Our first Derby down here in Louisville was rather a rude-awakening, though. I mean - when you'd check out at the grocery store and the cashier tells you "Happy Derby", said wth the same enthusiasm as you would hear at Christmas time - "Merry Christmas" - it was like - "what in the world?". Also - I remember when our oldest son brought home his first Kindergarten schedule for the year (our 2nd Derby in Louisville) I never dreamed that the students got a day off - for Derby "EVE"!! I don't know when that started - but I'm told that schools began taking the day before Derby off - because so many teachers were taking the day off to go to the track.
While it can be rather exciting to live around here during the 2 weeks before Derby - I must say that it does get rather old after a while - I mean - all the hype, etc. - all the celebrity balls, parties, etc.--"Millionaire's Row" and all.
Having said all that - I do love all the tradition, the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home", so forth and so on.
Just thought I'd chime in ---- :)) ...and yes - I do plan to watch the race, while eating my traditional piece of Derby Pie ( no mint julips for me - thank you very much)
Oh yes - and one more thing - I wonder just how good ole' Governor Patton will embarrass himself this year, as he presents the Derby Cup to the winner!!! THAT was even a topic for one of our local radio talk shows this week. The question was asked of the listening audience on just how the folks attending today's races should react when Gov. Paul Patton is introduced to the crowd!!
Derby Favorites Quickly Changing
"Empire Maker" is no longer the overwhelming favorite to win Saturday's Kentucky Derby.The Bobby Frankel-trained horse had morning odds of 6-to-5, but they were 9-to-2 with about four hours to post.
The 61-year-old Frankel is seeking his first Derby victory, and he continues to deny that there's anything wrong with Empire Maker's right front foot.
The horse had an uneventful gallop at daybreak with exercise rider Jose Cuevas aboard.
Jerry Bailey will ride him in the Derby.
"Buddy Gil" and "Ten Most Wanted" were at 5-to-1 Saturday afternoon, and "Peace Rules" checked in at 6-to-1.
Edgar Prado rides Peace Rules, one day after leading "Bird Town" to victory in the Kentucky Oaks.
| Churchill Downs - May 3rd, 2003 - Race 10 Kentucky Derby - Grade: 1 Estimated Local Post Time: 6:04 PM |
||||||
| Race Type: Stakes Breed: Thoroughbred race Age Restriction: Three Year Old |
Purse: $1,000,000 Distance:One And One Fourth Miles Surface: Dirt |
|||||
| Post | Horse Jockey Owner |
Age | Sex | Weight Trainer Breeder |
Odds | |
| 1 | Supah Blitz (FL) Rosemary B. Homeister, Jr. Bee Bee Stables, Inc & Jacqueline Tortora (John Bush) |
3 | Colt | 126 Emanuel Tortora Bee Bee Stables, Inc & Equitor, Inc |
50/1 | |
| 2 | Brancusi (KY) Tony Farina Michael B Tabor |
3 | Colt | 126 Patrick L. Biancone Nancy Much |
30/1 | |
| 3 | Sir Cherokee (KY) Terry J. Thompson Domino Stud Of Lexington, Inc (Ken Jones) |
3 | Colt | 126 Michael A. Tomlinson Domino Stud of Lexington, LLC |
15/1 | |
| 4 | Atswhatimtalknbout (KY) David Romero Flores B Wayne Hughes & Biscuit Stables, LLC |
3 | Colt | 126 Ronald W. Ellis R&R King Stables |
12/1 | |
| 5 | Peace Rules (FL) Edgar S. Prado Edmund A Gann |
3 | Colt | 126 Robert J. Frankel Newchance Farm |
8/1 | |
| 6 | Funny Cide (NY) Jose A. Santos Sackatoga Stable (Jackson W Knowlton) |
3 | Gelding | 126 Barclay Tagg Win Star Farm, LLC |
15/1 | |
| 7 | Offlee Wild (KY) Robby Albarado Azalea Stables, LLC (Lansdon B Robbins, Et Al) |
3 | Colt | 126 Thomas Victor Smith Dorothy A. Matz |
30/1 | |
| 8 | Buddy Gil (KY) Gary L. Stevens Desperado Stables, Inc (Scott Guenther) |
3 | Gelding | 126 Jeff Mullins Billingsley Creek Ranch |
8/1 | |
| 9 | Indian Express (UT) Tyler Baze Phil & Sheva Chess |
3 | Colt | 126 Bob Baffert Highland Farms, Inc. |
12/1 | |
| 10 | Lone Star Sky (FL) Shane J. Sellers Walter L New |
