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| Here are the post positions and morning line odds for Kentucky Derby 130. |
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1. Limehouse: 30-1
2. Song of the Sword: 30-1
3. Lion Heart: 10-1
4. Action This Day: 30-1
5. Wimbledon: 15-1 (Scratched)
6. Friends Lake: 15-1
7. Minister Eric: 30-1
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8. Master David: 12-1
9. St Averil: 30-1 (Scratched)
10. Imperialism: 15-1
11. The Cliff's Edge: 4-1
12. Borrego: 20-1
13. Birdstone: 50-1
14. Read The Footnotes: 12-1
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15. Smarty Jones: 9-2
16. Castledale: 15-1
17. Pollard's Vision: 20-1
18. Tapit: 8-1
19. Pro Prado: 30-1
20. Quintons Gold Rush: 20-1 |
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| Here is Call to the Derby Post's tipsheet for Derby 130: |
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| HORSE | JOCKEY | TRAINER |
| The Cliff's Edge | Shane Sellers | Nick Zito |
| Master David | Alex Solis | Bobby Frankel |
| Smarty Jones | Stewart Elliott | John Servis |
| Tapit | Ramon A. Dominguez | Michael Dickinson |
| Borrego | Victor Espinoza | Beau Greely |
| Friends Lake | Richard Migliore | John Kimmel |
| Quintons Gold Rush | Corey Nakatani | Steve Asmussen |
| Imperialism | Kent Desormeaux | Kristin Mulhall |
| Lion Heart | Mike Smith | Patrick Biancone |
| Read The Footnotes | Robbie Albarado | Richard Violette |
| Castledale | Jose Valdivia, Jr. | Jeff Mullins |
| Limehouse | Jose Santos | Todd Pletcher |
| Pollard's Vision | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
| Action This Day | David Flores | Richard Mandella |
| Birdstone | Edgar Prado | Nick Zito |
| Pro Prado | John McKee | Bob Holthus |
| Song of the Sword | Norberto Arroyo | Jennifer Pedersen |
| Minister Eric | Pat Day | Richard Mandella |
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The Cliff's Edge
| Jockey: Shane Sellers |
| | Post Position: 11 | Trainer: Nick Zito |
| Odds: 4-1 | Owner: Robert Lapenta |
| Pedigree: Gulch -- Zigember (Danzig) |
With his win in the Blue Grass and his third in the Florida Derby, it's easy to say that no other Derby contender had as good a spring as The Cliff's Edge -- certainly not one with his pedigree. He sire has fathered other Derby winners, and he even has Mr. Prospector in his pedigree -- the ultimate family connection. Jockey Shane Sellers will be looking to break his Derby jinx (no other jockey has as many mounts as he does without hitting the board in the Run for the Roses) while Nick Zito now pins all his Derby hopes on this colt. Most importantly, he showed great speed in closing to win the Blue Grass, and, like Tapit, looks like a potential Derby winner. 
Master David
| Jockey: Alex Solis |
| | Post Position: 8 | Trainer: Bobby Frankel |
| Odds: 12-1 | Owner: Georgica Stable |
| Pedigree: Grand Slam-Nadra (Sadler's Wells) |
Second place Wood finishers have fared awfully well at the Derby in recent years (see Monarchos and Funny Cide) and considering this horse was coming off a two-month lay-off prior to the Wood, this colt has the rare combination of having a strong prep right before the big race with still room to grow and improve. Could this be the year for Bobby Frankel? A tough horse who can battle, and a serious threat. 
Smarty Jones
| Jockey: Stewart Elliott |
| | Post Position: 15 | Trainer: John Servis |
| Odds: 9-2 | Owner: Someday Farm |
| Pedigree: Elusive Quality -- I'll Get Along (Smile) |
A Pennsylvania-bred horse who will try to become the first undefeated horse (he's 6-6 lifetime) to win the Derby since Seattle Slew in 1977. Both his trainer and jockey will be making their first trip to the Derby. He can win an extra $5 million if he wins due to a promotion through Oaklawn Park. His small-town connections make for a good story, and really, what else can you ask out of a racehorse then to win? Not much pedigree, and will probably not offer a good value. But you still can't help pulling for him just a little bit. The only other Pennsylvania-bred to win the Derby was Lil E. Tee in 1992. Like The Cliff's Edge, he ran the final eighth of his final prep in less than 13 seconds, a sign of promise and the ability to keep running late. 
Tapit
| Jockey: Ramon A. Dominguez |
| | Post Position: 18 | Trainer: Michael Dickinson |
| Odds: 8-1 | Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Joan and Ron Winchell) |
| Pedigree: Pulpit -- Tap Your Heels (Unbridled) |
With his pedigree and performance in the Wood, Tapit moves into the position of a Derby favorite. Still, many questions remain. First, how healthy is this horse? Prior to the Wood, he experienced some lung problems. Both the trainer and the owner will be making their Derby debuts. Nothing against them (see Barclay Tagg from last year if you think a first-time Derby trainer can't get the job done) but it raises questions mark. Finally, no horse since 1918 has won the Derby off of four career starts. Still, he has an amazing pedigree, so he may be one of the few who can handle the Derby distance. 
