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The horses get most of the attention in the Kentucky Derby, with the trainers a distant second. The guys who really deserve the most attention, though, are the jockeys.

There isn't another race in which the jockeys play a bigger role or have to do more to get their horse to the finish line than the Kentucky Derby.

The horses are at such an early stage in their personal development and they are facing so many new things in this race - the field size, the level of talent, the craziness of the crowd - that the winning horse isn't always the best. The best horse is the one whose jockey is able to get them to calm down and get focused.

This year's Kentucky Derby is, as always, full of compelling jockey storylines. Here's a look at six of the most talented jockeys in the field and the stories behind them:

Garrett Gomez, Lookin at Lucky

Gomez is, without a doubt, the top jockey in the country right now. His career was derailed in 2002 with drug problems but he returned late in 2004 and quickly climbed to the top. He has been the top-earning jockey each of the last four years and he won the Eclipse Award in 2007 and 2008. He has won nine Breeders' Cup races since 2005 and most other top races at some point in his career. There is one glaring hole in his record, though - he has never won a Triple Crown race.

Kentucky Derby Jockeys

He's had his chances. The most crushing near-miss was with Rags To Riches in 2007. He had ridden the filly through her prep schedule but he was already committed to Hard Spun for the Belmont, so he gave the ride up. John Velazquez took it over and won the race. This is possibly the best shot Gomez has had yet - the favorite and the classiest horse in the field by far.

There's another storyline here as well: Gomez rode Lookin at Lucky in the Santa Anita Derby and it was one of the worst races of his career. The horse had a terrible start, found trouble repeatedly and was generally a disaster. Gomez not only needs to end his Triple Crown drought but prove that that race was an exception.

John Velazquez, Devil May Care

Velazquez is cursed. He benefited from good luck to get his first Triple Crown win on Rags to Riches and karma has been extracting its payment ever since.

Last year he was booked to ride Quality Road, the Florida Derby winner who was likely to be the Derby favorite, but a foot injury knocked that horse out of the race. This year he was set to ride Eskendereya, the Wood Memorial winner, who was likely to be the Derby favorite until a leg injury knocked him out of consideration.

Now Velazquez has landed on the first filly to run in the Derby since Eight Belles tragically broke down in 2008. His chances of winning just got a whole lot worse.

Joe Talamo, Sidney's Candy

Talamo, a 20-year-old sensation from California, will be making his Kentucky Derby debut aboard the front-running Sidney's Candy, who is owned by diet magnate Jenny Craig.

Talamo should really be making his second start, though. He was to be aboard likely favorite I Want Revenge last year. It wasn't until he showed up at the track on Derby morning that he found out that the horse had been injured and was out of the race. That's a crippling mental blow for any guy, never mind a teenager.

Now Talamo not only has to deal with riding in his first Derby and doing it aboard a well-regarded horse, but he also has the demons from last year to deal with.

Julien Leparoux, Awesome Act

Leparoux is one of the more interesting stories in the sport. He was a stablehand in France when he emigrated to the U.S. in 2003 to become an exercise rider, and now he's the reigning Eclipse champion jockey.

Kentucky Derby Jockeys

He's based in Kentucky and he has won titles and set records at Churchill Downs, so the setting works to his advantage. He's on a live runner as well. Leparoux has five Breeders' Cup wins, including three last year, so he's clearly a top-level jockey. Until he gets a Triple Crown race under his belt, though, he hasn't truly proven himself.

Calvin Borel, Super Saver

Borel is the reigning king of the Kentucky Derby. In 2007, he became the first jockey to pilot a Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner to the roses. Last year, his ride aboard Mine That Bird has to go down as the single most incredible ride in race history.

Borel isn't on a horse that is easy to love in Super Saver. This horse has more going for it than Mine That bird did last year, though, so you really can't count this horse out entirely as long as he is aboard.

Kent Desormeaux, Paddy O'Prado

Desormeaux isn't the jockey that he was when he was younger and was a winning machine. Wins are much harder to come by for him overall, but he's on a remarkable run in Triple Crown races. He won the Derby and the Preakness in 2008 aboard Big Brown and then took the Belmont aboard Summer Bird last year. That means that he has won half of the Triple Crown races over the last two years.

The horse he is on this year doesn't immediately seem to be of the caliber of those other two, but he's a very impressive looking horse who is working very well over the Churchill surface.

