The craziest week of horse racing is upon us. 20 horses will go into the gate on Saturday for 2 minutes of glory. For 1/2 of the field, this will prob. will be the longest they will ever go in their lives while some may stay at this distance or go even farther. Most of these horses will return to obscurity after their moment in the sun.
For one though, he will join the other 138 other Derby winners. From the first winner Aristides to the last winner not to run at 2 Apollo, to the three fillies: Regret, Genuine Risk and Winning Colors, to the longshots Giacomo and Mine That Bird to recent fan favorites Funny Cide, Smarty Jones and possibly the most beloved of all Barbaro. Who will join them?
Will it be Mark Valeski whose trainer Larry Jones has been close before with Hard Spun and the late Eight Belles, and will be ridden by Rosie Napravnik who could make her own history by becoming the first female jockey to ever win the Derby? Will it be Bodemeister who is trying to break the Apollo curse and the first VA bred to win since Sea Hero? Will it be Hansen the 2yo champ? The pride of the Mid-Atlantic Union Rags who faulted a bit in the FL Derby? Will it be Daddy Long Legs who could give Aiden O'Brien his first winner in the race? Or I'll Have Another whose stable pony is the greatest claimer of all time Lava Man? Take Charge Indy's trainer also trained the last horse who won HOY at 2 Favorite Trick, can his jockey who is known for his rail riding upset the apple cart again? Can Trinniberg outrun his pedigree? Will Went the Day Well give his newley announced HOF jockey back to back Derby wins? Will Done Talking suprise everyone? Will Alpha overcome some post Wood issues? Can Gemologist become the 4th undefeated horse since 2004 to win the Derby? Will Rousing Sermon become the first CA bred since Decidedly won in 1962?
We'll know on Saturday around 6:15ish.
From now until Saturday, I will be posting something Derby and/or Oaks related each day. With Thursday and Friday being double posts and Saturday a recap of the Derby! Also major thanks to Greg J. and Tracy N. both on Twitter for helping me out on finding out that Decidedly not Swaps was the last Cal bred to win the Derby.
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