Borrego
| Jockey: Victor Espinoza |
| | Post Position: 12 | Trainer: Beau Greely |
| Odds: 20-1 | Owner: Jon Kelly, Ralls & Foster, LLC, Brad Scott, Et Al |
| Pedigree: El Prado (IRE) -- Sweet As Honey (Strike The Gold) |
We're labeling this horse our "wise guy" choice for Derby 130. Has had a pretty solid spring, thouugh he never finished better than second in his preps, which this year, we're willing to overlook. Will have a Derby winning jockey aboard, and has a Derby winner in his pedigree. Best of all, he ran the final eighth in his last Derby prep in 12 1/5 second -- a superb performance. If any horse coming out of the Arkansas Derby gets attention at Churchill it will be Smarty Jones, so this horse could be the biggest underlay on May 1. We're not predicting a win here or even a great finish -- but we do think there could be significant value available on Borrego. 
Friends Lake
| Jockey: Richard Migliore |
| | Post Position: 6 | Trainer: John Kimmel |
| Odds: 15-1 | Owner: Chester & Mary R. Broman |
| Pedigree A.P. Indy -- Antespend (Spend A Buck) |
Looked great in winning the Florida Derby, but that was seven weeks ago. He has the pedigree and the running style to compete, but is he seasoned enough. Time may be right for hard-luck, tough jockey to smell the roses. There is a good story here that makes Friends Lake a compelling choice. A lot of questions remain, however, about the srength of the field from the Florida Derby. 
Quintons Gold Rush
| Jockey: Corey Nakatani |
| | Post Position: 4 | Trainer: Steve Asmussen |
| Odds: 30-1 | Owner: Padua Stables & Jay Manoogian |
| Pedigree: Wild Rush -- Hollywood Gold (Mr. Prospector) |
Will be making his third start in a month after finishing fourth in the Santa Anita Derby and winning the Coolmore Lexington Stakes, the exact same prep race performance as 1999 Derby winner Charismatic. With Mr. Prospector featuring so highly in his pedigree, you have to consider this colt seriously. Mr. Prospector is probably the single greatest sire of Derby winners in modern times, challenged only by Native Dancer. Has enough speed to stay with the leaders, and had a good speed figure from his last race. Will offer a handsome reward, and very much worth considering in exotics. Don't dismiss this horse lightly; he very well could cause trouble and is a tough contender to lay off in terms of talent and value. 
Imperialism
| Jockey: Kent Desormeaux |
| | Post Position: 10 | Trainer: Kristin Mulhall |
| Odds: 15-1 | Owner: Farnsworth Farms |
| Pedigree: Langfuhr -- Bodhavista (Pass The Tab) |
Would make his trainer both the first woman to ever win a Derby, and the youngest Derby winning trainer at the ripe old age of 21. Won the San Vicente and San Rafael, and was moved up to second in the Santa Anita Derby. Will be making his 16th start in the Derby, so he is the most experienced horse in the field. Faces distance questions, though he did close well in his Derby preps. A great story, but would also be a huge surprise. Priced with respect though in the morning odds. Something about this colt makes some think he might have a good shot for a good race, but we're still going to look elsewhere. Perhaps some money to show on Imperialism wouldn't kill you. 
Lion Heart
| Jockey: Mike Smith |
| | Post Position: 3 | Trainer: Patrick Biancone |
| Odds: 10-1 | Owner: Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor |
| Pedigree: Tale of the Cat-Satin Sunrise (Mr. Leader) |
Looked pretty solid in the Blue Grass, but was unable to hold off The Cliff's Edge and settled for second-best. Will have to learn to not come out of the gate so quickly if he has any hopes of competing in the Derby. Has never finished worse than second in five career starts, which is impressive, but we wonder if his running style is suited for the Derby or long distances. Might be overpriced for a horse coming off a grueling second-place finish. 
Read The Footnotes
| Jockey: Robby Alberado |
| | Post Position: 14 | Trainer: Richard Violette |
| Odds: 12-1 | Owner: Klaravich Stables |
| Pedigree: Smoke Glacken-Baydon Belle (Al Nasr) |
Along with Birdstone and Friends Lake, this horse offers a serious challenge to avoiding horses coming off a long lay-off headed into the Derby. Unlike Birdstone, thought, Read The Footnotes is in good health, is working out well, and frankly probably needed the break to freshen up after his tough runs in the Fountain of Youth, which he won, and the Florida Derby, in which he came fourth. Being kept off the radar for so long may also help his price at the betting window. Ran his final eight-mile in his final Derby in less than 13 seconds -- an oft-ignored marker of Derby potential. 
