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KENTUCKY DERBY
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER | KENTUCKY.COM
MAY, W1915
AA5
DERBY FIELD AT A GLANCE
Horse
Silks
Ocho Ocho Ocho (Ky.)
1
Odds: 50-1
Carpe Diem (Ky.)
2
Odds: 8-1
Materiality (Ky.)
3
Odds: 12-1
Tencendur (N.Y.)
4
Odds: 30-1
Danzig Moon (Ont.-C.)
5
Odds: 30-1
Mubtaahij (Ire.)
6
Odds: 20-1
Jockey
Trainer
Owner(s)
Breeding
History
Comments
Elvis Trujillo, 30. Panamanian
not only won on his first U.S.
mount but on his first Breeders’
Cup ride in 2007 (Maryfield).
Has more than 1,000 wins.
Jim Cassidy, 69. Worked with Frank
Whitely in ’70s when stable star
was Ruffian. His The Usual Q.T. and
Evening Jewel notched thirds in
Breeders’ Cup races at Churchill.
DP Racing. Deron Pearson is
CEO of Nexus, an information
technology company. Small stable
of horses. Their Full Ransom won
2013 Miesque Stakes at Hollywood.
Breeder: Siena Farms (Ky.)
Bloodline: Street Sense—Winner,
Horse Chestnut
Foaled: April 2, 2012
2015: 2 starts, 0-0-1 $100,250
2014: 3 starts, 3-0-0 $693,600
Last start: 3rd in Blue Grass Stakes
April 4
Ocho Ocho Ocho: Ferdinand was
last horse to win from the inside
post in 1986. Colt still looking for
spark in 3-year-old season after
going undefeated as a juvenile.
John Velazquez, 43. In 14th
Derby. Rode 2011 winner
Animal Kingdom. Has won
Belmont twice and has 10
Breeders’ Cup victories.
Todd Pletcher, 47. The top moneywinning trainer of all time is 1-for-40
in the Derby, with Super Saver breaking through in 2010. His Danza and
Revolutionary got 3rds last 2 years.
WinStar & Stonestreet. Launched
SeizetheDerby.com site to chronicle
the colt’s rise from a $1.6M sales
topper to Blue Grass winner. WinStar’s Super Saver won 2010 Derby.
Breeder: Coffee Pot Stable (Ky.)
Bloodline: Giant’s Causeway—
Rebridled Dreams, by Unbridled’s
Song
Foaled: Feb. 29, 2012
2015: 2 starts, 2-0-0 $810,000
2014: 3 starts, 2-1-0 $709,800
Last start: 1st in Blue Grass Stakes
April 4
Carpe Diem: Has not finished
worse than 2nd and has two graded
stakes wins around two turns. Giant’s Causeway has sired European
and Canadian classic winners.
Javier Castellano, 37. Ran
away with Keeneland spring
title with 21 wins. Won 2006
Preakness on Bernardini. Has
four Breeders’ Cup wins.
Todd Pletcher, 47. Seven-time Eclipse
winner has won three Triple Crown
races and seven Breeders’ Cup races.
Has more than 3,700 wins, with
1,000-plus stakes victories.
Alto Racing. Gill Moutray and
Eddie Harrell formed stable in
2009 with goal of racing top stock.
Graded stakes winners before Materiality included Winning Cause.
Breeder: John D. Gunther (Ky.)
Bloodline: Aflett Alex—Wildwood
Flower, by Langfuhr
Foaled: April 9, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 3-0-0 $656,028
2014: 0 starts
Last start: 1st in Florida Derby on
March 28
Materiality: He’s won twice at 11 ⁄8
miles and has the field’s top Beyer
at 110, but Johnny V. let Castellano
have the horse that’s toting the
Apollo curse as well as 126 pounds.
Manny Franco, 20. Puerto
Rican wanted to play baseball
but he was too short to cut it
at shortstop, so it was on to
jockey school.
George Weaver, 44. Louisville native
has had one starter in Triple Crown
(Greeley’s Legacy, 5th in 2007 Preakness). Assisted Wayne Lukas in developing Grindstone, Thunder Gulch.
Philip S. Birsh. Owner/breeder is
longtime head of Playbill, publisher
of magazines on theater. Serves
on board of Broadway Cares and
Actors Fund of America.
Breeder: Philip S. Birsh (N.Y.)
