Kentucky Derby Blog

As of Tuesday afternoon on May 6th there were seven confirmed starters for the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes: Big Brown; Behindatthebar; Giant Moon; Kentucky Bear; Stevil; Tres Borrachos and Yankee Bravo along with four other potential runners. Only Big Brown ran in the Derby among these 7 horses. The only Kentucky Derby starter who might return to challenge the Boundary colt is Derby fifth-place finisher Recapturetheglory. If Recapturetheglory skips the Preakness, it will be the first time in 60 years the Derby winner will not face any horses who ran against him in the Kentucky Derby.

Here is the 2007 Preakness video where Curlin beat Street Sense by nose.

Eight Bells had come in second to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby, then collapsed with two broken ankles and was euthanized on the spot. Many blame danger of dirt tracks. California had ordered softer synthetic surfaces for every track because 154 horses had to be euthanized in the 2004-05 racing season. So many horses died on the Del Mar track that trainers called it a “killing field. Some say American thoroughbreds are breaking down because they’re raced too young. And there are those who say fillies shouldn’t run against colts. Horse racing has been loved by so many people in the world for so long and so many racing horses got injured during races. If we find any danger in racetracks or racing to them, we should fix it. It must’ve been so painful to Eight Bells running the final stretch, but she didn’t stop. That makes me so sad.

Big Brown finished first as expected. He ran great and definitely has potential to win Preakness 2008.

The only filly Eight Bells running right after Big Brown broke both of her ankles:(

Gate  Horse         Min  Win  Place  Show
20  BIG BROWN       $2  $6.80  $5.00  $4.80
5   EIGHT BELLES    $2        $10.60  $6.40
16  DENIS OF CORK   $2                $11.60

Proud Spell won 2008 Kentucky Derby Oaks at Churchill Downs. Ridden by Gabriel Saez and trained by Larry Jones, Proud Spell put on an impressive charge down the center of the sloppy track and rolled to a 5-length victory in the $500,000 race in 1:50.01 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Win/Place/Show Payouts

Gate  Horse        Min   Win    Place   Show
8     PROUD SPELL  $2   $8.80   $4.80   $3.20
7     LITTLE BELLE $2           $6.40   $4.00
11    PURE CLAN    $2                   $3.80

I decided to play safe this year and bet to show on Pyro, Big Brown, and Gayego. Pyro didn’t like running on Keeneland’s synthetic racing surface at all, but I am sure he will do just fine on Churchill Downs’ dirt track in the Kentucky Derby. Big Brown is the Kentucky Derby favorite. Since Big Brown already won once from the outside post, starting from post 20 won’t be a problem to him. Check out the Florida Derby post and see the race video. He is pretty amazing. Gayego is just so beautiful.

The Derby is only 24 hours away, make up your mind soon! Click to check out the latest odds on Derby contenders.

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
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