Monday, May 3, 2010

Derby post-script: Where to now?

By now, you all know that Super Saver is the winner of the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby, splashing home at muddy Churchill Downs on Saturday under a rail-skimming ride from Calvin Borel.


The duo gave trainer Todd Pletcher his first victory in the Kentucky Derby. He entered Saturday 0-for-24 in America's biggest race since 2000. Nice to see the four-time Eclipse Award winner and one of the most dominant trainers in the modern era finally get that monkey off his back. Congratulations also go out to Borel, who has now won three of the last four Kentucky Derbies, the first rider in history to accomplish that feat. The veteran rider broke through in 2007 with Street Sense, finished third in 2008 aboard Denis of Cork, won with the shocking longshot Mine That Bird last year and piloted Super Saver to one of his customary rail-skimming wins on Saturday.


If you followed the Pink Sheet handicappers, you didn't fare too badly. Nicholas Fabiani gave you the winner and both Sam Hollingsworth and Jeff Reynolds chose runner-up Ice Box. Sports editor Andrew Bernstein gave you Make Music For Me, who was the last horse into the field based on graded earnings but ran a solid fourth to complete a monster superfecta. The rest of us went down with Lookin at Lucky (Mike Veitch, 6th), Dublin (Nicole Russo, 7th), Awesome Act (Jeff Scott, 19th) and Backtalk (Stan Hudy, 20th).


There were plenty of Saratoga connections to the race. The top three finishers - Super Saver, Ice Box and Paddy O'Prado - all ran in maiden races here last summer and Pletcher owns several training titles here.


A quick rundown of how the field fared and where they're headed next, from first to worst:


Super Saver: Emerged from his victory in good shape and will likely ship to Baltimore next week prior to the May 15 Preakness.

"We're going to win the Triple Crown this year," Borel boldly predicted to the Associated Press, reiterating a comment he made on NBC moments after crossing the wire.

Ice Box: Nick Zito marveled at his colt's hard-charging finish despite being checked multiple times late. While he hasn't entirely ruled out the Preakness, he seems to be leaning toward shipping Ice Box back to New York to prepare for the Belmont in five weeks.

Paddy O' Prado: The Preakness is still under consideration for the third-place finisher, with a plan coming later in the week.

Make Music For Me: Will be shipped to Keeneland to train and a Preakness decision is forthcoming.

Noble's Promise: Will get a break for a few days at trainer Ken McPeek's Lexington farm before his next race is chosen. Heading to England to race in June at Royal Ascot is a possibility.

Lookin at Lucky: The Preakness isn't out of the question for the Derby favorite, who emerged from his nightmare trip in good order.

Dublin: Hopeful winner is likely headed on to Baltimore for trainer Wayne Lukas, who watched one of his former assistants, Pletcher, take his first Derby.

Stately Victor: Will point for the Belmont.

Mission Impazible: Pletcher says the Louisiana Derby winner is still under consideration for the Preakness.

Devil May Care: The filly, who was trying to become the first of her sex since Winning Colors in 1988 to wear the roses, made a strong move on the turn but faltered late to be 10th. She emerged from the race in good shape, but won't move on to the Preakness.

American Lion: Will train at Keeneland while his next race is decided.

Jackson Bend: Emerged from his 12th-place finish, the first time he's ever been worse than second, in good shape. He likely won't move on to the Preakness.

Discreetly Mine: Came out of the race well, but won't move on to the Preakness.

Dean's Kitten: Likely headed back to turf racing this summer at Colonial or Arlington.

Conveyance: Is 50-50 for the Preakness after setting the Derby pace.

Homeboykris: Rick Dutrow's charge will regroup in New York.

Sidney's Candy: Heading home to California.

Line of David: Like his stablemate, shipping back to California.

Awesome Act: Cooled out fine following his dismal Derby finish. Will remain in America and will join Steve Asmussen's string.

Backtalk: Emerged from his effort in good order, and trainer Tom Amoss says he'll train at Churchill Downs while his next move is decided.


Our Daily Preakness Peek kicks off on this blog Wednesday, beginning the 10-day countdown.

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