3 | Colt | 126 Thomas M. Amoss Jaime S. Carrion |
50/1 | |
| 11 | Domestic Dispute (KY) Alex O. Solis David Bienstock & Chuck Winner |
3 | Colt | 126 Patrick Gallagher Gary Garber |
30/1 | |
| 12 | Empire Maker (KY) Jerry D. Bailey Juddmonte Farms (Khalid Abdullah) |
3 | Colt | 126 Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms, Inc. |
6/5 | |
| 13 | Eye of the Tiger (KY) Eibar Coa John D Gunther |
3 | Colt | 126 Jerry Hollendorfer John D. Gunther |
50/1 | |
| 14 | Ten Cents a Shine (OH) Calvin H. Borel Kenneth L & Sarah K Ramsey |
3 | Colt | 126 D. Wayne Lukas H. Ray Horn & Devil His Due Syndicate |
50/1 | |
| 15 | Outta Here (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux William Currin & Al Eisman |
3 | Colt | 126 William L. Currin Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trustee |
50/1 | |
| 16 | Ten Most Wanted (KY) Pat Day James Chisholm, Michael Jarvis & J Paul Reddam |
3 | Colt | 126 Wallace A. Dollase Jim H. Plemmons |
6/1 | |
| 17 | Scrimshaw (KY) Cornelio H. Velasquez Robert B & Beverly J Lewis |
3 | Colt | 126 D. Wayne Lukas Stan Stefanski & Ingrid Stefanski |
||
| Churchill Downs - May 3rd, 2003 - Race 10 Kentucky Derby - Grade: 1 Estimated Local Post Time: 6:04 PM |
||||||
| Race Type: Stakes Breed: Thoroughbred race Age Restriction: Three Year Old |
Purse: $1,000,000 Distance:One And One Fourth Miles Surface: Dirt |
|||||
| Post | Horse Jockey Owner |
Age | Sex | Weight Trainer Breeder |
Odds | |
| 1 | Supah Blitz (FL) Rosemary B. Homeister, Jr. Bee Bee Stables, Inc & Jacqueline Tortora (John Bush) |
3 | Colt | 126 Emanuel Tortora Bee Bee Stables, Inc & Equitor, Inc |
50/1 | |
| 2 | Brancusi (KY) Tony Farina Michael B Tabor |
3 | Colt | 126 Patrick L. Biancone Nancy Much |
30/1 | |
| 3 | Sir Cherokee (KY) Terry J. Thompson Domino Stud Of Lexington, Inc (Ken Jones) |
3 | Colt | 126 Michael A. Tomlinson Domino Stud of Lexington, LLC |
15/1 | |
| 4 | Atswhatimtalknbout (KY) David Romero Flores B Wayne Hughes & Biscuit Stables, LLC |
3 | Colt | 126 Ronald W. Ellis R&R King Stables |
12/1 | |
| 5 | Peace Rules (FL) Edgar S. Prado Edmund A Gann |
3 | Colt | 126 Robert J. Frankel Newchance Farm |
8/1 | |
| 6 | Funny Cide (NY) Jose A. Santos Sackatoga Stable (Jackson W Knowlton) |
3 | Gelding | 126 Barclay Tagg Win Star Farm, LLC |
15/1 | |
| 7 | Offlee Wild (KY) Robby Albarado Azalea Stables, LLC (Lansdon B Robbins, Et Al) |
3 | Colt | 126 Thomas Victor Smith Dorothy A. Matz |
30/1 | |
| 8 | Buddy Gil (KY) Gary L. Stevens Desperado Stables, Inc (Scott Guenther) |
3 | Gelding | 126 Jeff Mullins Billingsley Creek Ranch |
8/1 | |
| 9 | Indian Express (UT) Tyler Baze Phil & Sheva Chess |
3 | Colt | 126 Bob Baffert Highland Farms, Inc. |
12/1 | |
| 10 | Lone Star Sky (FL) Shane J. Sellers Walter L New |
3 | Colt | 126 Thomas M. Amoss Jaime S. Carrion |
50/1 | |
| 11 | Domestic Dispute (KY) Alex O. Solis David Bienstock & Chuck Winner |
3 | Colt | 126 Patrick Gallagher Gary Garber |
30/1 | |
| 12 | Empire Maker (KY) Jerry D. Bailey Juddmonte Farms (Khalid Abdullah) |
3 | Colt | 126 Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms, Inc. |
6/5 | |
| 13 | Eye of the Tiger (KY) Eibar Coa John D Gunther |
3 | Colt | 126 Jerry Hollendorfer John D. Gunther |
50/1 | |
| 14 | Ten Cents a Shine (OH) Calvin H. Borel Kenneth L & Sarah K Ramsey |
3 | Colt | 126 D. Wayne Lukas H. Ray Horn & Devil His Due Syndicate |
50/1 | |
| 15 | Outta Here (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux William Currin & Al Eisman |
3 | Colt | 126 William L. Currin Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trustee |
50/1 | |
| 16 | Ten Most Wanted (KY) Pat Day James Chisholm, Michael Jarvis & J Paul Reddam |
3 | Colt | 126 Wallace A. Dollase Jim H. Plemmons |
6/1 | |
| 17 | Scrimshaw (KY) Cornelio H. Velasquez Robert B & Beverly J Lewis |
3 | Colt | 126 D. Wayne Lukas Stan Stefanski & Ingrid Stefanski |
||
But I just love Baffert.... Seals the deal...
