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SPORTSSaturday 6 May 2017
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby hopeful Classic Empire, ridden by exercise Continued from Page 17 the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile nio Sano, was kidnapped
rider Martin Rivera, gallops at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and was named 2-year- twice in his native Venezu-
Tuesday, May 2, 2017. The 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby Don’t look for four-time win- old champion. He made ela before relocating his
is Saturday, May 6. ner Bob Baffert. The white- his 3-year-old debut with a family to Miami. Jockey Ja-
haired trainer doesn’t have third-place finish in the Holy vier Castellano, also from
Associated Press a horse this year, but like Bull Stakes in February. Then the violence-wracked na-
everyone else, he has an came two more months off tion, is trying to snap an
opinion. caused by hoof and back 0 for 10 skid in the Derby.
“There’s a lot of parity. injuries. Twice, the bay colt Gunnevera is the cheap-
There are some nice, solid didn’t want to train. est horse in the field. He
horses,” he said. “I think “We’re happy to be where was bought for $16,000 at
Classic Empire is probably we are today given the last auction.
the best horse in the race. couple of months,” trainer “Every day, I stop to think,
Todd’s horse has brilliance, Mark Casse said. “I love ‘My horse can win the Ken-
Always Dreaming. If they being the favorite. Let’s just tucky Derby,’” Sano said.
can get him figured out, he enjoy the ride.” “It would be a big gift for
could steal it. The rest are Always Dreaming had the people of Venezuela
bombers.” been fractious in morning at this moment. In Venezu-
The rain is predicted to end workouts leading up to ela, people are killing peo-
hours before the race goes the Derby. In an effort to ple. People have no food.
off in the early evening. The harness the colt’s energy, Very sad.”
last Derby run on an off- Pletcher switched to longer Thunder Snow carries the
track was 2013 when Orb reins, and Always Dream- hopes of Godolphin Rac-
splashed home in front. ing resisted. He has since ing, which is owned by
Favorites have won calmed down and John Sheikh Mohammed bin
the Derby the past four Velazquez will be in the Rashid al Maktoum. He’s
years, the longest such saddle Saturday to lend an the ruler of Dubai. The sta-
streak since the 1970s. experienced hand. ble is winless in nine previ-
Sonneteer will try to over- Girvin has battled a quarter ous Derby attempts.
come that bit of history. crack in his right front hoof “There’s plenty of speed
He’s 0 for 10 in his career. that limited his workouts. lined up for this race and
He would be just the fourth Trainer Joe Sharp and his nobody’s going to get an
maiden and the first since assistant-wife, former jock- easy lead,” said Jerry Hol-
Brokers Tip in 1933 to wear ey Rosie Napravnik, had lendorfer, who trains Battle
the roses. the colt swimming and us- of Midway. Horses coming
Classic Empire sure looked ing a hyperbaric chamber from off the pace often
like the early Derby favor- to make the race. get dirt kicked in their fac-
ite last year when he won Gunnevera’s trainer, Anto- es for the first time.q
