Desert Party ----- 6: 4 - 1 - 0 ----- Suroor
  • No. 8 --- Musket Man ----- 6: 5 - 0 - 1 ----- Derek Ryan
  • No. 9 --- Chocolate Candy ----- 9: 4 - 2 - 1 -----Jerry Hollendorfer
  • No.10 --- General Quarters ----- 11: 3 - 3 - 1 ----- Tom McCarthy
  • No.11 --- Hold Me Back ----- 5: 3 - 1 - 0 ----- Bill Mott
  • No.12 --- Square Eddie (off the Derby trail with recurring shin injury)
  • No.13 --- West Side Bernie ----- 7: 2 - 2 - 1 ----- Kelly Breen

USA Today Tom Pedulla Rankings

  • No. 1 --- Pioneerof The Nile
  • No. 2 --- I Want Revenge
  • No. 3 --- Chocolate Candy
  • No. 4 --- Dunkirk
  • No. 5 --- Papa Clem
  • No. 6 --- Friesan Fire
  • No. 7 --- General Quarters
  • No. 8 --- Desert Party
  • No. 9 --- Hold Me Back
  • No.10 --- Musket Man
  • No.11 --- Regal Ransom
  • No.12 --- West Side Bernie

The Blood-Horse Magazine Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen

  • No. 1 --- I Want Revenge ----- sired by Stephen Got Even--Meguial, by Roy
  • No. 2 --- Pioneerof The Nile ----- Empire Maker--Star of Goshen, by Lord At War
  • No. 3 --- Quality Road (off the Derby trail with recurring quarter crack injury)
  • No. 4 --- Dunkirk ----- Unbridled's Song--Secret Status, by A.P. Indy
  • No. 5 --- Chocolate Candy ----- Candy Ride--Crownette, by Seattle Slew
  • No. 6 --- Friesan Fire ----- A.P. Indy--Bollinger, by Dehere
  • No. 7 --- Desert Party ----- Street Cry--Sage Cat, by Tabasco Cat
  • No. 8 --- General Quarters ----- Sky Mesa--Ecology, by Unbridled's Song
  • No. 9 --- Hold Me Back ----- Giant's Causeway--Restraint, by Unbridled's Song
  • No.10 --- Musket Man ----- Yonaguska--Foruesque, by Fortunate Prospect
  • No.11 --- Papa Clem ----- Smart Strike--Miss Houdini, by Belong to Me
  • No.12 --- Win Willy ----- Monarchos--City Fair, by Carson City

Derby contenders who also went off the trail with injuries include early favorites The Pamplemousse and Old Fashioned, and last season's Male Juvenile champion, Midshipman.

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