Sometimes, there are long and arduous stories surrounding Kentucky Derby contenders, filled with so many facts and so much information you actually can lose focus on the task at hand, with some of the Todd Pletcher trained horses we spoke of last time being good examples.
But sometimes, it’s plain and simple. Or so it seems. Take Curlin for example, the probable favorite for Kentucky Derby 133 this Saturday at Churchill Downs. Not too many people knew who he was in January and now just under four months later all eyes will be on him come the first Saturday in May.
After breaking his maiden in smashing fashion going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 3, trainer Steve Asmussen purchased this son of Smart Strike for a reported $3.5 million dollars for a team of owners led by Satish Sanan’s Padua Stables. In his first start for Team Asmussen and under jockey Robby Albarado, Curlin made mincemeat of eight rivals in the G3 Rebel at Oaklawn Park and followed that up by winning the G2 Arkansas Derby in a common gallop, coming home the last eighth of a mile in 12 seconds.
Sounds great, right? Well, there is one problem. That’s all he’s done. Three races and now the Derby. From a historical prospective, consider this. The last horse to win the Derby with just three starts under their belt was Regret back in 1915 and since at least 1937 (records for this don’t go further back) no horse has won without racing as a two-year-old. On Monday, Curlin finished his major preparations for the Derby by working a half mile at Churchill in :48 2/5.
While much less heralded, Asmussen isn’t going into this Derby with just Curlin as he’ll also be represented by Zanjero. Last year Zanjero won two of his five starts while closing out the year with a second place finish in the G2 Remsen at Aqueduct. This season, the son of 1993 Preakness runner-up Cherokee Run has finished third in his three starts, the G3 Risen Star and G2 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds and the G1 Blue Grass at Keeneland, where he was beaten just a head. He too finished his serious work on Monday going four furlongs in :48 1/5 at Churchill. Zanjero will be re-united with Shaun Bridgmohan, who’s a perfect two for two aboard the colt, for the Derby
Curlin won’t be the only one trying to make history this Saturday. It seems that this year plenty of trainers out there are trying to buck the traditional trends the way Michael Matz did last year with Barbaro who became the first horse to win the Derby off a five week layoff in over fifty years. This season, not only will Todd Pletcher try doing it with Scat daddy (5 weeks) and Circular Quay (an unheard of 8 weeks) but trainer Larry Jones will try to get Hard Spun to win the roses off of a six week layoff.
Midway through the winter, Hard Spun had looked like this years Smarty Jones. After competing exclusively in the Mid-Atlantic region last season, Hard Spun shipped to the Fair Grounds to easily capture the G3 Lecomte in his first start around two turns to run his record to a perfect 4 for 4. Then, in the Southwest at Oaklawn, Hard Spun hit a bump in the road. He broke from the 9 post, raced wide the entire way and never really handled the track according to his connections.
Jones decided to try the son of Danzig over the Turfway Park Polytrack in the G2 Lane’s End. Again breaking from an outside post, Hard Spun was caught wide down the backstretch but it didn’t matter. He cruised up to the leaders under regular pilot Mario Pino approaching the far turn, made the lead turning for home and galloped under the wire well clear of his eleven foes. At first, Jones said he’d try the Blue Grass with Hard Spun but backed off and decided to just train him up to the Derby. Hard Spun had heads spinning on Monday, working a sizzling five panels in :57 2/5 at Churchill.
Not to be outdone, or so he hopes, California training sensation Doug O’Neill will also try to re-write the unofficial Guide to Training a Derby Winner by starting Great Hunter, who’ll have just two preps for the big dance. The last horse to do that was Sunny’s Halo back in 1983.
Last season, Great Hunter never missed the board in his seven starts, including a win in the G1 Breeders Futurity at Keeneland. After finishing third in the BC Juvenile, the son of Aptitude was given a lengthy vacation. There were points this winter when you thought he’d just disappeared from the Earth, but on March 3, Great Hunter made his return to the races with a victory in the G2 Bob Lewis at Santa Anita.
After opting to skip the SA Derby, O’Neill sent Great Hunter back to the scene of his greatest win for the Blue Grass. With the leaders for most of the way, he seemed to lose a bit of ground when the real running began and got into more trouble than a porcupine in a balloon factory in the last eighth of a mile when he was forced to check sharply before finishing fifth. Corey Nakatani will take his usual seat aboard Great Hunter in the Derby
Like Asmussen, O’Neill will saddle at least one, perhaps two others this Saturday in Liquidity and Cobalt Blue. A son of 2000/2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow, Liquidity, David Flores up, owns just a maiden win from seven starts while Cobalt Blue, owned by entertainer extraordinaire Merv Griffin won the G2 San Felipe at Santa Anita two back before running up the track as the even money chalk in the Illinois Derby last out. A decision on the status of Cobalt Blue who’ll have Victor Espinoza in the saddle if he runs is due Tuesday morning. If he opts out, Teuflesburg would join the field.
Originally Published on VegasInsider.com by Anthony Stabile
