Kentucky Derby stumbles to a start

Ralph Siraco

Friday, May 1, 1998 | 8:49 a.m.

The 124th running of the Kentucky Derby may very well be remembered as the Derby of misses.

On the 25th anniversary of the great Secretariat's sweep of the sport's most coveted prize, the Triple Crown, and the Derby that catapulted him into thoroughbred racing history for all time, Saturday's renewal might have been a Derby for the ages.

Less than a month ago, this Run for the Roses had an unprecedented three undefeated and untied steeds going for the illusive Derby hardware.

Among the trio was a son of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew (Event of the Year), a handsome California-bred from a superstar stable (Indian Charlie) and the Derby's first Horse of the Year participant (Favorite Trick) since Secretariat in 1973.

The stage was set for an all-time Derby.

But now, just hours away, only Santa Anita Derby winner Indian Charlie remains unblemished. He's the morning-line favorite at 2-to-1.

In addition to the missed perfect threesome, there have been mishaps, missteps, mistakes, misbehaving, a near-miss disaster, some misguided entrants.

It started with the final major Derby preps on April 11, when Lil's Lad was injured while finishing second in the Bluegrass Stakes. Instead of securing a Derby favorites spot, the mishap ended an otherwise perfect three-year-old campaign.

Next was the Wood Memorial, where the usually uncontrollable Coronado's Quest tamely won. He'll pass the Derby hysteria for fear of misbehaving.

At Churchill Downs, just eight days from the big race, Event of the Year, in his next-to-final workout for the Derby, cracked his knee in a near-miss disaster while blazing the track. That ended his quest for roses.

In recent days even the normal became abnormal.

After an imperfect trip in the Arkansas Derby spoiled perfection for Favorite Trick, the 1997 Horse of the Year stumbled badly during a Monday morning drill. But he has recovered from the scary misstep in preparation for a Derby rebound.

The following day, the expected Derby pacesetter Chilito stepped onto the track to eradicate a Monday miscue with an additional workout for the second straight day.

Keeping to the tone Wednesday, and with a national television audience looking on, a mistake in the draw for post position selections caused a re-draw that saw Team Lukas' Cape Town go from selection No. 1 to the 10th pick. He wound up with post 11.

While Nationalore, Basic Trainee, Rock And Roll or Robinwould may be misguided entrants, at least they will not miss the opportunity to experience the derby dream.

Favorite Trick will have to hurdle many Derby jinxes. But one angle in his favor is that in the last 10 Derby renewals only three winners won their prep for Louisville.

As for Indian Charlie ... of the 14 horses that have come to the Derby undefeated, only three won the roses -- the most recent Seattle Slew. The last, Mister Frisky in 1990, finished off the board.

The runners

1) Nationalore (50/1) -- The richest maiden in the country, this guy was no threat to beat anything in the Santa Anita Derby. Although this post position has produced the most winners, with a dozen since the turn of the century, it is not a spot most Derby trainers wanted. Rider Almeida finished fourth in '95 with Jumron, and recall that Sir Barton won the 1919 Derby as a maiden and went on to become the first Triple Crown winner.

2) Basic Trainee (F-50/1) -- Won Ocala Breeders Championship in gate-to-wire fashion, then came back a distant fourth in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Rider JR Velasquez makes his Derby debut and will leave a lasting impression if he pulls off a victory.

3) Real Quiet (8/1) -- Trainer Bob Baffert's Avis horse, this one has the potential to move into stall No. 1 with a victory. Reminiscent of Team Lukas' Thunder Gulch before his '95 Derby win over stablemate Timber Country, this guy has been training forwardly at Churchill. Second to his more famous barnmate Indian Charlie in the Santa Anita Derby, he has experience over the track. He was a troubled third in last year's Kentucky Jockey Club as a juvenile and would be no surprise to his rider Kent Desormeaux, who looks for his first Derby win with ride No. 7 here.

4) Halory Hunter (7/2) -- Fresh off a decisive victory in the Bluegrass Stakes, this one is in the right hands. His trainer Nick Zito is looking for his third Derby win of this decade. Owner Rick Pitino, who coached the 1996 Kentucky Wildcats to a national championship, makes his Derby debut here. This one will have a lot of sentimental backing at the windows. Zito has taken his time to peak his runner for the first Saturday in May.

