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Kentucky Derby Gradings
The 134th Kentucky Derby
When: 6:04 p.m. tomorrow.
Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky.
TV: NBC10. Distance: 11.4 miles.Total purse: $2.21 million. Winner's share: $1.45 million.
Weather forecast: Temperatures in the upper 60s with a 40 percent chance of thundershowers.
The 20-horse field: Listed in order of preference
| Post Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML Odds |
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| 20 Big Brown | Kent Desormeaux | Rick Dutrow | 3-1 |
| When this multimillion-dollar purchase returned after an eight-month absence to crush his rivals at Gulfstream, it appeared he was the best 3-year-old in the nation. But when he drew the difficult outside post in the Florida Derby, many doubted whether he could overcome such adversity. He proceeded to dominate throughout, winning by five lengths. In three career starts, he has triumphed by a combined 29 lengths, a record remarkably similar to Curlin's before the best horse on the planet finished third in last year's Derby. Many blamed Curlin's loss on a lack of experience, but apparently that didnft factor two weeks later when the big chestnut colt captured the Preakness. His post is difficult, but Desormeaux is riding in peak form and captured the Derby in 1998 (Real Quiet) and 2000 (Fusaichi Pegasus). | |||
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| 9 Pyro | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steve Asmussen | 6-1 |
| The colt made the required progress this season when he exploded late to take both the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby, the latter triumph achieved despite traffic woes. He then raced poorly as the heavy favorite in the Blue Grass over the synthetic Polytrack at Keeneland. This son of top sire Pulpit closed strongly to win his debut over the Churchill surface in July and could benefit from lively fractions in a return to conventional dirt footing. | |||
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| 10 Colonel John | Corey Nakatani | Eoin Harty | 4-1 |
| Sired by the only dual winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic, Tiznow, this colt was impressive with an explosive late rally to win the Santa Anita Derby. This race has produced many overrated California runners in recent years, but the colt fires in every start and is peaking at the crucial time. He should revel at the distance but has competed only on artificial surfaces. His rapid workout on Sunday at Churchill must be considered a positive sign. | |||
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| 1 Cool Coal Man | Julien Leparoux | Nick Zito | 20-1 |
| Prior to backing up on the Polytrack at Keeneland, this colt had won four times around two turns in five attempts. Trainer Nick Zito was pointing to the Derby with juvenile champ War Pass, but that colt was sidelined by injury after his Wood Memorial defeat. Zito saddled Strike the Gold (1991) and Go for Gin (1994) to win the Derby but has failed with 16 subsequent starters, with none even finishing in the money. | |||
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| 2 Tale of Ekati | Eibar Coa | Barclay Tagg | 15-1 |
| After hinting at brilliance in his debut last summer at Saratoga, he regained confidence getting up late to take the Wood Memorial with a dream trip. He should continue to progress in his third start after a layoff, and Tagg saddled the popular gelding Funny Cide to take the Derby in 2003. | |||
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| 5 Eight Belles | Gabriel Saez | Larry Jones | 20-1 |
| Wilmington native Rick Porter failed to reach the Derby with the injury-plagued Rockport Harbor three years ago, but had the thrill of watching eventual runner-up Hard Spun lead to the stretch in last year's Run for the Roses. Only three fillies have ever taken the Derby . Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988) . but this powerfully built gray filly is larger than most of the colts she faces. Jones will attempt to capture the Oaks-Derby double beginning with Proud Spell this afternoon. | |||
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| 19 Gayego | Mike Smith | Paulo Lobo | 15-1 |
| Gayego departed California to take the Arkansas Derby in powerful style in his first race over a dirt surface, but could be hampered by a tricky post. Sizzling Mike Smith guided the 50-1 Giacomo to victory in 2005, a horse with lesser credentials than this one. | |||
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| 4 Court Vision | Garrett Gomez | Bill Mott | 20-1 |
| A confirmed stretch-runner, he has disappointed this season after taking a pair of graded stakes as a juvenile. But this is just his third start this year, and he deserves upset consideration with a top-notch trainer/jockey combination. But neither has enjoyed any success on the first Saturday in May. | |||
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| 8 Visionaire | Jose Lezcano | Michael Matz | 20-1 |
| His trainer is forever etched in Derby lore with the wide-margin victory of the famed Barbaro two years ago. This confirmed stretch-runner was among several to race poorly over the Polytrack at Keeneland, but rallied from last to first through the fog to take the Gotham. A lively pace scenario could work in his favor. | |||
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| 6 Z Fortune | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | 15-1 |
| He finished close up in the Arkansas Derby despite a wide trip from a difficult post, and split stablemate Pyro and Visionaire at the Fair Grounds after winning his first three career starts. | |||
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| 15 Adriano | Edgar Prado | Graham Motion | 30-1 |
| He crushed weaker company in the Lanes End and has also impressed on turf. But in his only venture on dirt, he finished 17 lengths behind Cool Coal Man at Gulfstream. Prado, possibly the best jockey in the nation, guided Barbaro to victory two years ago and will be inducted into racing's Hall of Fame this summer. | |||
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| 14 Monba | Ramon Dominguez | Todd Pletcher | 15-1 |
| He posted an upset over several of these in the Blue Grass and likely wishes this race was contested on Polytrack. Although he has won over the Churchill surface, his main track efforts have been ordinary. Pletcher, who seems to win all of the stakes outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders'f Cup, has lost with all 19 of his Derby starters, and was no better than sixth with his five entrants last year. | |||
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| 18 Recapturetheglory | E.T. Baird | Louis Roussel | 20-1 |
| He surprised a relatively weak field in the Illinois Derby with a rail-skimming trip. His trainer finished third with Risen Star in 1988, and this colt should be prominent in the early stages. | |||
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| 7 Big Truck | Javier Castellano | Barclay Tagg | 50-1 |
| His biggest victory, the Tampa Bay Derby, is best remembered for the last-place finish of the 1-20 favorite War Pass. He, too, fared poorly over Polytrack and will try to become just the second New York bred (Funny Cide) to win the Derby. | |||
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| 12 Smooth Air | Manoel Cruz | Bennie Stutts Jr. | 20-1 |
| The only member of the Florida Derby field to finish in same zip code with Big Brown, he will obviously need to improve if he is to spring a major upset. | |||
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| 13 Bob Black Jack | Richard Migliore | James Kasparoff | 20-1 |
| He set a world record for six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1 minute, 6 2/5 seconds, achieved over a paved highway of a surface in January. He has abundant speed and determination but seems unlikely to lead throughout at this distance. | |||
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| 16 Denis of Cork | Calvin Borel | David Carroll | 20-1 |
| Perfect entering the gate for the Illinois Derby, the colt finished up the track as the even-money favorite. Reports are that he looks good training over the Churchill surface (did you ever hear of a horse that isn't tr | |||