136TH KENTUCKY DERBY

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY ODDS
1 Lookin at Lucky Bob Baffert Garrett Gomez 3-1
2 Ice Box Nick Zito Jose Lezcano 10-1
3 Noble's Promise Ken McPeek Willie Martinez 12-1
4 Super Saver Todd Pletcher Calvin Borel 15-1
5 Line of David John Sadler Rafael Bejarano 30-1
6 Stately Victor Mike Maker Alan Garcia 30-1
7 American Lion Eoin Harty David Flores 30-1
8 Dean's Kitten Mike Maker Robby Albarado 50-1
9 Make Music for Me Alexis Barba Joel Rosario 50-1
10 Paddy O'Prado Dale Romans Kent Desormeaux 20-1
11 Devil May Care Todd Pletcher John Velazquez 10-1
12 Conveyance Bob Baffert Martin Garcia 12-1
13 Jackson Bend Nick Zito Mike Smith 15-1
14 Mission Impazible Todd Pletcher Rajiv Maragh 20-1
15 Discreetly Mine Todd Pletcher Javier Castellano 30-1
16 Awesome Act Jeremy Noseda Julien Leparoux 10-1
17 Dublin D.na Terry Thompson 12-1
18 Backtalk Tom Amoss Miguel Mena 50-1
19 Homeboykris Richard Dutrow Ramon Dominguez 50-1
20 Sidney's Candy John Sadler Joe Talamo 5-1

Champion two-year-old colt LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in Saturday's 136th running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby (G1), but the multiple Grade 1-winning colt didn't receive a favorable post draw in gate 1.na, who will be seeking his fifth Kentucky Derby victory.

SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon), a smashing five-length winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill for Pletcher, is one of two 15-1 shots along with JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil), who exits runner-up finishes in the Wood Memorial and Fountain of Youth S. (G2) for Zito.

Louisiana Derby (G2) winner MISSION IMPAZIBLE (Unbridled's Song) and Blue Grass S. (G1) runner-up PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) were both installed at 20-1 on the morning line.

STATELY VICTOR (Ghostzapper) and LINE OF DAVID (Lion Heart), who registered major upsets in the Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby (G1), are listed at 30-1 along with Illinois Derby (G3) scorer AMERICAN LION (Tiznow) and Risen Star S. (G2) winner DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft).

Four horses round out the field at 50-1 -- BACKTALK (Smarty Jones), DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy), HOMEBOYKRIS (Roman Ruler) and MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein).

I can already smell the roses!! Nicely done Freak!!

Derby trainers size up post positions, weather forecast

Champion LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1), galloped 1 1/2 miles Thursday under exercise rider Dana Barnes.
Lookin at Lucky drew the rail, a post position that has not yielded a Derby winner since Ferdinand in 1986. Trainer Bob Baffert faced many questions about how the draw might impact his colt's chances of winning over what is likely to be a wet track on Saturday. Rain is in the forecast for Friday night and Saturday.

"Sometimes with the weather like that, the inside might be a little bit better," Baffert said.

"It (the rail) sort of changes things a little bit, but not a whole lot," Baffert said. "The main thing is that the horse is a good horse. There have been a few winners out of the one, but not lately. Since we had the draw and were able to pick, everybody stayed away from there. The one and the 20 were the last choices.

"Once you get in there, if you shuffled back one time, then you'll get shuffled back a second, a third, a fourth as the race goes on. We're going to find out how good this horse is. If he's that good, he'll win it."


Baffert joked about the colt not having any luck, but said the post position is a factor that he and jockey Garrett Gomez must face.

"We're not in love with it, but we have to deal with it," Baffert said. "There is a long run to the quarter pole. It's not like we have a speed horse. He comes from off of it. He just needs to break well. He'll be in the gate for a long time because they load (posts) 1-11 and 2-12 here.

"But you know what? You still need a really good horse. That's what he is. That's more important than the post."

Gomez said he has no choice but to deal with the post position he was dealt.

"We'll work out a trip and we'll figure out where the speed is going to come from," the rider said. "We know it's all coming down on top of us and we want to get underneath that wire the first time as smoothly as possible."

Starting from the rail, Gomez said he must work out the proper trip.

"You've got to be very aggressive," he said. "You've got to hit the gaps that are available at the time and take what's given and be aggressive."

But Gomez, who finished second on Pioneerof the Nile to longshot Mine That Bird (Birdstone) last year, said he will not focus on any of the others in the field.

"There are 20 of them out there," he said. "I learned last year that anybody can win. Hopefully this year we'll be able to get it done. We feel like the horse is training well for the race. Now it's all according to the trip."

Trainer John Sadler was over the worst of it Thursday morning at his barn on the Churchill Downs backstretch. The day before he'd seen his Kentucky Derby second choice (5-1) SIDNEY'S CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) be assigned the far outside post 20 in Saturday's Run for the Roses and it had taken him aback.
"Initially, I wasn't quite sure what to say," the California-based trainer said. "I felt like the kid who gets a lump of coal from Santa in his Christmas stocking. It took me a while to digest it. But in the end, what are you going to do? It's racing -- deal with it. You get what you get and you do the best you can with it. That's all you can do."

