2015 Kentucky Derby Lineup

Top 10 Kentucky Derbies to Watch

5.

Coming in at number five is the 2009 Kentucky Derby.  This Derby was wide open after I Want Revenge was scratched.  Friesan Fire became the favorite, followed closely by Pioneerof the Nile.  As Tom Durkin called the race, he almost forgot about Mine That Bird.  But the small horse, creeped up the rail to win as a 50-1 shot.  An impossible result. 

 



Top 10 Kentucky Derbies to Watch

6.

Coming in at number six is the 2006 Kentucky Derby.  Barbaro, the undefeated three year old, was near the top in betting.  Sweetnorthernsaint got the edge as the favorite, but it was apparent that it should have been Barbaro.  He flew off the turn, running away with the roses.  He saved something left for the Preakness, but, unfortunately, was never able t race, breaking his leg just seconds out of the starting gate.  Many people, including me, think that he would have won the Triple Crown that year. 

 



To 10 Kentucky Derbies to Watch

7.

Coming in at number 7, is the 2002 Kentucky Derby.  Coming into the Derby, it was unclear who the true favorite was.  Officially, it was Harlan's Holiday.  As the race started, War Emblem, trained by Bob Baffert seized control of the lead.  He would never relinquish it.  The field pressed him as they entered the stretch, but War Emblem responded and pulled away to win the Derby. 

 

 



Top 10 Kentucky Derbies to Watch

8.

At number eight on my list is the 2010 Kentucky Derby.  This Derby has such a good look to it.  Hours after poring rain, the skies clear so the track glistens.  Tom Durkin, in his last Derby call ever, has one of my favorite calls.  Super Saver, and Calvin Borel, ride the rail and pull of an upset in the 136th Run for the Roses. 

 

 

Top 10 Kentucky Derbies to Watch

9.

The 2012 Kentucky Derby was the most dramatic in recent memory.  It featured two favorites in Bodemeister and Union Rags.  However, Union Rags started poorly, and Bodemeister started too fast.  Posting a blistering half mile in 45.2 seconds.  As they came into the stretch, Bodemeister had a five length lead, until I'll Have Another took aim and ran him down at the finish line. 

 

 



Top 10 Kentucky Derbies to Watch

Today I am starting my list of the top 10 Kentucky Derbies to watch, in preparation for the Kentucky Derby now only ten days away.  These videos are judged based on historic significance, the commentary, and the drama of the race itself.  I also take into account video quality which is why most Derbies on this list will be from the 2000's.  Enjoy

 

10.

At number 10, I have chosen the 1997 Kentucky Derby.  I really enjoy the call of this race by Dave Johnson.  I also like this one because of the tight finish between Silver Charm and Captain Bodgit.  One of my favorite stretch runs in all of Derby history. 

 







One Lucky Dane Scratched

On Saturday morning, One Lucky Dane was pulled up after breezing five-eights of a mile in 59.2 seconds at Santa Anita.  One Lucky Dane was trainer Bob Baffert's third horse set to run on May 2, but he will have to settle with the Derby's two favorites, Dortmund and American Pharoah.  One Lucky Dane will need surgery to repair a condylar leg fracture.  Of course this will rule him out officially for the Run for the Roses, now less than two weeks away.  Taking his place, could be another colt sired by Lookin' at Lucky, the same stallion who sired One Lucky Dane.  Madefromlucky, trained by Todd Pletcher.  Madefromlucky, got fourth in the Arkansas Derby, gaining ten points to move him into the Derby picture.  If not Madefromlucky, perhaps Keen Ice, now ranked 21st could be in the field in twelve days.     

 

 

One Lucky Dane

The Curse of the Zayat

This May, three horses from the Zayat Stables will be competing in the Kentucky Derby.  This is more than in any other year.  The previous record for Zayat Stables was two Derby contenders in 2008 with Z Fortune and Z Humor.  Those horses finished fourteenth and tenth respectively.  Consistently, the Zayat Stables have had Derby contenders, however, none of their horses has ever won the roses.  After three horses finished second in the 2009, 2011, and 2012 Kentucky Derbies.  In 2009, when the favorite, I Want Revenge was scratched, many analysts turned their attention to the Zayat Owned Pioneerof the Nile.  If it were not for a 50-1 no name, Mine That Bird, had not slipped through along the rail, he would have been the winner.  In 2010, the Zayat's once again had a Derby contender, the favorite Eskendereya.  Unfortunately, the Sunday before the race, he was scratched due to a leg injury.  To add insult to injury, literally, the Derby finished in a pitiful 2:04.45 the slowest in 21 years.  In 2011, Nehro went off as the second choice, coming in second to Animal Kingdom.  In 2012, after a runaway win in the Arkansas Derby, Bodemeister was the favorite once again for the Zayat Stables.  He had a five length lead coming into the stretch but sputtered out finishing second to I'll Have Another.  Four years in a row, the stables owned by Ahmed Zayat seemed to have a solid contender and a very good chance to win the Derby.  However, misfortune stuck each and every time.  Does this mean, that this year American Pharoah will not win the Derby, I guess we will have to wait and see.     

