With Omaha Beach out of the running, the Kentucky Derby and thus by default the Triple Crown has been thrown wide open. It is anybody’s game. Secretariat’s World takes a look at each horse give you a complete picture. (Listed in the same order as post drawn)
1: War of Will
Mark Casse was praying he didn't draw post one as it’s been quite unlucky. However his horse needs more than luck. The son of War Front finished ninth in the Louisiana Derby, his final prep. No Kentucky Derby winner since 1940 has finished worse than fifth in their final prep. The trainer is keen to see him take an early lead. So are we…
2: Tax
The Arch colt was runner up in the Gr.2 Wood Memorial earlier this year behind Tacitus who is also in the running. He also has the odds stacked against him with a disappointing post. The colt really does need to take the lead, to be in the top five at the end.
Gr.1 Louisiana Derby winner By My Standards is good but is he good enough to beat War Of Will again, who is in peak form?
Gray Magician has yet to win a stakes race and his Beyer numbers haven't been impressive. We would say he has an uphill struggle ahead of him, even before the race starts.
5: Improbable
A Bob Baffert protégé, was a troubled soul at the Arkansas Derby. "He can be a little bit feisty," Baffert said in an interview to ESPN. "He's got a bigger engine on him, he gets excited a bit, but that's just him.”
He didn’t like the blinkers so they come off for this race. Improbable is owned and trained by the same connections as 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify and should be in the top five, even if he doesn’t win.
6: Vekoma
The horse with the odd running style recently won the Gr.2 Blue Grass Stakes by 3 lengths but it looked like he tired out in the end. He will have to run even farther in the Derby. Can he sustain the speed?
The unbeaten son of New Year’s Day has been impressive in his four starts and won under restraint, but the Florida Derby is his only stakes experience. He is expected to take the lead and keep it till the end.
8: Tacitus
The son of champion dirt mare Close Hatches, has the breeding to sustain distances and he stood his ground in the Gr.2 Wood Memorial stakes where he was jostled around. With 20 horses he can expect to be jostled again and those that can take it will do well.
The Gr.2 UAE Derby winner hasn't done much on American tracks. It will be tough for him to get onto the Triple Crown trail.
10: Cutting Humor
Gr.3 Sunland Derby winning colt (who set a track record for 1 1/8 miles)will be ridden by Kentucky Derby specialist Mike Smith. Enough said.
13: Code of Honor
Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey trained son of Daaher, showed his potential early when he won the Champagne Stakes as 2YO, but a fever kept him out of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He has had a mixed resume as a 3YO but with dual Kentucky Derby winner John Velazquez to guide him, he can land himself in the trifecta.
14: Win Win Win
With a name like that he is bound to turn heads. Hat Trick colt overtook two of Bill Mott's runners, Country House and Tacitus, in a work-out at Churchill Downs. He looks sharp and should do well.
15: Master Fencer
Master Fencer got his bid via the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, despite placing fourth in those standings (the connections of other three horses in front of him declined to go). He's an extreme longshot due to a trip across the world and a different track than he's seen before.
16: Game Winner
The other Bob Baffert trainee, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was named champion 2YO colt, but he has yet to win a race in two tries this year, losing to stablemate Roadster in the Santa Anita Derby and Omaha Beach in the Rebel. It's common for precocious 2-year-olds to fall behind the curve at 3, will he make Kentucky Derby his comeback race, is the question on everyone’s mind.
17: Roadster
The 2019 Santa Anita Derby is Baffert’s third Derby runner. He has the confidence and the speed to make it to the top. But whether he can beat Maximum Security is the question on everyone’s mind.
18: Long Range Toddy
The Steve Assmusen protégé will be ridden by the oldest jockey to start in the Kentucky Derby - Jon Court. The son of Take Charge Indy is definitely outclassed in this august company.
19: Spinoff
The son of Hard Spun will have a tough challenge getting out in front of a lot of horses from his post. Considering he likes to lead, he will expend a lot of energy getting the job done and may be too tired out to make an effort in the homestretch.
20: Country House
Bill Mott’s other contender, was placed third in the Gr.1 Arkansas Derby behind Omaha Beach and Improbable. Although the former is scratched the son of Lookin At Lucky still has to contend with Improbable. He may be outclassed in this field.
21: Bodexpress
Now that Omaha Beach is out Bodexpress will start from the No. 20 post unless another horse scratches. While he did finish second in the Florida Derby, he has yet to break his maiden and would be an extreme longshot.
Click Here For Full Finishing list 2018
Race Info:
Distance: 1 1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs; 2,012 m), Record: 1:59 2⁄5, Secretariat (1973), Surface: Dirt,Track: Left-handed, Qualification: 3-year-old, Weight: Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg), Filly: 121 lb (55 kg),Purse: US $3 million ,1st: $1,860,000