Last year, a Distorted Humor colt by the name of Regal Ransom came into the Kentucky Derby by defeating his highley regarded stablemate Desert Party in the UAE Derby. After pressing the pace, he ended up finishing 8th. Regal went on to win the Super Derby, before finishing 8th again this time in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Flash foward 12 months, G1 winner Devil May Care will become the first filly since the late great Eight Belles to run in the Kentucky Derby. May (I just can't call her Devil, as she looks like a sweetheart when not on the track), happens to be Regal Ransom's kid sister. The difference, May is by Malibu Moon. Both of them are out of the Red Ransom mare Kelli's Ransom.
As I posted yesterday, May is inconsistant, but has been faster then the colts in the morning. And with Eskendereya now out, John Velesquez will be in the irons. The good news is that his first TC race win was on a filly, that being Rags to Riches in the 07 Belmont. She is basically replacing Rule who just hasn't been training great this week. I gotta give WinStar a lot of credit for deciding to pull him out, while he's not by DH, he's from the family that put both DH and WinStar on the map back in 2003 (I have a post that will be up in a few weeks that talks about the horse that put the former two on the map). Plus a mile and quarter is just too long for him. Possibly the Preakness which might be more up his alley (and the site of the said horses most impressive win visually).
Last thing on today's post is Birthdays. Starting in 2000 the following winners where born in the following months.
2000: Fusaichi Pegasus- April
2001: Monarchos- February
2002: War Emblem- February
2003: Funny Cide- April
2004: Smarty Jones- February
2005: Giacomo- February
2006: Barbaro- April
2007: Street Sense- February
2008: Big Brown- April
2009: Mine That Bird- May
So with the exception of the Bird, everbody else was born in either Feb or Apr. Interesting.
If the Derby where today, these are the horses to keep an eye on if you are going on this pattern.
Feb. birthdays: Endorsement, Conveyance, American Lion, Dean's Kitten, Interactif (although most likely not going), Paddo O Prado, Homeboykris, Jackson Bend
Apr: birthdays: Noble's Promise, Dublin, Awesome Act
A few other neat facts, Stately Victor will be offically three on Saturday (will he give himself a nice birthday present by winning?), and Lookin at Lucky won't be 3 until a few weeks afterwards. Devil May Care will be 3 six days after the Derby and will actually be older then her brother when he ran in the Derby last year.
Another post coming tomorrow, Weds will be reviewing the fields, Thursday the chat and Friday handicapping select races on both undercards and of course the Oaks and Derbys themselves.
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