Bloodline: Warrior’s Reward—Still
Secret, by Hennessy
Foaled: March 9, 2012
2015: 4 starts, 1-1-0 $247,500
2014: 1 start, 0-0-1 $6,000
Last start: 2nd in Wood Memorial
on April 4
Tencendur: One of six horses in
the field with triple-digit speed
numbers in last race. And Franco,
who was aboard for his only win
Jan. 19, is back in the saddle.
Julien Leparoux, 31. Two-time
Eclipse winner has five Breeders’ Cup wins. In top 10 in
three Churchill meets last year.
Has won 2,000 races.
Mark Casse, 54. Two previous Derby
starters: Seaside Retreat (10th in
2006) and Prospective (18th in
2012). Career took off after winning
29 races at Churchill in spring 1988.
John C. Oxley. Won 2001 Derby
with Monarchos and 1995 Ky.
Oaks with Gal in a Ruckus. Grade I
winners include Beautiful Pleasure,
Sky Mesa and Booklet.
Breeder: William D. Graham
(Ont.-C.)
Bloodline: Malibu Moon—Leaveminthedust, by Danzig
Foaled: March 24, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 1-1-0 $241,500
2014: 2 starts, 0-1-0 $9,620
Last start: 2nd in Blue Grass Stakes
on April 4
Danzig Moon: Showed enough gas
late in Blue Grass after dull 4th at
Tampa Bay to warrant Derby trip.
Assistant trainer Norman Casse
says Derby is a 24/7 obsession.
Christophe Soumillon, 33.
Belgian has been successful
internationally. Has won Prix
de l’Arc Triomphe, Irish Oaks,
Queen Anne and Breeders’ Turf.
Mike de Kock, 51. Eight-time national
champion in South Africa, where he
grew up. At age 18, he began training
horses for endurance for South
African defense forces.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al
Maktoum. First cousin of Dubai
ruler has campaigned several highprofile horses, including UAE triple
crown winner Asiatic Boy in 2007.
Breeder: Dunnmore Stud (Ire.)
Bloodline: Dubawi—Pennegale, by
Pennekamp
Foaled: April 28, 2102
2015: 4 starts, 3-1-0 $1,445,000
2014: 3 starts, 1-0-0 $16,335
Last start: 1st in UAE Derby on
March 28
Mubtaahij: He’s 7th UAE Derby
grad to run in our Derby and his
predecessors didn’t set the bar
high (6th is best finish), but his
trainer’s résumé is impressive.
7. El Kabeir, a 30-1 shot trained by John Terranova, was scratched on Friday afternoon because of a left front foot injury. Details on Page AA2.
Dortmund (Ky.)
8
Odds: 3-1
Bolo (Ky.)
9
Odds: 30-1
Firing Line (Ky.)
10
Odds: 12-1
Martin Garcia, 30. 2010
Preakness win on Lookin at
Lucky led to first-call rides
with Baffert. Won 2011 Oaks
on Plum Pretty.
Bob Baffert, 62. His record from
24 Derby starters is 3 wins (Silver
Charm, Real Quiet and War Emblem)
with three seconds and two thirds.
Has won Preakness a record 5 times.
Kaleem Shah. Father won Indian
triple crown and uncle won Indian
Derby. Kaleem raced Derby prospect
Fed Biz in 2012 before he got hurt;
he returned to set Del Mar marks.
Breeder: Emille Gerlinde Fojan
(Ky.)
Bloodline: Big Brown—Our Josephina, by Tale of the Cat
Foaled: Feb. 7, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 3-0-0 $930,000
2014: 3 starts, 3-0-0 $359,400
Last start: 1st in Santa Anita Derby
on April 4
Dortmund: The big colt has won 3
races at 11 ⁄16 miles by combined 2
heads and 1¼ lengths, thus giving
him his street-fighter rep. His last
three Beyers: 106, 104 and 104.
Rafael Bejarano, 32. Won Ky.
Oaks on Blind Luck in 2010.
Rode Overanalyze to 11th in
2013 Derby. Has 5 firsts and
4 2nds in Breeders’ Cup races.
Carla Gaines, 62. Has had 25 graded
stakes wins, including four Grade I
wins. Nashoba’s Key put trainer on
map by winning her first 7 starts,
then was 4th in 2007 Breeders’ Cup.
Golden Pegasus Racing & Mack.
