JC / Railbird

Kentucky Derby

The Unthinkable

Kentuckians are bracing themselves for the possibility that for the first time in the Derby’s history, the race might be won by a non-Kentucky-bred horse for the third year in a row. “The only thing worse in Kentucky might be if the tobacco industry moved to Rhode Island.” (LA Times)

Posted in Racing on March 1, 2005 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Comments Off on The Unthinkable

Ziegel’s Rule

“Derby winners have to sound like Derby winners.” So, not Electric Light, but maybe Scipion. (New York Daily News)

Posted in Racing on February 20, 2005 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Comments Off on Ziegel’s Rule

Touched by Derby Fever

I must be, because the news that Afleet Alex worked four furlongs in 47 seconds at Oaklawn yesterday has me all aflutter. Alex will meet the undefeated Rockport Harbor, who’s scheduled for a mile workout of his own this weekend, in the March 19 Rebel Stakes.

Posted in Racing on February 17, 2005 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Comments Off on Touched by Derby Fever

Exactly

Mike Watchmaker is skeptical of the light prep schedule of several Derby colts: “There seems to be something going around, and it appears to be fairly contagious. Either several of the most prominent prospects for the Kentucky Derby have a bad case of the ‘fragiles,’ meaning they can only be campaigned very judiciously for fear of breaking, or their trainers have lost contact with reality and think they are the reincarnation of Charlie Whittingham.
“Declan’s Moon, Afleet Alex, Rockport Harbor, and Wilko are four of the top, if not the top four, contenders for the Derby. Yet, as the schedules currently stand, they each will have only two starts as 3-year-olds before they head to Churchill Downs to run on the first Saturday in May….
“It’s hard to know exactly what to make of this, other than it complicates an already typically blurry Kentucky Derby picture. If Declan’s Moon, Afleet Alex, Rockport Harbor, or Wilko is to win the Derby, he is going to have to accomplish something that has worked just once in the last 57 years, and that is to win off two preps as a 3-year-old.” (Daily Racing Form — sub. req.)
Comment: As much a fan I am of Rockport Harbor and Afleet Alex, when it comes time to handicap the Derby, I’m likely to look more favorably upon the horses that raced more than twice between January and May. Two preps just aren’t enough to get most horses into shape.
Related: “Scipion to the rescue“: The Risen Stakes winner moves up to second on Steve Haskin’s “Derby Dozen” list.

Posted in Racing on February 15, 2005 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Comments Off on Exactly