Derby still wide open
It was supposed to be the weekend that would clear up a Kentucky Derby picture that had become as muddied as any in recent memory.
Among the starters in Saturday’s three million- dollar preps were a half- dozen horses who might have helped provide this clarity. They included graded winners Tapwrit, Iliad, J Boys Echo and Mo Town; the lightly raced Reach the World; and undefeated McCraken, who had emerged as the consensus Derby choice in recent months.
All six colts were among the favorites in their respective races, and all six lost. Five failed to hit the board. The lone topthree finisher was McCraken, who ran third as the 3-2 choice in the Blue Grass, beaten by nearly four lengths.
The day’s victors included a pair of previous graded winners – Irish War Cry in the Wood and Gormley in the Santa Anita Derby – who were coming off disappointing efforts. Irish War Cry ran the more impressive race of the two on Saturday. Rebounding from a puzzling seventh-place finish in the Fountain of Youth, the son of Curlin wore down favored Battalion Runner in the final furlong to prevail by 3½ lengths.
The Blue Grass, which had the day’s most accomplished field, went to 31-1 longshot Irap, a Tiznow colt who had yet to reach the winner’s circle in seven previous tries. Irap is believed to be the first maiden to win the Blue Grass in the 107year history of the race.
With the results in from the Blue Grass, Wood Memorial and Santa Anita Derby, the Kentucky Derby prep schedule is down to just two races offering qualify-
ing points: the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Lexington Stakes (G3), both of which will be run next Saturday. Horses prepping in the Arkansas Derby have made
their mark in recent Triple Crowns. In-the-money finishers over the past decade include five 3-year-olds who went on to win classics: Curlin, Summer Bird, Super Saver, American Pharoah and Creator.
This year’s Arkansas Derby isn’t likely to have much of an impact on the
Kentucky Derby field. Expected starters Classic Empire, Malagacy and Untrapped probably already have enough qualifying points to make the big race, although juvenile champ Classic Empire may need at least a fourthplace finish on Saturday. Undefeated One Liner, who
would have been first or second choice in the wagering, was withdrawn from consideration for the race on Monday.
A check of the top 20 Derby qualifiers as of Monday morning revealed a number of horses who were barely on the radar as recently as a couple of weeks
ago: Fast and Accurate, Patch, Hence, Irap and State of Honor. Always Dreaming (Florida Derby), Girvin (Louisiana Derby) and Irish War Cry (Wood Memorial) have turned in this year’s most impressive prep performances, and maybe Classic Empire will run back to his 2-year-old
form Saturday at Oaklawn Park. In the end, though, this still looks like one of those Derbies that could go to almost anybody.
Jeff Scott writes about horse racing Tuesday in The Saratogian. He may be reached at utahpine1@aol.com.