Pegasus formed by Stronach Group,
led by Frank Stronach, owner of
Santa Anita and Gulfstream. Earle
Mack owner/breeder since 1963.
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm (Ky.)
Bloodline: Temple City—Aspen
Mountain, by Chief Seattle
Foaled: Feb. 19, 2012
2015: 2 starts, 0-0-2 $168,000
2014: 3 starts, 2-0-0 $81,700
Last start: 3rd in Santa Anita Derby
on April 4
Bolo: His owner points out the
colt’s wide path in the SA Derby
made him run 65 feet farther
than Dortmund, which is 7¾
lengths, farther than he got beat.
Gary Stevens, 52. Three-time
Derby winner with Silver
Charm the latest in 1997. Had
to steady twice last year on
Candy Boy in 13th-place finish.
Simon Callaghan, 32. Brit in 6th year
of training on own, in California. Left
school at 16 to work with horses. His
Fashion Plate won Santa Anita Oaks
last year but was 11th in Ky. Oaks.
Arnold Zetcher. Former CEO of
Talbots’ women’s wear got in game
in 2000. Won stakes with second
horse he owned. His Midnight
Interlude was 16th in 2011 Derby.
Breeder: Clearsky Farms (Ky.)
Bloodline: Line of David—Sister
Girl Blues, by Hold for Gold
Foaled: Jan. 19, 2012
2015: 2 starts, 1-1-0 $430,000
2014: 3 starts, 1-2-0 $144,800
Last start: 1st in Sunland Derby on
March 22
Firing Line: Colt got a shot of confidence in Sunland after losing two
slugfests by a head to Dortmund.
Stevens says colt has the stamina,
speed and mind to get it done.
11. Stanford, a 30-1 shot who was one of four colts that trainer Todd Pletcher had entered in the race, was scratched on Thursday afternoon.
International Star (N.Y.)
12
Odds: 20-1
Itsaknockout (Ky.)
13
Odds: 30-1
Keen Ice (Ky.)
14
Odds: 50-1
Frosted (Ky.)
15
Odds: 15-1
War Story (Ky.)
16
Odds: 50-1
Mr. Z (Ky.)
17
Odds: 50-1
American Pharoah (Ky.)
18
Odds: 5-2
Upstart (N.Y.)
19
Odds: 15-1
Far Right (Ky.)
20
Odds: 30-1
Frammento (Ky.)
21
Odds: 50-1
Miguel Mena, 28. Native of
Panama has won titles at
Ellis (’06) and Presque Isle
(’07). Was third at Churchill’s
September meet.
Mike Maker, 46. Had three Derby
starters last year with General a
Rod’s 11th his best finish. Is four-time
leading trainer at Churchill. Was tied
for 2nd this spring at Keeneland.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey. Six-time
Eclipse winners from Nicholasville
won record 15th title at Keeneland.
Best finish in Triple Crown race
Nolan Cat’s 3rd in 2005 Belmont.
Breeder: Katherine M. Voss &
Robert T. Manfuso (N.Y.)
Bloodline: Fusaichi Pegasus—
Parlez, by French Deputy
Foaled: March 14, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 3-0-0 $810,000
2014: 6 starts, 2-2-0 $200,979
Last start: 1st in Louisiana Derby on
March 28
International Star: Has put up
better speed numbers in each race
this year. Ramsey is counting on
little gritty colt to stare down foes
who are strangers to adversity.
Luis Saez, 26. Had mount
in 2013 on Will Take Charge
(won Travers, Pa. Derby, Clark
Handicap). Lost brother Juan
to race accident last October.
Todd Pletcher, 47. He led all trainers
with 34 Triple Crown nominees and
it’s a good thing since he decided to
defer Stanford and Madefromlucky
for future assignments.
Starlight Racing. Their Intense
Holiday was 12th in Derby last
year. Stable’s Harlan’s Holiday was
seventh as favorite in 2002 Derby.
Campaigned Oaks champ Ashado.
Breeder: Brookfield Stud (Ky.)
Bloodline: Lemon Drop Kid—
Stormy B, by Cherokee Run
Foaled: March 16, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 2-0-0 $313,760
2014: 1 start, 1-0-0 $21,600
Last start: 4th in Florida Derby on
March 28
Itsaknockout: Didn’t show much
in Fla. Derby, but tiring Gulfstream
surface might have toned him
for a “Rocky” type finish. Will his
camp be yelling “Adrian!”?
