KENTUCKY DERBY 143 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The first Saturday in May is upon us and it is time to back a horse. Picking the name or the number is always a good way to enjoy a little speculation. Because knowledge is power, let’s provide a little something-something on each runner that could be your reasoning otherwise.

 

  1. Girvin- Jockey Mike Smith is perhaps the best “big race” rider in the game
  2. Classic Empire-Juvenile champs have won the Derby the last two times
  3. Gormley- Victor Espinoza is in the irons and has won the roses 3 times
  4. Irap-trainer Doug O’Neill won it last year (Nyquist) and in 2012
  5. Irish War Cry- A New Jersey bred son of Curlin
  6. Thunder Snow- won last race at longer distance than anyone else has run
  7. Always Dreaming- Father Bodemeister almost took’em gate to wire in 2012
  8. Gunnevera-his 4 lifetime wins have come at 3 different tracks
  9. Practical Joke- Trainer Chad Brown is one of the hottest young minds today
  10. J Boys Echo- exercise rider Tammy Fox has really brought this Boy along
  11. State of Honor- Trainer Mark Casse wins a lot
  12. Tapwrit- Established a new track record (1:42.36) in winning Tampa Derby
  13. Hence- Owner Calumet Farm has won the most Kentucky Derbies (8)
  14. Fast and Accurate-Skier Bode Miller owns a piece of this horse
  15. McCraken- trainer Ian Wilkes was assistant with 2 previous Derby winners
  16. Battle of Midway-rider Flavian Prat has taken the West coast by storm
  17. Patch-Another Calumet horse and Seattle Slew is his grandpappy
  18. Untrapped-Nation’s top sire Tapit is in the bloodlines
  19. Looking at Lee-big closer that benefits from added distance
  20. Sonneteer-Has run at 4 different tracks and has plenty of experience