Page 17 - ARUBA TODAY

A17
Saturday 5 May 2018

A Derby

with lightly CLOSE

raced colts,

and lots of

possibilities CUT

By BETH HARRIS
AP Racing Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) —
Todd Pletcher is throwing
numbers at the Kentucky
Derby again. Bob Baffert is
seeking a fifth victory and
he's got the favorite, too.
An old jinx could be dis-
proved, and history would
be written if Mendelssohn
wears the garland of red
roses.
The 20-horse field for Sat-
urday's 144th Run for the
Roses includes a handful of
top contenders who have
been consistent this spring.
Justify was the 7-2 favorite
in early wagering Friday.
Trained by Baffert, the
Southern California colt,
however, is green, with just
three starts.
"We have a good enough
horse that can win it, but it's
a very competitive race,"
Baffert said. "You're go-
ing to have to have some
luck."
Justify is undefeated and
Magnum Moon is 4-0, nei-
ther having run as a 2-year-
old. They'll be trying to up-
end a so-called curse: No
horse since Apollo in 1882
has won without racing as
a juvenile.
Arkansas Derby winner
Magnum Moon is one of
four horses to be saddled
by Todd Pletcher, who won
last year's Derby with Al-
ways Dreaming.
Pletcher's Audible was the
co-third choice at 6-1 with Tiger shoots 73 to stay inside cut line
Mendelssohn on Friday.
Along with Magnum Moon,
Vino Rosso and Noble Indy
were double-digit long-
shots for the trainer, who is
tied with mentor D. Wayne
Lukas for the most Derby Tiger Woods waits to hit on the 12th hole during the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament at Quail Hol-
starters with 48. low Club in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, May 4, 2018.
Associated Press
Page 19
Continued on Page 18