KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT
MAY 3, 2014
by James Scully
The greatest two minutes in sports. The build-up for the Kentucky Derby is
finally over and the horses will line up in the Churchill Downs’ starting gate
at 6:24 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday.
NBC will provide live coverage of the festivities from 4-7 p.m.
The Kentucky Derby represents an extreme test for three-year-olds, with
participants asked to negotiate 1 1/4 miles for the first time in a bulky
20-horse field, and distance and/or traffic woes can undermine even the most
logical win contenders.
For California Chrome, the 5-2 favorite on the morning line, post position
was critical. He needed to avoid getting stuck in one of the inside posts (Nos.
1-3) and came away nicely from the post draw in gate 5.
His detractors will point to distance and trip, questioning his effectiveness
over 10 furlongs and ability to settle into comfortable spot given the other
speed in the field, but I’m looking past any possible concerns.
California Chrome is my pick to win Kentucky Derby 140.
Analysis
California Chrome will look to establish favorable positioning on or close to
the early lead. After dropping four of his first six starts, the chestnut colt
started to blossom over the winter for trainer Art Sherman, reeling off four
straight wins in convincing fashion, and he easily brings the best form into the
Derby.
He made his last start in the strongest prep race, recording an impressive
victory in the Santa Anita Derby, and earned a field-best 106 BRIS Speed rating
for the 5 1/4-length decision. I loved his instant acceleration that afternoon,
with jockey Victor Espinoza waiting until the top of the stretch to ask for run.
Santa Anita Derby runner-up Hoppertunity was one of his most dangerous foes
when the field was drawn Wednesday and that colt’s withdrawal Thursday morning
improved California Chrome’s chances. In fact, three legitimate win contenders
have been scratched in recent weeks, with Constitution and Cairo Prince bowing
out as well, and other serious prospects like Top Billing, Honor Code and Shared
Belief fell by the wayside earlier in the year.
Smarty Jones brought similar form in the 2004 Derby, displaying the best form
by far of any three-year-old in his prep races, but bettors questioned whether
he could carry speed 1 1/4 miles, sending him off as a lukewarm 4-1 favorite. He
overwhelmed the competition with this talent and California Chrome can do the
same.
In regard to the pace, there is some speed around California Chrome in the
starting gate but a lot of the early types would prefer to sit up close — I’m
not expecting a :45 1/5 opening half-mile liked we’ve witnessed the past two
years. The pace should be contested but not overly fast.
The projected pace scenario favors California Chrome, who can wait to offer
his best stride entering the stretch run.
Others in order of preference
Medal Count shows tremendous progress over the past five weeks, turning
around his form in April with a pair of sharp performances on Keeneland’s
Polytrack. A maiden winner on dirt, the Dynaformer colt has trained forwardly
over the main track at Churchill Downs and I love his ability to corner: he
closed boldly on the far turn of his last two starts and can rally into a
threatening position at this critical stage of the race. The Dale Romans charge
rates the best chance at an upset.
Samraat isn’t drawing much love in the build-up to the race but I consider
him to be a legitimate contender. He sustained his first loss last time,
recording a respectable second in the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial, and that
setback could benefit the game colt. He may not be an ideal candidate for 10
furlongs with his pedigree but stalker puts himself in position to challenge
every time and remains eligible to outrun any distance concerns.
Intense Holiday recorded non-threatening efforts in his first four stakes
starts but has come on at the right time for Todd Pletcher. A rallying winner of
the Risen Star two back, he exits a troubled second in the Louisiana Derby and
has signaled his readiness in recent weeks, training forwardly at Churchill
Downs. Late runner could continue to show more Saturday.
Danza is not easily dismissed following his resounding upset in the Arkansas
Derby. The lightly-raced colt can be viewed as a candidate for a regression
following the career-best effort but he appears to be holding his form for
Pletcher, impressing in morning preparations at Churchill Downs. The stalker has
the numbers to offer a serious challenge, netting a 104 BRIS Speed rating last
time, and is eligible to make at least a minor impact if he negotiates a
favorable trip.
Candy Boy can be granted a pass for his non-threatening third in the Santa
Anita Derby following a two-month layoff and appears to have taken a step
forward in his training, making several strong appearances at Churchill Downs.
Must overcome the outside draw and a questionable pedigree for the distance, but
I like his run style and believe the colt could have much more to offer than he
showed last time.
Wicked Strong flew home through the stretch to post as smart win in the Wood
but must prove he can transfer his form outside of New York (ran poorly in two
Florida starts earlier this year). I didn’t like the outside draw for the
one-run closer and taking a slightly negative view, but wouldn’t be surprised to
see the promising colt rally into the frame in the latter stages.
Wagering strategy
Predicting final Derby odds is a fruitless pursuit but I thought California
Chrome could drift up to at least 4-1 before the scratch of Hoppertunity. Still
don’t think he’s going to be an overwhelming, perhaps in the 3-1 or 7-2 range,
and I will play him to win at that price and key him in the following exotics.
From a $100 bankroll:
$45 win 5
$10 exactas: 5 over 6,14 ($20)
$5 exactas: 5 over 4,16,18 ($15)
$1 trifecta part-wheel: 5 over 4,6,14,16,18 over 4,6,14,16,18 ($20)
Enjoy the Derby!
For Ed DeRosa’s Blog, an in-depth analysis of the 2014 Kentucky Derby
including Pace Figures and Form Cycle Pattern of each starter, please click
here.