Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Wide-open Derby a week away
Downs hasn’t been smooth, however. He had a foot abscess and a back issue that prevented him from working out for a while. Twice in recent months, Classic Empire refused to train.
“I’ve never once counted him out. I know a lot of people have,” trainer Mark Casse said. “I feel that abilitywise, he is the most talented horse out there right now.”
Casse also trains State of Honor, the Florida Derby runner-up.
Todd Pletcher has three horses set to run May 6 in the 1¼-mile race, with Florida Derby winner Always Dreaming as his leading contender.
Of course, big numbers are nothing new for the New York-based trainer.
He had five runners in 2013 and 2007. Yet for his 45 career starters, Pletcher has never had a Derby favorite. That could change this year with Always Dreaming, who had the fastest time among 35 horses going 5 furlongs at Churchill Downs on Friday.
“He’s got the right style to be really tough,” O’Neill said.
Pletcher’s lone victory came in 2010 with Super Saver. He is set to tie mentor D. Wayne Lukas (48) for most career starters.
“Our Derby record is not as good as we’d like it to be,” he said. “We’ve had some horses overachieve on their way to getting there and in some cases, underachieve in the race itself.”
Besides Always Dreaming, Pletcher’s other horses are: Patch and Tapwrit. He said Saturday that Battalion Runner and Malagacy won’t run.
There’s Girvin, the Louisiana Derby winner in a race against time to mend a crack in his right front hoof. His 32-year-old trainer Joe Sharp, the husband of retired jockey Rosie Napravnik, is doing everything he can to heal the colt in time to saddle his first Derby starter. Girvin had a similar crack earlier in the year and responded quickly to treatment.
“I’m not saying that I think I’m going to win the Derby, but I definitely wouldn’t trade places with anybody,” Sharp said. “He’s always consistent and he’s got the kind of running style that wins big races.”
As usual, a full field of 20 is expected. The final lineup won’t be known until Wednesday, when entries are drawn and post positions assigned.
Graham Motion, who trained 2011 Derby winner Animal Kingdom, is back with Irish War Cry, the Wood Memorial winner. His sire is Curlin, a twotime Horse of the Year who finished third in the 2007 Derby.
Still looking for his first Derby win is Steve Asmussen, who will saddle Hence, Lookin At Lee and Untrapped.
The Desormeaux brothers are back again, too. Trainer Keith has Sonneteer, who will be ridden by his brother Kent. Last year, they teamed to finished second with Exaggerator.
Olympic skier Bode Miller recently bought into his first Derby starter, Fast and Accurate, winner of the Spiral Stakes. For years, Miller has been a guest of his pal Baffert during Derby week, but now he’s got some skin in the race.
For the fifth straight year, the field is determined by points from designated prep races. The top 20 earn a spot in the starting gate.