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