I will be rooting for Indian Express.
Baffert turns to Baze to ride Indian Express
By Jim Armstrong, Denver Post Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Things happen in a hurry in the thoroughbred racing industry. Two months ago, trainer Bob Baffert appeared destined to have Laffit Pincay Jr. and Victor Espinoza riding for him in the Kentucky Derby. Instead, he'll have 20-year-old Tyler Baze, who will be making his first Derby start in Saturday's race.
Pincay Jr., a Hall of Famer who won the '84 Derby aboard Swale, was forced to retire this week because of a broken neck sustained in a March 1 spill at Santa Anita. He had been scheduled to ride Indian Express - a horse purchased by Baffert on Pincay's recommendation - in the Derby.
Espinoza, who won the first two legs of the 2002 Triple Crown aboard War Emblem, was fired by Baffert after riding Derby hopeful Kafwain to a second-place finish in the Louisiana Derby. He was replaced by Patrick Valenzuela, whose comeback from drug and alcohol problems was going to be capped by his first Derby appearance in 10 years.
So what happens? Kafwain came up lame during a Tuesday workout and was scratched from the Derby, leaving Baze as Baffert's only hope. Not that Valenzuela didn't try to talk his way into the race. He went so far as to tell Baffert he could bring home Senor Swinger, a one-time Derby contender Baffert has entered in Friday's Churchill Downs card.
"He was very disappointed," Baffert said. "He was trying to talk me into running Senor Swinger in the Derby. He said, 'Hey, bro, put him in there, bro.' That's the way he talks."
When that ploy didn't work, Valenzuela switched to Plan B.
"He said, 'Hey, man, that kid, take him off,"' Baffert said. "I said, 'I can't take him off, it will ruin him.' He said, 'Ruin him? (D. Wayne) Lukas took me off Codex and put (Angel) Cordero on, and he won the Preakness. It didn't ruin me.' It's too bad. He really wanted to ride. Everybody wants to ride in the Derby. And the tough thing is he had a legitimate chance."
Longshot lookout
Since this is the Derby, a longshot has to win. Or so it seems. Which brings us to Scrimshaw, a Lukas colt that merits consideration. The colt underwent throat surgery in early March to clear a flap of loose cartilage from his windpipe, then proceeded to win the Lexington Stakes on April 19.
"It's like a near drowning," Lukas said. "After a near drowning, you get thrown in the deep end and you're not sure you can handle it. He knows now that it's fine."
By the numbers
If anyone knows how to pull off a longshot, it's Lukas. The average price of his Triple Crown wins: $19.20.
Short stuff
Media magnet Baffert, on the difficulty of maintaining perspective during Derby Week: "Everything you say is printed, so you think you're smarter. That's why all these celebrities want to save the world: because they know it's going to be in print." ... Funny Cide, second in the Wood Memorial, arrived in Louisville on Wednesday after training at Belmont Park in New York. ... Empire Maker, a 6-5 favorite after Wednesday's post-position drawing, is the most prohibitive favorite since Arazi went off at .90-1 in 1992. ... Lukas, when asked by a New York Post reporter what he thought about Empire Maker's injury: "I don't think anything of it, because it's not my horse. I've had bruised feet before, but I have no idea what this is. I'm not going there. Not with a New York writer, anyway."
He looked very good winning this race. I wonder if we have a Triple Crown horse here? It's been 25 years since the last one. It was 25 years until Secretariat won his. It would be good for the sport, if he (Funny Cide) did win it.
I think AtswhatImtalkinabout is still a good horse. He came running up at the end, but his timing was off. I don't think his Jockey is a route type rider. (David Flores seem to be more of a speed type) He needs someone like Eddie Delahoussaye to come out of retirement, or maybe Alex Solis. Some one who can get the time right. Oh well. I hope Funny Cide gets the Triple Crown. On to the Preakness in 2 weeks