The conditioner did have one additional thought in the aftermath of Wednesday post position draw, however.


"I'm thinking about having a pin made up that I can wear saying: 'Yes, I know Big Brown won out of the 20 hole.' About 20 people have come up to me and told me that one."

Big Brown, of course, won the 2008 Derby from post 20. Previously, only one other horse had accomplished that -- Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.

Sadler, a most practical man who has risen to the top of the training ranks in his native state by employing his practicality in most everything he does, has basically put the Derby draw behind him.

"I don't stress about things I can't control," he said. "I'll get together with my rider (Joe Talamo) and we'll come up with a strategy for the race on Saturday. I think we're going to be fine."

AMERICAN LION's (Tiznow) victory in the Illinois Derby (G3), in his first try on dirt, convinced trainer Eoin Harty that he could handle and possibly even thrive on that surface.
"I thought it was a really good run," Harty said. "The weather conditions up there were less than ideal. It was constantly blowing like 30 miles an hour down the stretch. That was a concern. I wanted to put him on the lead anyway because it seemed like the race was devoid of speed.

"I was concerned that running into that 30 mile an hour wind was going to take something out of him, but he actually kicked away from the other horse at the eighth-pole. That was best part of the whole race."

Harty said the colt is showing him that he has continued to improve since that victory at Hawthorne on April 3.


"His weight is better that it's been," Harty said. "His coat is better. His attitude is good. He's out of a Storm Cat mare and he has a tendency to get a little worked up. I've been schooling him every day since I've been here and every day he goes over there he's better and better. All the signs are good."

Harty grinned as he noted two more reasons to be optimistic.

"I found a four-leaf clover a few days ago and I've drawn (post) number 7," he said. "I was number 7 in Dubai (with Dubai World Cup [UAE-G1] winner Well Armed in 2009). There are a lot of omens."

By drawing post 7, American Lion and jockey David Flores will have to react to fast horses on both sides. Super Saver is in post 5, Line of David is in post 6, the Baffert-trained CONVEYANCE (Indian Charlie) is in post 12 and Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Sidney's Candy is on the far outside in post 20. Harty said the trip will determine whether American Lion's wins or loses.

"If he makes it around the first turn unscathed, he's got a legitimate shot," Harty said. "With (John) Sadler's horse drawing the 20-hole, he's only got one option. He's
going to have to get out there and clear the field going into the first turn. Then you've got Baffert in there with Conveyance and there is Line of David.

"I don't know what Sadler's going to do with Line of David because that's his horse and he's got Sidney's Candy on the outside. If we can be sitting in behind them, maybe three or four lengths in behind them, unscathed, going into the first turn I'll be quite happy."

Trainer Todd Pletcher discussed his four charges -- the filly DEVIL MAY CARE (Malibu Moon) and the colts SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon), MISSION IMPAZIBLE (Unbridled's Song) and DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft) -- with a media crew.
"All four are doing well," he said. "I'm happy with the way they're coming up to the race."

Asked about a weather forecast that calls for rain, which in turn could lead to an off track on Saturday, Pletcher saw possible advantages for his runners in such a scenario.

"All of our horses handled a wet track well in their breezes Saturday," he said. "If there's some likelihood of 'slop' or something similar, it may be an edge for us. We know we can get over it and I'm not sure all the others can say that. For instance, you've got the California horses that don't see wet tracks. It's hard to know how they might react to such a situation."

As far as the pace of the race and his horses' likely locations in the 10-furlong test, he offered the following:

"I don't see my horses being part of the leaders. That should be LINE OF DAVID (Lion Heart) and CONVEYANCE (Indian Charlie). I see Discreetly Mine in the second tier and Super Saver there, too. The filly (Devil May Care) and Mission Impazible figure to be either in the second or third tier. I expect the half-mile split to be somewhere in the :46 range, depending how much Line of David and Conveyance want it (the lead)."


The trainer also was asked how he'd compare Devil May Care with his three-year-old champion filly Rags to Riches, who in 2007 won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and the Belmont S. (G1).

"The one thing about those two that's clear in my mind is that I was confident that Rags to Riches would handle the distance of the Belmont (12 furlongs), and I'm also confident that Devil May Care can handle the distance of the Derby," he said.


Jeremy Noseda has adhered to his long-range plan for Awesome Act (Neville Hopwood/Horsephotos.com)
Jeremy Noseda, the trainer of AWESOME ACT (Awesome Again), was on hand for the morning exercise and was pleased with his colt's appearance.

