Kentucky Derby Blog

Kentucky Derby is only 3 weeks away and the Derby field is starting to take shape. Here are the results of 3 Derby preps run last Saturday. I still strongly believe Pyro is something.

Blue Grass Stakes – Monba
Down to perhaps his last chance to return to the Kentucky Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher is headed to Churchill Downs after Monba won the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday, and stablemate Cowboy Cal finished second. Monba was ridden by Edgar Prado.

Pyro, generally considered the other top 3-year-old in the country and my top pick, failed to ignite in his synthetic track debut, finishing 10th of 12 as the even-money favorite in the Blue Grass.

Pgm Horse          Win   Place  Show
5 Monba          19.60   8.60   6.60
3 Cowboy Cal             8.80   6.60
2 Kentucky Bear                 8.20

Holy Bull Stakes – Hey Byrn
Hey Byrn won the $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, beating Dream Maestro by 2 1/4 lengths in the Kentucky Derby prep. Ridden by Chuck Lopez, the 3-year-old Florida-bred son of Put It Back disposed of pacesetting Famous Patriot mid-stetch and gradually drew away from Dream Maestro to win his first graded race.

Pgm Horse         Win   Place  Show
2 Hey Byrn        4.00  3.00   2.20
6 Dream Maestro         4.80   2.80
1 Famous Patriot               2.20

Arkansas Derby – Gayego
Gayego won Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. The winner was ridden by Mike Smith and trained by Paulo Lobo. Gayego passed pacesetter Tres Borrachos entering the home stretch and repelled an oncoming Z Fortune nearing the wire.

Gayego covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.63, faster than Curlin’s winning time of 1:50 last year.

Pgm Horse          Win   Place   Show
4 Gayego          6.40    4.40   3.80
10 Z Fortune              7.40   6.00
2 Tres Borrachos                14.80

I found some interesting KY derby props betting lines here. Click to check out the odds on Kentucky Derby horses and props.

I forgot about Santa Anita Derby. Here is the race video from youtube and winners, payouts, some info about the winner Colonel John.

Colonel John picked up an army of supporters after an impressive, hard-charging victory in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday in front of 50,358 in Arcadia. A Kentucky-bred son of Tiznow, Colonel John will be heading home as one of the leading contenders in the Run for the Roses. The colt has won four of six career starts and was second in the other two.

 Horse             Win    Place   Show
5 Colonel John    7.20    4.00    3.20
4 Bob Black Jack          7.20    5.40
3 Coast Guard                     7.80

Kentucky Derby is just around the corner and NBC Sports announced that it will extend its coverage this year by 30 minutes, for a total of 2 1/2 hours of coverage.

The broadcast will start at 4 p.m. with “Access at the Derby,” in which “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush will cover the parties, celebrities and fashion surrounding the Kentucky Derby 2008. The show also will feature celebrities arriving at Churchill Downs on the red carpet.

At 5 p.m., Tom Hammond and Bob Costas will co-host race coverage alongside three-time Derby-winning jockey Gary Stevens. NBC Sports’ broadcast team also includes race-caller Tom Durkin, analysts Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier, and reporters Kenny Rice and Donna Barton Brothers.

NBC has exclusive broadcast rights through 2010. Click here to see the current Derby odds, information on horses and jockeys!

Wood Memorial
Tale of Ekati caught a tiring War Pass in the final strides for a half-length victory in the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday.

Pgm Horse Win Place Show
8 Tale of Ekati 19.00 6.30 3.60
5 War Pass            3.70 2.60
1 Court Vision             2.40

Illinois Derby
Recapturetheglory overcame 15-to-1 odds to beat heavily favored Denis of Cork and easily outdistance a seven-horse field at the $500,000 Illinois Derby on Saturday.

Pgm Horse Win Place Show
1 Recapturetheglory 33.80 15.60 10.00
6 Golden Spikes           6.80   5.40
3 Z Humor                        4.80