My Kentucky Derby Power Ranking Edition I

Top 20
1. American Pharoah-Much the best horse in the Arkansas Derby, winning by eight lengths, seemingly without trying puts him at the top of my list. 
2. Dortmund-Winning easily at the Santa Anita Derby and being undefeated puts him in the two slot.  Good connections and a great stride.
3. Carpe Diem-The winner of the Bluegrass Stakes now on dirt.  Pulled away.  Todd Pletcher, says he is training remarkably makes him a solid contender. 
4. Firing Line-If Dortmund is number two, this horse has to make the top five.  Losing by just a head in the Robert Lewis to Dortmund, as well as a record time and 15 length victory in the Sunland Derby makes him an undervalued horse. 
5. Materiality-The other half of Pletcher's one, two punch, Materiality is undefeated in all three races, including the Florida Derby. 
6. Mubtaahij-The winner of the UAE Derby, has good connections, and will not have trouble with the distance. 
7. International Star-Son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.  Was very good at Fair Grounds in the spring. 
8. Frosted-Pulled away in the Wood Memorial, however that field was disappointing.  Questions remain. 
9. Far Right-Closed well to take second I the Arkansas Derby an won the Southwest in February,  With s many pace horses, he may climb the ladder in the final quarter of a mile. 
10. Upstart-Good horse out of Florida.  Close second in the Florida Derby, got a fever a few weeks ago, we will see if he is one hundred percent in two weeks. 
11. One Lucky Dane-Son of Lookin' at Lucky, the 2010 Kentucky Derby favorite and winner of the Preakness Stakes.  Came in second to Dortmund in the Santa Anita Derby. 
12. El Kabeir-Had a good spring winning the Gotham in March but was a disappointing third in the Wood Memorial. 
13. Danzig Moon-Came in second to Carpe Diem in the Bluegrass, closed adequately. 
14. Itsaknockout-Disappointing in the Florida Derby, only won the Fountain of Youth because Upstart was disqualified. 
15. Tencendur-Ran a great race in the Wood Memorial, exceeded expectations, we will have to see where he goes from there. 
16. Stanford-Ran second to International Star in the Louisiana Derby.  Made the pace and only lost by less than a length.  Good showing.
17. War Story-Came in third in that same Derby.  I still think he has yet to run his best race but he does not have the facts to back that up. 
18. Ocho Ocho Ocho-Good showing in the Delta Downs Jackpot, disappointing in the San Felipe finishing eights, came back finished third in the Bluegrass. 
19. Bolo-Rather worse showing in the Santa Anita Derby, just enough points to get to Churchill Downs.   
20. Mr. Z-Just one for twelve in his career, kept trying to get enough points, with a third in Arkansas, he got enough so now he's going to Louisville. 

Welcome!

Hello Horse Racing Fans.  My name is Philip Anderson, and I am from Madison, Wisconsin.  I first became infatuated with horse racing, specifically the Triple Crown, in 2011.  My brother and I were surfing channels on a Saturday in May.  We stumbled on the NBC coverage of the Preakness Stakes.  Immediately I was hooked on the Triple Crown.  They are races woven into American tradition.  Each race over a century old.  Races that are only about two minutes long and yet have as much excitement as Super Bowl.  The next day, I watched the last twenty years worth of Triple Crown races.  Each one more tantalizing than the last.  This blog is meant to help people fall in love with horse racing and learn more about this American tradition and unappreciated spectacle.  Posts will be about different trends and observations that I see n the horse racing world.  The blog will be centered around the Triple Crown, and the Breeder's Cup.  These posts, as I mentioned, are trends, not predictions.  I will have some predictions, but for the most part, what you will read about are trends and observations.  Some posts may seem contradictory but that's sometimes what happens.  That's what also make it fun and interesting.  Please feel free to comment and I hope you enjoy.