California Chrome, the morning line favorite for the May 3
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) drew post 5 for the 1 1/4-mile
classic. The California-bred colt will be ridden by Victor Espinoza and face 19
fellow 3-year-olds in the $2 million Run for the Roses.
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| CALIFORNIA CHROME (Jamie Squires Photos) |
Art Sherman trains California Chrome for breeder/owners
Steve Coburn and Perry
Martin. The son of Lucky Pulpit —Love the Chase, by Not For Love, has won all three of his starts at 3 by a
combined 18 lengths. He was installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite.
Sherman, at 77, would become the oldest trainer to win the
Derby, surpassing the legendary Charlie Whittingham who won his second Derby
with Sunday Silence in 1989 at age 76.
California Chrome has won six of 10 starts, all in Southern
California, and has earned $1,134,850. He will be attempting to become the
first Cal-bred winner of the Derby since Decidedly in 1962. Sherman was an
exercise rider for the Mesh Tenney-trained Swaps when that colt won the Derby
in 1955. Morvich (1922) is the only other Cal-bred among the 139 winners of the
Derby.
"I like that he has some speed horses to his
inside," Sherman said. "That way he can just sort of sit in there and
then float into that first turn.
"I could see us right in behind the leaders and be in
the clear down the backside," he said. "If Victor could get him in
the clear near the three-eighths pole, I think we'll have a big chance."
Espinoza won the 2002 Kentucky Derby aboard War Emblem after
breaking from post 5.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Vicar's in Trouble drew post 1 with
the very first pill pulled in the draw, eliminating any drama from who would
land in the what is regarded as the most troublesome spot in the huge field.
The Louisiana-bred son of Into Mischief
won the March 29 Louisiana Derby (gr. II).
"I was kind of shocked, being the first one
drawn," jockey Rosie Napravnik told Donna Brothers of NBC Sports.
"But he's sharp to get out of the gate, so I think we'll get good
position. He's versatile. Don't worry, Vicar's not in trouble, yet."
Vicar's in Trouble is one of three in the race trained by
Mike Maker. His other runners are General a Rod (15-1; post 8) and Harry's
Holiday (50-1; post 2).
"We didn't have much choice but at least I don't have
too far to walk to saddle the horses," Maker said with a laugh of two of
horses in posts 1 and 2. "Maybe our riders will be friendly and give each
other some space.
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| Click on graphic to enlarge |
"Hopefully we get a good break out of Vicar's in
Trouble like we usually do and get a good position," he said. "His
running style should help. He's good out of the gate. All the closers are to
the outside, so hopefully everybody breaks clean and we'll be in good
shape."
General a Rod comes out of Florida where he topped Wildcat
Red (post 10) by a head in the Jan. 1 Gulfstream Park Derby, then dropped a
head decision to him in the Besilu Stables' Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II).
General a Rod was most recently third behind Constitution and Wildcat Red in
the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I).
"The good thing is that we have two of the tough horses
inside of us," trainer Jose Garoffalo said of Wildcat Red's post. "We
have General a Rod inside of us and California Chrome inside of us. That's a
good thing."
TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) winner Wicked
Strong drew the far outside 20 post. The draw made oddsmaker Mike Battaglia
move him from second choice to the third pick on the morning line at 8-1.
Wicked Strong (Hard Spun
—Moyne Abbey, by Charismatic) is owned by Centennial Farms. Trained by
Jimmy Jerkens, the bay colt will be ridden by Ravij Maragh. He won the Wood by
3 1/2 lengths over Samraat, who drew post 6.
"It's better than the '1' but not a whole lot,"
Jerkens said. "He's just going to have to work his way down a little bit.
No horse runs good when they get fanned out wide, especially him. He seems to
get competitive when he's close to the fence early on. In Florida, he was wide
on both turns (in the Holy Bull) and he kind of spit out the bit down the
backside.
"At least he's got a nice long run down the stretch and
it looks like the speed should be in a nice clump where he can draft in behind
them, so it might work out a better trip than we think. It'll be tricky, that's
for sure. I'll just try to convince myself it's not as bad as time goes
by."
Since 1900, posts 1 and 5 have been the most productive with
12 winners, but no one has won from the rail since Ferdinand in 1986. Posts 4,
8, and 10 have produced 10 winners each. Big Brown won from post 20 in 2008; I'll Have
Another won the Roses in 2012 from post
19.
The second choice on the morning line at 6-1 is
Hoppertunity, was scratched early Thursday morning after drawing post 11. Hoppertunity is trained by Bob
Baffert and his other entry Sunland Derby Gr.3 winner Chitu drew post 13.
Hoppertunity drew in the middle of the field in post 11.
Baffert's other runner, Sunland Derby (gr. III) winner Chitu, drew post 13.
The fourth choice is 10-1 chance Danza, winner of the
Arkansas Derby (gr. I). The Todd Pletcher-trained colt will break just inside
of California Chrome in post 4 under Joe Bravo. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred
Partners, the son of Street Boss
—Champagne Royale, by French Deputy, won at Oaklawn while making just
his fourth career start.
Pletcher has three additional runners for the Derby: Intense
Holiday (12-1; post 16); Vinceremos (30-1; post 9); and We Miss Artie (50-1;
post 7).
"Good spot for him," Pletcher said of Danza.
"He won the Arkansas Derby out of the number 1 hole. He's fine with being
on the inside."
As for Intense Holiday's outside draw, Pletcher said:
"We like it. Orb drew the 16 last year, and he got it done. The outside
gate is hot and it will allow Johnny (Velazquez) an opportunity to get clear
and pick a spot.
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| INTENSE HOLIDAY (USA Today) |
Starlight Racing's Intense Holiday may only have a 2-1-1
mark from eight starts but has run in six graded races. This year he was third
in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, won the Risen Star, then
was second in the Louisiana Derby. He is by Harlan's Holiday out of the
Unbridled's Song mare Intensity.
We Miss Artie is one of two for the Ramseys. He comes to the
Derby off a victory in the March 22 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Racing Spiral
Stakes (gr. III) on Polytrack at Turfway Park.
"It (post 1 with Vicar's in Trouble) could be the
coveted post position if we get a good break and don't get pinched off,"
said Ramsey. "We're optimistic Rose (Napravnik) will give him a good trip.
To read more about the horses entered in Saturday's 140th Kentucky Derby,
click here. Or
here.
