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| Kentucky Derby contender Mark Valeski with trainer Larry Jones- Photo: CTD |
Happy Derby week!
With 5 days to go until the Run For The Roses the buzz and drama along the
backstretch is amping up. A majority of the likely Derby field has now settled
into the stable areas. On Monday,
five contenders put in their final works ahead of Saturday’s race, with the
most drama occurring around the barn of Larry Jones. The trainer is still undecided on whether to enter Mark Valeski and will not make the
final decision until Wednesday morning when he gets the opportunity to take the
colt for a spin around Churchill. Mark Valeski had the bullet move Monday going
5-furlongs, but apparently his gallop out was virtually non-existent. According to Jones that’s par for the
course// Creative Cause flew through
a quick 4-furlongs. He was visibly sweating, but seemed eager to go on// Bob
Baffert was extremely pleased with Liaison’s
first breeze on the Churchill Downs surface and said it was his best work since
just before the CashCall Futurity (G1) win in December. DRF’s Mike Welsch
wasn’t over the moon with the work from his 6th floor view, and said
it was merely average// Steve Asmussen’s pair Sabercat and Daddy Nose Best
breezed earlier in the day, with the latter getting special mention from
Welsch. For videos and reports
from today’s works see below// Daddy
Long Legs apparently drilled Sunday at Ballydoyle in Ireland. Trainer Aidan O’Brien called it “routine”
which doesn’t give us much compared to the daily analysis we get on the
Churchill workers// Jockey Willie Martinez joked that speed ball Trinniberg will sit last in the early
stages of the Derby before making his big move. In all seriousness, he did mention they don’t have to be on
the lead due to the horse’s tactical speed// Doug O’Neill seemed excited to be
back for the Derby. It doesn’t hurt that he trains Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner
I’ll Have Another, who made a great
appearance on the track. O’Neill had to answer quite a few questions about the
shockwave therapy the colt recently underwent. The trainer actually brought a chiropractor along for the trip
to Kentucky, and he was getting as much attention from the press as the trainer//
An always intriguing read is Kerry Thomas’ assessment of contenders emotional conformation
profiles. The emotional profile
basically tells you how a horse responds among a herd. Last year he pegged Derby
winner Animal Kingdom and favorite Dialed In as having nearly perfect
profiles. This year he claims
there are 8 that fit the profile in 2012, with Union Rags, I’ll Have Another,
and Went the Day Well on top// I can’t pinpoint it exactly, but it’s always
amusing to see Mine That Bird’s trainer Chip Wooley hanging around on the
backside on Derby week. The
trainer seems to not have a care in the world and clearly enjoys the attention.
He sides with Take Charge Indy this year, but thinks Bodemeister is the one to
beat// more…
Works
Creative Cause- CD- 4F- 47:80- B- 3/58
Liaison- CD- 5F- 1.00:80- B- 7/28
Mark Valeski- CD- 5F- 1.00:20- B- 1/28
Sabercat- CD- 4F- 48:40- B- 10/58
Daddy Nose Best CD- 4F- 49:40- B- 29/58
Workout Reports
Kentucky
Derby update with Jill Byrne [video] (Churchill Downs)
Mark Valeski: Courier
Journal
Sabercat and Daddy Nose Best: Bloodhorse
/ DRF
/ TTimes
Liaison: Bloodhorse
/ TTimes
Creative Cause: Bloodhorse
Daddy
Long Legs in final drill, will ship Tuesday (Bloodhorse)
Backstretch videos:
Kentucky Derby News and Opinion
Kentucky
Derby barn notes 4/30 (Churchill Downs)
Kentucky
Derby news minute 4/30 [video] (Bloodhorse)
Interview
with Trinniberg jockey Willie Martinez [video] (Courier Journal)
Derby
hopeful Trinniberg full of surprises (Bloodhorse)
Lack
of preparation could compromise Trinniberg’s future (Daily Racing News)
Haskin’s
Derby trail: Early observations (Bloodhorse)
Keeping
up with the Joneses [with video] (Courier Journal)
Profile:
I’ll Have Another (Courier Journal)
Thomas
on horses (Kentucky Confidential)
Bob
Baffert is alive and kicking, just like his horses (The News Tribune)
Will
the real Kentucky Derby favorite please stand up? (Sporting News)
The
jockey factor (Kentucky Confidential)
Interview
with owner Barry Irwin [video] (Bloodhorse)
The
best betting race of the year (SB Nation)
Romans
sentimental favorite with Dullahan (USA Today)
Bodemeister
feels at home at track (Courier Journal)
8
hours of Derby coverage on NBC networks (Bloodhorse)
Helzberg
Diamonds signs jockey on Derby favorite (The Sacramento Bee)
Thundering
home (Kentucky Confidential)
A
Derby won, a Derby lost (ESPN)