Kent Desormeaux, 45. Has 3
Derby wins in 17 mounts with
Big Brown the latest in 2008.
Had mounts on now-sidelined
Texas Red and Prospect Park.
Dale Romans, 48. His Medal Count
was 8th last year. Had thirds in 2012
Derby (Dullahan) and 2010 (Paddy
O’Prado). His Shackleford won 2011
Preakness.
Donegal Racing. Partnership
formed in 2008 campaigned
Paddy O’Prado and Dullahan.
Leader Jerry Crawford looks for
horses bred for classic distances.
Breeder: Glencrest Farm (Ky.)
Bloodline: Curlin—Medomak, by
Awesome Again
Foaled: March 25, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 0-0-1 $81,520
2014: 4 starts, 1-0-1 $78,878
Last start: 4th in Louisiana Derby
on March 28
Keen Ice: Late runner might be
better suited for Belmont, but
Romans calls him a live long shot
and Desormeaux knows his way
around Churchill.
Joel Rosario, 30. Won 2013
Derby on Orb and 2014
Belmont on Tonalist. Also won
Dubai World Cup. Was 11th on
General a Rod last year.
Kiaran McLaughlin, 54. Lexington
native trained Belmont winner Jazil
and Horse of Year Invasor. Has had
four starters in Derby with Closing
Argument’s 2nd in 2005 best finish.
Godolphin. Founded in 1992 by
Maktoum family of Dubai, runners in a worldwide stable have
included champions Street Cry,
Daylami and Dubai Millennium.
Breeder: Darley (Ky.)
Bloodline: Tapit—Fast Cookie, by
Deputy Minister
Foaled: April 18, 2012
2015: 3 starts,1-1-0 $686,200
2014: 4 starts, 1-3-0 $150,600
Last start: 1st in Wood Memorial
on April 4
Frosted: Rebounded in Wood after
throat procedure, rider change and
trip back to Aqueduct. Connections make him tempting despite
recent dull history of Wood grads.
Joe Talamo, 25. Has won
1,500 races including 16 Grade
I’s. Had mount on I Want
Revenge in 2008 Derby who
was scratched day of race.
Tom Amoss, 53. Ninth among North
American trainers in 2014 with 198
wins and 15th in earnings. Two-time
leading trainer at Churchill, spring
2002 and 2008. Also TVG analyst.
Christopher T. Dunn & Loooch
Racing Stable. Loooch’s Ron
Paolucci not only won 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juv. Fillies with Ria Antonia
but an extra $700K on a win bet.
Breeder: Jack Swain III (Ky.)
Bloodline: Northern Afleet—Belle
Waiting, by Pulpit
Foaled: March 25, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 0-2-1 $195,000
2014: 2 starts, 2-0-0 $48,600
Last start: 3rd in Louisiana Derby
on March 28
War Story: Hitting the board
in Derby would be a coup for
gelding whose stagnant speed
figures seem to suggest he’s not
progressing much.
Ramon Vazquez, 31. Perennial
top-10 jockey at Oaklawn.
Grew up near John Velazquez
in Puerto Rico. Top mounts
include Daddy Nose Best.
D. Wayne Lukas, 79. Four-time Derby
winner. Has record 14 Triple Crown
wins and 20 Breeders’ Cup wins. No
starter last year but ran Oxbow (6th)
and Will Take Charge (8th) in 2013.
Zayat Stables. Saddled Bodemeister, runner-up in 2012 Derby and
Preakness, and Pioneerof the Nile,
runner-up in 2009 Derby and sire
of American Pharoah.
Breeder: Richard D. Maynard (Ky.)
Bloodline: Malibu Moon—Stormy
Bear, by Storm Cat
Foaled: Jan. 12, 2012
2015: 4 starts, 0-0-3 $152,500
2014: 8 starts, 1-4-1 $499,726
Last start: 3rd in Arkansas Derby
on April 11
Mr Z: Colt is on 11-race losing
streak and even Lukas admits he
deserves his long-shot status. But
beware: Lukas’ last Derby winner,
Charismatic in 1999, paid $64.60.
Victor Espinoza, 42. California
Chrome rider going for backto-back Derby wins. Won first
2 legs of Triple Crown in 2002
with War Emblem.