5) Chilito (30/1) -- The front-running runaway winner of the Flamingo Stakes in his last outing, he is certain to be one of the pacesetters here. A winner of half of his eight lifetime starts, he will give first-time Derby participants a chance of a lifetime.

6) Hanuman Highway (50/1) -- This Irish import was an unlucky loser of the Arkansas Derby in his last outing. A powerful allowance winner of his previous race at Santa Anita, this one is coming around nicely and should be considered in any exotics wagering. Jockey David Flores returns from his initial Derby experience last year. The horse is trained by lady conditioner Kathy Walsh, who becomes only the seventh woman to train a Derby starter.

7) Favorite Trick (4/1) -- Where do we start? Reigning Horse of the Year was just a neck away from a perfect 10-for-10 record if not for a third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby. He must overcome the Breeders Cup Juvenile winner and Kentucky Derby future book favorite jinxes in addition to a pedigree that suggests a distance limitation. But, he is gutty, competitive and talented, and is trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Pat Day, among the all-time Churchill Downs leaders in their respective categories. He is the equine Rodney Dangerfield of this field and might earn well overdue respect here.

8) Indian Charlie (2/1) -- The surviving undefeated starter in the field. Won the Santa Anita Derby in his last start and is trained and ridden by last year's Derby victors Bob Baffert and Gary Stevens, respectively. He tries to become only the fourth California-bred to win and the first Golden State homebred in 36 years. He'll also try to stop a 19-year drought for winning Derby favorites.

9) Rock And Roll (50/1) -- Consistent sort has never been off the board in seven career starts with a recent third in the Tampa Bay Derby. Although this one has registered several bullet drills over the track, he would rock the Downs if he scores as the "other" Mott-trained entrant.

10) Parade Ground (20/1) -- Most recent third in Wood Memorial, the Tampa Bay Derby winner has been in the quinella in seven of his nine career starts. Owned in part by William Farish, who serves on the board of directors at Churchill Downs, he has been training well at the track and would give trainer Neil Howard and jockey Shane Sellers, both circuit fixtures, their first Derby wins.

11) Cape Town (6/1) -- Owner W.T. Young's Overbrook Farms, trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Jerry Bailey try to renew the winning team of '96 Derby winner Grindstone. Trainer Lukas has started more Derby entrants than any other in history, has won two Derbies this decade (as has Bailey). This talented colt has two important victories over the Churchill track, including a win in the Kentucky Jockey Club as a juvenile. He was the "official" winner of the Florida Derby and may be the horse for course here.

12) Artax (12/1) -- Showed promise with two graded stakes wins at Santa Anita this winter. Jockey Chris McCarron will ride his 15th Derby aboard this one and has a pair of wins. Trainer Randy Bradshaw tries for his first and owner Ernie Parigallo will try to erase his disastrous Derby experience with '96 favorite Unbridled's Song.

13) Victory Gallop (15/1) -- Arkansas Derby winner has won five of last six starts. Jockey Alex Solis makes his eighth Derby appearance and will try to best his close second from last year with Captain Bodgit. Trainer Elliot Walden, a regular on the circuit, also will be looking for a Derby win with his first starter. He will try to duplicate the winning formula of 1983 Derby victor Sunny's Halo, taking the Oaklawn Park route to Louisville.

14) Old Trieste (15/1) -- This promising son of 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy is playing catch-up for the Derby. An impressive 10-length victory at Santa Anita prompted a Derby berth, and an eye-opening workout at Churchill Downs may signal readiness for the test. But a bad post draw for this pace runner may have sealed his Derby fate. Trainer Mike Puype and rider Robbie Albarado will certainly make the most of the experience for the future, if not here.

15) Robinwould (F 50/1) -- An outsider by more than just post position, this one would be a shocker. Jockey Earlie Fires hasn't ridden a Derby since 1974, and makes his sixth attempt at the roses. Ultimate of Derby dreams here.

The pick

My selection is Favorite Trick.

It is said that his breeding, by Phone Trick, cannot get the Derby classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. But recall that Bold Ruler's progeny were stereotyped as not being able to get classic distances until his most famous son Secretariat proved different a quarter-century ago.

Trainer Bill Mott said he wouldn't trade horses with anyone in the field. Favorite Trick's previous trainer, Pat Byrne, says the horse is a freak of nature.

We just hope he freaks out a win in the Derby.

archive