"Definitely, without question, the horse looks to have moved forward physically since he was in New York and I am happy with his condition," said the British horseman, who hadn't seen his Gotham S. (G3) winner since his disappointing third-place finish in the Wood Memorial (G1) until Tuesday afternoon.

Noseda had been unable to witness Awesome Act's key six-furlong workout last week because of the flight stoppage in England caused by ash clouds generated from an Icelandic volcano. The 46-year-old trainer is hopeful that Awesome Act will have a better trip than he received in the Wood Memorial in his final Derby prep.

"There were three factors in the Wood: losing the shoe out of the gate; how rank he was during the race; and there was always going to be that factor that he could bounce. I think he bounced," said Noseda, suggesting that his colt wasn't in peak form for his second start this year after running such a brilliant race in the Gotham.

"You take those three factors to one side, and we approach the Derby in a different frame of mind."

Noseda is counting on a much quicker early pace in the Derby than he got in the Wood to help his colt settle more kindly than he did last time at Aqueduct.


"He's got a great cruising speed and he's got a big kick in him at the end of a race. My big query at this point is how effective he'll be at a mile and a quarter. Saturday will tell us that. But there are plenty of horses in the race that have the same question to answer," he said.

"You'll need luck in the running. Is that not part of what makes the Kentucky Derby such a unique race and such a test for a horse?"

Noseda, who shipped Wilko from England to win the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Lone Star Park, expressed his deep appreciation to trainer Steve Asmussen and his assistant Scott Blasi for their assistance and guidance in the training of Awesome Act in his absence.


Nick Zito would rather not have an off track for Ice Box (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who will send out the deep closer ICE BOX (Pulpit) and midpack runner JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil), is hoping for a fast track for Derby 136. Zito acknowledged that weather reports for Saturday that might result in an off track should be welcomed by the connections of the speed horses in the field.
"Speed will carry in the slop -- always does," Zito said. "You saw what happened in Go for Gin's year (1994). There was a lot of speed, but Holy Bull didn't break, and that was it."

Zito, who trained Go for Gin as well as 1991 Derby hero Strike the Gold, commented on what it takes to win the garland of roses.

"It's very, very tough, because everything has to go just perfect -- every single thing," Zito said. "You've got to have great weeks; you can't have anything wrong; the workout's got to be perfect; the horse has got to be perfect; the trip's got to be perfect; everything's got to be perfect.


"And you've got to have the horse. He has to have done something."

On the morning after drawing post position 3 for the "Run for the Roses," NOBLE'S PROMISE (Cuvee) had trainer Ken McPeek feeling as confident as he's been all week. The Arkansas Derby (G1)'s beaten favorite continues to give his trainer all the right signs.

"He's killing the feed tub like he's mad at it," McPeek said. "I have a rule of thumb that horses who eat fast, run fast.

"Noble's Promise really had a good morning out there today. He galloped strongly and I couldn't feel better about where we're drawn and where he's at physically."

Willie Martinez makes his first Derby riding appearance in 11 years on Saturday when he partners with Noble's Promise

KENTUCKY DERBY (G1), 11TH-CD, $2,000,000, 3YO, 1 1/4M, 6:24 P.na D WAYNE THOMPSON T J 126
18 BACKTALK AMOSS THOMAS M MENA M 126
19 HOMEBOYKRIS DUTROW RICHARD E DOMINGUEZ R A 126
20 SIDNEY'S CANDY SADLER JOHN W TALAMO JOSEPH 126

A full field of 20 three-year-olds will travel 1 1/4-miles in the most prestigious event for sophomores, the $2 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.na his biggest chance to pick up his fifth Derby winner in some time, and we think the long-striding Kentucky-bred could be the one with some luck. Winner of the Hopeful S. (G1) at two, the improving chestnut has had a productive if unspectacular campaign to date, showing a nice turn of foot in placing in a trio of graded events in Arkansas. We're not thrilled how the three-year-old performed in his lone start here when seventh in the Iroquois S. (G3), but his recent drills have been useful and he should be peaking for this one. Terry Thompson retains the mount atop the chestnut.

LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), the likely favorite when the gate opens, exits a troubled third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) but doesn't lose any respect from us even though he got buried on the rail for this race. The champion showed his versatility when getting up late in the Rebel S. (G2) in his sophomore debut and is as battle-tested as any in the field. We're not positive that the colt wants 1 1/4 miles, and we'd have preferred to see him to have one more prep readying for this, but maybe we're just nitpicking. The consistently great bay is an obvious win contender beneath Garrett Gomez.