Bob Baffert, 62. His Chitu was 9th
last year after his top contender,
Hoppertunity, was a late scratch. Has
won Ky. Oaks twice with Silverbulletday and Plum Pretty.
Zayat Stables. Back in Derby after
missing last two. Many of stable’s
horses given names saluting the
Egyptian heritage of its owner,
Ahmed Zayat.
Breeder: Zayat Stables (Ky.)
Bloodline: Pioneerof the Nile—
Littleprincessemma, by Yankee
Gentleman
Foaled: Feb. 2, 2012
2015: 2 starts, 2-0-0 $1,050,000
2014: 3 starts, 2-0-0 $361,500
Last start: 1st in the Arkansas Derby
on April 11
American Pharoah: He’s the
Zayats’ first Derby horse that’s a
homebred by a homebred out of
a homebred. No wonder he’s the
family’s favorite, too.
Jose Ortiz, 21. Rides on N.Y.
circuit with brother Irad. Rode
Samraat to 5th in Derby last
year. In 2013, brothers won first
7 races on Aqueduct card.
Rick Violette, 62. Was 5th last year
with Samraat in his 2nd Derby start.
Was 7th with Read the Footnotes
in 2004. Has won more than 750
races, including 30 graded stakes.
Ralph M. Evans. Parlayed success
on floor of N.Y. Stock Exchange into
50-year relationship with horses.
Top horse March Magic, winner of
2001 Molly Pitcher Breeders’ Hdcp.
Breeder: Mrs. Gerald A. Nielsen
(N.Y.)
Bloodline: Flatter—Party Silks, by
Touch Gold
Foaled: April 13, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 1-2-0 $507,680
2014: 4 starts, 2-1-1 $463,800
Last start: 2nd in Florida Derby on
March 28
Upstart: Violette says ridgling
will be “very, very dangerous”
with decent trip. Consistently fast
(three triple-digit Beyers), he likes
charging into a fast pace.
Mike Smith, 49. Rode Giacomo
to 2005 Derby win and Princess
Sylmar to 2013 Oaks win. Has
won a Preakness, two Belmonts and 21 Breeders’ races.
Ron Moquett, 43. Trained with Bernie Flint before going out on own in
1996. Won 2006 Stephen Foster with
Seek Gold. His Gentlemen’s Bet was
third in 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Harry S. Rosenblum & Robert V.
LaPenta. Rosenblum raced Vilzak
and Genetlemen’s Bet in Breeders’
Cup. LaPenta teamed with Rick
Pitino in 1988 to buy his first horse.
Breeder: Nossab LLC & Patrick J.
Crowley (Ky.)
Bloodline: Notional—Zindi, by
Vindication
Foaled: March 4, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 2-1-0 $470,000
2014: 6 starts, 1-2-2 $155,766
Last start: 2nd in Arkansas Derby
on April 11
Far Right: Has a 1st, 2nd and a
3rd at Churchill. He’s a late closer,
like Giacomo, so post not a killer
if fast pace materializes. And a
footnote: Giacomo paid $102.60.
Corey Nakatani, 44. Riding in
his 16th Derby. Sixth on Dance
With Fate last year. Second on
Nehro in 2011 Derby. Has ridden two Ky. Oaks winners.
Nick Zito, 67. Saddled Strike the Gold
(1991) and Go For Gin (94) to Derby
wins and won Ky. Oaks with Bird
Town in 2003. Has won a Preakness
(’96) and 2 Belmonts (’04, ’08).
Mossarosa. Nena Moss established
the stable last August after the
death of her husband, Joseph H.
Moss, last May. Moss was a pilot
who made it big in the stock market.
Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. Oliver S.
Tait (Ky.)
Bloodline: Midshipman—Ginger
Bay, by Golden Missile
Foaled: April 14, 2012
2015: 3 starts, 0-0-1 $92,800
2014: 4 starts, 1-1-0 $46,900
Last start: 4th in the Blue Grass
Stakes on April 4
Frammento: Zito was guaranteeing his colt would at least hit the
board if it got in. Now colt needs
to reprise the move he made in
the Fountain of Youth to have shot.
Notes: Odds are from morning line; (Ky.) = bred in Kentucky; (Ont.-C) = bred in Ontario, Canada; N.Y. = bred in New York; Fla. = bred in Florida; Ire. = bred in Ireland
COMMENTS BY FRANKLIN RENFRO | [email protected]
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