Castledale
| Jockey: Jose Valdivia, Jr. |
| | Post Position: 16 | Trainer: Jeff Mullins |
| Odds: 15-1 | Owner: Knee & Lyons |
| Pedigree: Peintre Celebre -- Louju (Silver Hawk) |
An Irish-bred horse, and the only foreign bred horse in this year's Derby field, though Master David served time in Europe. Foreign breds have struggled mightily at the Derby, but this colt won the Santa Anita Derby to stamp his ticket to Louisville. He'd be the first Derby winner to start his career in Europe. Many consider him to be a tough colt who will put up a fight, but even if he runs gamely, we have a tough time seeing this one hitting the board and matching his Santa Anita performance. We're betting he's peaked. 
Limehouse
| Jockey: Jose Santos |
| | Post Position: 1 | Trainer: Todd Pletcher |
| Odds: 30-1 | Owner: Dogwood Stable |
| Pedigree: Grand Slam -- Dixieland Blues (Dixieland Band) |
Jose Santos tried to make it two Derbies in a row, and trainer Todd Pletcher is due for his first Derby win, but we don't see it happening with this one. We were actually quite high on this horse earlier in the spring, but he's failed to show he can win the big ones despite being quite game and competitive. He's performed well at Churchill, but faces distance concerns. Perhaps better suited for the Preakness, but that race might even be too long for him. A horse that is tough not to like, but probably being asked for too much at a mile and a quarter. 
Pollard's Vision
| Jockey: John Velazquez |
| | Post Position: 17 | Trainer: Todd Pletcher |
| Odds: 20-1 | Owner: Edgewood Farm |
| Pedigree: Carson City -- Etats Unis (Dixieland Band) |
This horse actually improved when he moved to longer distances, finishing third in the Louisiana Derby and winning the Illinois Derby. He's earned his right to be here. Is blind in one eye, which could compromise his chances if a horse is approaching him on his bad side. Predicted to be near the early lead, but also predicted to fall off in the latter stages of the race. With so much talent in the Derby, it's tough to consider this one seriously. A real longshot to hit the board, but nonetheless a talented horse at shorter distances. 
Action This Day
| Jockey: David Flores |
| | Post Position: 4 | Trainer: Richard Mandella |
| Odds: 30-1 | Owner: Klaravich Stables |
| Pedigree: Kris S.-Najecam (Trempolino) |
Like Funny Cide, this colt is a New York-bred. He's a dual qualifier, which is even questionable these days as to whether or not that's really an important distinction. He simply hasn't looked as well as he did in winning last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. We'll look elsewhere since pretty much every Derby winner has had at least some success somewhere along the Derby trail, and while this horse's potential is unquestioned, it seems like too much to ask for him to change form on the first Saturday of May. 
Birdstone
| Jockey: Edgar Prado |
| | Post Position: 13 | Trainer: Nick Zito |
| Odds: 50-1 | Owner: Marylou Whitney |
| Pedigree: Grindstone-Dear Birdie (Storm Bird) |
Was once the premier colt in Nick Zito's stable of Derby favorites, and is the son of 1996 Derby winner Grindstone and a dual qualifier. Birdstone is bred for distance, but like Read The Footnotes, will enter the Derby lightly tested, and, like Action This Day, won't come into the Run for the Roses with much to show for his 2004 efforts so far. Zito is a magician, and you have to be cautious with trainers slipping in their "second choice." But this one isn't coming in with a good of head of steam, even if he will offer a great price for the pedigree. 
Pro Prado
| Jockey: John McKee |
| | Post Position: 19 | Trainer: Robert Holthus |
| Odds: 30-1 | Owner: Mrs. James Winn |
| Pedigree: El Prado -- Mama's Pro (Proper Reality) |
While he delivered a career-best speed figure in his last race, a third in the Arkansas Derby, and while we're high on the two horses who finished ahead of him in that race (Smarty Jones and Borrego) we don't see it happening for this one on Saturday. He's 0-for-4 at a mile or longer and has never won past 6 1/2 furlongs. The Derby is 10 furlongs. You do the math. Save your money. 
Song of the Sword
| Jockey: Norberto Arroyo |
| | Post Position: 2 | Trainer: Jennifer Pedersen |
| Odds: 30-1 | Owner: Paraneck Stable |
| Pedigree: Unbridled's Song -- Appealing Ms Sword (Crusader Sword) |
His trainer, like Imperialism's, is aiming to become the first woman trainer to win the Derby. Hasn't won a stakes race, and did not race as a two-year-old, which every Derby winner since 1882 (that's right, 1882) has done at least once. He was second in the Illinois Derby and third in the Lexington Stakes, but was not competitive in either race. Thanks but no thanks. 
Minister Eric
| Jockey: Pat Day |
| | Post Position: 7 | Trainer: Richard Mandella |
| Odds: 30-1 | Owner: Diamond A Racing Corp. |
| Pedigree: Old Trieste -- Musical Minister (Deputy Minister) |
What is there to like about this horse, other than Pat Day is aboard? He's never run past 1 1/16 miles, and has only run in allowance races. You have to go back to 1950 to find a Derby winner who had that type of seasoning heading into the Run for the Roses. Got fool's gold glory in getting a piece of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He's outclassed here and truthfully doesn't belong. Sorry, Pat. 
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