Kentucky Derby Blog

The post positions are drawn and the field is set. Just for you information, since 1900, the Kentucky Derby post positions with the most wins are 1 and 5 (12 wins each) and the second most wins are 4 and 10 (10 wins each). It is time to get really serious about your picks and to place a bet on Kentucky Derby.

Post Contender
1. Cool Coal Man
2. Tale of Ekati
3. Anak Nakal
4. Court Vision
5. Eight Belles
6. Z Fortune
7. Big Truck
8. Visionaire
9. Pyro
10. Colonel John
11. Z Humor
12. Smooth Air
13. Bob Black Jack
14. Monba
15. Adriano
16. Denis of Cork
17. Cowboy Cal
18. Recapturetheglory
19. Gayego
20. Big Brown

Trainer Steve Asmussen’s Derby 134 duo of Pyro and Z Fortune had just completed their final workout before Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Both 3-year-old colts looked sharp during their half-mile breezes. Pyro, the more playful of the two, covered the distance in 49.80 seconds; Z Fortune, the laid-back one, went in 51.00.

Shaun Bridgmohan will be back aboard Pyro, while Curlin’s regular rider, Robby Albarado, has the call on Z Fortune.

Click here to see Pyro’s workout video on April 28th.

I am not a big fan of Mint Julep, but if anyone likes to try, here is a good video to watch. You need the following to make a glass of Mint Julep.

5 sprigs of mint
2 tsp sugar
2 ounces bourbon
crushed ice

I stole this picture of Pyro from Bloodhorse, he is one handsome horse! With the final prep for the Kentucky Derby having been run last Saturday, graded stakes earnings are set, and all that remains is to determine the 2008 Kentucky Derby field. The field won’t be made official until next week.
There are two fillies trained by Larry Jones on the top 20 list. Eight Belles is the one Jones has been marketing as the probable Derby starter, while Proud Spell will most likely end up in the Kentucky Oaks.

Here is the list of Graded stakes earnings of Derby contenders.

Rank  Contender          Earnings
1.  Pyro               $1,020,000
2.  Proud Spell (filly)  $880,000
3.  Tale of Ekati        $738,000
4.  Colonel John         $720,000
5.  Gayego               $640,000
6.  Big Brown            $600,000
7.  Z Humor              $579,000
8.  Monba                $515,000
9.  Court Vision         $331,872
10.  Z Fortune           $329,000
11.  Adriano             $310,000
12.  Recapturetheglory   $300,000
13.  Smooth Air          $290,000
14.  Salute the Sarge    $258,940
15.  Cool Coal Man       $212,767
16.  Anak Nakal          $212,216
17.  Eight Belles (filly)$210,000
18.  Cowboy Cal          $207,660
19.  Behindatthebar      $204,500
20.  Visionaire          $202,500
21.  Big Truck           $194,500
22.  Bob Black Jack      $180,000
23.  Denis of Cork       $165,000
24.  Halo Najib          $157,996
25.  Indian Sun          $154,000
26.  Tomcito             $151,292
27.  My Pal Charlie      $150,000
28.  El Gato Malo        $145,000
29.  Hey Byrn            $140,000
30.  Atoned              $130,000
31.  Riley Tucker        $121,900
32.  Tres Borrachos      $118,000
33.  Golden Yank         $115,000
34.  Yankee Bravo        $105,000
35.  Racecar Rhapsody    $107,121
36.  Kentucky Bear       $75,000

Wallpapers
Wallpaper (1024×768): Twin Spires

Wallpaper (1024×768):Garland of Roses

Wallpaper (1024×768): A handsome black horse hanging its tongue out.

Horse Racing Ringtones
Call-to-Post Ringtone 1
Ringtone 2

War Pass is not running for the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Nick Zito said Saturday that X-rays revealed a small fracture in the left front ankle. War Pass, owned by Robert LaPenta and trained by Nick Zito, was unbeaten in four races in his championship campaign and had one win in three starts this year. The colt has earnings of $1.58 million and led all Kentucky Derby contenders in graded earnings with $1.47 million. Nick Zito and LaPenta still have two Kentucky Derby hopefuls – Cool Coal Man, winner of the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park and Anak Nakal, who won the Kentucky Jockey Club last fall at Churchill Downs.

Tesio Stakes
Icabad Crane trained by Graham Motion won the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico. The Tesio is Pimlico’s prep for the May 17 Preakness Stakes, but it remains to be seen if Icabad Crane, a New York-bred son of Jump Start, will point to the $1 million second leg of the Triple Crown, also run at Pimlico.

Pgm Horse          Win Place Show
3 Icabad Crane    5.80 3.40 2.80
4 Mint Lane            5.40 3.80
6 Deputyville               5.80

Coolmore Lexington Stakes
Behindatthebar won the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Race Course. The Pletcher-trained Behindatthebar boosted his graded earnings to $204,500 with the Lexington score to secure a position in the field for the Derby, but neither Behindatthebar nor runner-up Samba Rooster is likely to go on to the Derby.

The field for the Derby is capped at 20 horses with preference given to horses with the highest career earnings in graded stakes races.

“We’ve had a good couple of weeks,” said Pletcher, who added that Behindatthebar is unlikely to contest the first leg of the 2008 Triple Crown.

Horse             Win      Place      Show
Behindatthebar $13.60      $7.60      $5.20
Samba Rooster              $17        $9.20
Riley Tucker                          $6.80

These guys are off the trail. So if any of these Kentucky Derby contenders was on your picks, you better change your mind.

Crown of Thorns
Etched
Georgie Boy
Into Mischief
Majestic Warrior

There are only 4 preps left before May 3rd. This year, preps give good indication who to go with. Have you made you mind on your Derby picks?

19-Apr-08  Coolmore Lexington Stakes   Keeneland
19-Apr-08  Federico Tesio Stakes       Pimlico
26-Apr-08  Withers Stakes              Aqueduct
26-Apr-08  Derby Trial                 Churchill Downs

Check out the results of all Kentucky Derby prep races!