KENTUCKY DERBY 144 PREVIEW
By Jeff Nunn of CardinalSportsZone . com | Photos by Amber Chalfin
AS THE CALENDAR TURNS TO MARCH , the majority of people who reside in this area will be closely paying attention to college basketball . I also will be intently watching college basketball , but I can ’ t help but start getting myself familiar with the contenders for the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby . While I follow thoroughbred horse racing year-round , I don ’ t follow it quite as closely as I do from February through June .
Now let ’ s take a look at a few of the horses I believe are currently top contenders for the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby .
Bolt d ’ Oro : Also known as the Bolt Show , he is the most polished contender . He is the favorite to win Derby as tabbed by Las Vegas . He raced four times as a 2-year-old , winning three times and running third once . The one third place finish came in the Breeders ’ Cup Juvenile , where he ran wide the entire race . It was estimated that running so wide cost him about 10 lengths . Bolt lost by a total of 5 ½ lengths . As a result of the race ( I believe ), regular jockey Corey Nakatani was replaced by Javier Castellano . Javier will be on board when Bolt makes his 3-year-old debut in the San Felipe Stakes on March 10 . A pulled muscle kept Bolt d ’ Oro from making his 3-year-old debut in the San Vicente at Santa Anita , but he is fully healthy now and training very well . He is the son of Medaglia d ’ Oro , who was a runner-up in both the Belmont and Breeders ’ Cup Classic . He finished 4th in the 2002 Kentucky Derby .
Good Magic : Has raced three times as a 2-year-old . He ran second in both of his first two starts . He finally broke his maiden in the biggest race of the year , the Breeders ’ Cup Juvenile , making him the 2-year-old champion . That win was impressive and some experts believe he will continue to get better from that performance – and I agree . It is likely we will see him on March 3 where it is believed he will make his 3-year-old debut in the Fountain of Youth Stakes race . He was the most expensive of the contenders , going for $ 1 million as a yearling . He is the son of Curlin , who was a two-time Horse of the Year and Breeders ’ Cup Classic winner .
McKinzie : This Bob Baffert-trained colt is undefeated in three starts as a 2-year-old . The connections are deciding between the San Felipe Stakes on March 10 or the Rebel Stakes on March 17 to make his 3-year-old debut . I ’ m guessing the Rebel is more likely so he won ’ t have to face Bolt d ’ Oro until the Kentucky Derby . Baffert named the horse after Brad McKinzie , a longtime friend of the trainer and a former executive for Los Alamitos Race Course who passed away . He is a very dangerous horse and one to keep an eye on as it gets closer to the first Saturday in May . He is the son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense .
Audible : This horse has four races under his belt , winning three of them and finishing third in the other . He made an impressive 3-year-old debut by winning the Grade 2 Holy Bull , beating several Derby contenders . This Todd Pletcher-trained colt will likely race next in the Florida Derby on March 31 . If he were to win that race impressively , then look for him to be in the mix for the Run for the Roses . I think people want to see a little more out of him before they are ready to talk about him as a Top 3 Derby contender . Regardless , he is worth watching to see if he progresses .
Justify : This horse did not race as a 2-year-old and just had his first race on Feb . 18 – but he won so impressively he is now on the Derby trail . Trainer Bob Baffert said he has a plan and that Justify will likely be headed to the Kentucky Derby . However , we do not know the plan . I assume he will have two races prior to the Derby and hopefully earn enough points to enter . Could be very interesting but , in my opinion , he most likely won ’ t win the Kentucky Derby because history says so . No horse that didn ’ t race as a 2-year-old has won the Kentucky Derby since Apollo in 1882 . Curlin ( 3rd in 2007 ) and Bodemeister ( 2nd in 2012 ) were the 2 closest to break that streak – but didn ’ t . Could Justify actually do it ? We ’ ll have to wait and see .
A lot can , and will , change before May so this list may make several alterations between now and then . Unless there is an injury , I feel pretty
36 EXTOL SPORTS / MARCH 2018