Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Saturday 5 May 2018
DERBY top-notch credentials, he Olympic champion sprinter
Continued from Previous Page was relegated to the 7-1 Usain Bolt. Bolt d'Oro fin-
Mendelssohn has the least fifth choice on Friday. He ished second to Justify in
amount of time on the won the Breeders' Cup the Santa Anita Derby.
Churchill Downs dirt than Juvenile and claimed an "This is the best we've had
any horse in the field. The Eclipse Award as last year's him," Ruis said.
Ireland-based colt made 2-year-old champion. The Besides Baffert, four other
his first appearance Thurs- colt won the Blue Grass last Hall of Fame trainers are in
day — drawing attention month, one of six victories the race: Steve Asmussen
with his screeching — after at six different tracks. (Combatant), Jerry Hollen-
spending the first part of Getting the ideal trip in dorfer (Instilled Regard), Lu-
the week in quarantine for the Derby is critical, espe- kas (Bravazo) and Bill Mott
Aidan O'Brien. The trainer is cially with the traffic from (Hofburg). Baffert and Lu-
0 for 5 at the Derby, the big- 20 horses making a chaotic kas are tied for the second-
gest victory to elude him. charge into the first turn. most wins with four each.
Kentucky Derby entrant Justify trains at Churchill Downs Thurs- Mendelssohn was an 18 Jockeys want to avoid any- None of the others has won
day, May 3, 2018, in Louisville, Ky. The 144th running of the Ken- ½-length winner of the UAE thing that would prevent a Derby. Hofburg is Mott's
tucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 5. Derby. His regal bloodlines their horse from getting into first Kentucky Derby runner
Associated Press and $3 million price tag rhythm, like being bumped, in nine years. Hofburg has
suggest he would be a cut off or blocked. just three career starts, in-
worthy champion, but no "There's so many horses in cluding a runner-up finish in
Europe-based horse has the field that seem like they the Florida Derby.
won the Derby. have good chances to "This may be as good a
My Boy Jack moved up to win the race with a clean chance as I've ever had,"
the 5-1 second choice in trip," said Chad Brown, who Mott said. "Some of the
early wagering Friday. The trains Good Magic. "I feel tougher horses in the race
closer is trained by Keith like we have one of them." are fairly lightly raced."
Desormeaux and ridden by High school dropout Mick The frequently changing
Kent Desormeaux, a three- Ruis will try to become just forecast for Saturday calls
time Derby winner and the third owner-trainer to for a chance of rain at dif-
Keith's brother. win. He has Bolt d'Oro, ferent times during the day.
Despite Good Magic's the colt named in part for Post time is 6:46 p.m.q

Justify tops list of leading

contenders in Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jus- won his last three outings $1,177,800. He'll start from
tify tops the list of lead- and four overall with a sec- the No. 16 post.
ing contenders to win the ond in seven starts in Dubai, AUDIBLE
144th Kentucky Derby. Great Britain and Ireland, The jockey combination of
Trainers have called this where he's been based. Javier Castellano and John
year's 20-horse field one He might need more than Velazquez has made an-
of the deepest in a while, international experience other Pletcher pupil one of
though the Run For The to become the first Euro- the horses to watch and a
Roses might come down to pean horse to win the Der- tempting betting choice at
five considered to have the by. Strong, outgoing and 8-1. The riders have two wins
best prospects over 1 1/4 trained by Aiden O'Brien, each over Audible’s last
miles at Churchill Downs. Mendelssohn must quickly four starts, though Castel-
A look at the leading con- learn Churchill Downs af- lano will ride him in the Der-
tenders: ter hitting the track for the by while Velazquez guides
JUSTIFY first time Thursday following Vino Rosso for Pletcher. Au-
One of two Derby charg- quarantine since his arrival. dible’s No. 5 post position
es for trainer Bob Baffert, He'll start from the No. 14 gives him a good spot to
the colt enters as the 3-1 post. make noise.
race favorite thanks to a MAGNUM MOON BOLT D’ORO
3-0 record and an impres- Trainer Todd Pletcher's Initially second to McKinzie
sive win in the Santa Anita hopes of winning consecu- in the Grade 2 San Felipe
Derby. Justify's challenge is tive Derbys look good with Stakes, the Kentucky bred
putting aside 136 years of this unbeaten colt, who has was awarded the victory in
history and becoming the won all four starts beneath his 3-year-old debut after a
first Derby champion since Luis Saez by a combined postrace disqualification.
Apollo in 1882 without rac- 14 lengths. His most recent He’s 4-1-1 in six starts, with
ing as a 2-year-old. Hall of outing was a four-length tri- Corey Nakatani earning
Fame jockey Mike Smith will umph in the Grade 1 Arkan- three of those wins during
try to keep him unbeaten sas Derby on April 14, which his juvenile season. Jockey
and break the so-called was impressive but also Victor Espinoza, who rode
"Apollo Curse." His No. 7 narrowed the turnaround American Pharoah to the
post position is an encour- window. One of four mem- 2015 Triple Crown, will make
aging omen. bers of Pletcher's so-called his first start atop Bolt d’Oro
MENDELSSOHN Derby "Todd Squad," he after two outings beneath
The 5-1 second choice has has career earnings of Javier Castellano.q