AWESOME ACT (Awesome Again) made a sensational three-year-old debut for European conditioner Jeremy Noseda, waxing an overmatched field in the Gotham S. (G3) despite being under stout restraint for much of the contest by Julien Leparoux, and a repeat of that showing would make him a prime threat in this one. The intriguing chestnut drew well in the 16 post and has reportedly trained well over this oval. The well-bred chestnut should get a great trip and wouldn't surprise with his best. Multiple stakes hero JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil) has never finished worse than second in his career and must be commended for his consistency while facing stakes foes in seven straight attempts. The moderately-bred dynamo really got our attention when holding second in the Wood Memorial S. (G1) last out after a stretch-long duel with a top contender in this field. We have no idea if the Florida-bred can handle this trip, but we can say the same about every horse in the field so we can't use that as a reason for disliking him. The hard-trying youngster is a top-three player in our estimation with Mike Smith.

AMERICAN LION (Tiznow) has grown on us in recent days and we'll use him in our multi-race plays with pilot David Flores. A highly regarded juvenile when winning the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) in November, the WinStar homebred seemed to lose favor with many after a pair of losses but returned in a big way in his dirt debut last out, wiring the Illinois Derby (G3) field and earning a 101 BRIS Speed number. The Eoin Harty trainee could be very dangerous with clear sailing. SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon) is a Grade 2 winner on the oval, is bred to handle a route of ground as well as most in the field, and should be rounding into a peak race for Todd Pletcher, so we'll use him in a bunch of our wagers. Second in the Arkansas Derby (G2) last out, the steady dark bay has good positional speed but rated kindly in his last and stayed on late -- a race which should set him up nicely for this. The presence of Calvin Borel, who has bagged two of the last three runnings of this race, shouldn't hurt the WinStar homebred.

PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) has reportedly been training up a storm over the Churchill oval and could be a sleeper in this field for Dale Romans. The late-developing gray has finished in the top three in five consecutive races, taking the grassy Palm Beach S. (G3) two back prior to a runner-up showing in the Blue Grass S. (G1). We wish we had more dirt racing to judge this colt on, but we'll put him on the contenders' list, nonetheless. Kent Desormeaux has the assignment. DEVIL MAY CARE (Malibu Moon) rebounded from a poor effort in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) to dominate the Bonnie Miss S. (G2) last out for trainer Todd Pletcher, and the highly thought of miss must be at least considered in this spot. The Grade 1 heroine is being ambitiously placed in here in our view, as we're not sure if she would be our pick in the Friday feature, the Kentucky Oaks (G1). But since we can't separate this field much, we would not be floored if she toppled her 19 male counterparts and gave her conditioner the trophy missing from his case.

MISSION IMPAZIBLE (Unbridled's Song) is a lightly-raced colt who is hard for us to gauge, so we'll throw him in the contenders' bag in this ultra-competitive event. Trained by Pletcher, the improving Kentucky-bred ran his best late in his Louisiana Derby (G2) conquer and could be peaking. We haven't been on the gray's bandwagon at all this season, so we'll probably leave him off our tickets even if we're not shocked if he upsets this group. Rajiv Maragh keeps the mount. We're not sure if Risen Star S. (G2) star DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft) wants to run longer, or is a cut below and somewhat one-paced, but we'll probably toss him in our multi-race plays just in case. The well-bred colt has never run poorly and is seemingly always well placed, so if he were to take the lead at some point in this event, we would not be surprised. Javier Castellano will be in the irons for Pletcher.

Grade 1 hero SIDNEY'S CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) has smoked his way through the Golden State and would likely be a clear favorite if he hadn't spent his entire career on synthetic surfaces to this point for Southern California's top trainer, John Sadler. The speedy colt has run three fields in succession off their respective hooves, and he could simply be that good, but he was done no favors when drawing widest of all in this field. We expect him to have trouble for much of this race while trying to rate and run on dirt for the first time. Joe Talamo has the return engagement. Florida Derby (G1) upsetter ICE BOX (Pulpit) hails from the dangerous Nick Zito barn and should be rolling late beneath Jose Lezcano. The progressive chestnut is bred to run all day and might get a cozy, ground-saving trip from the two post, but we simply don't like the fact that he will have to pass nearly every horse in the field to win this.

Rising star LINE OF DAVID (Lion Heart) would not be denied in the recent Arkansas Derby (G1), the richest race preceding the Kentucky Derby (G1) for sophomores, and he's rolled to three straight wins since adding blinkers. The John Sadler pupil has won each of his races in front-running fashion and could find it busy up top today, but if the Kentucky-bred gets a sensible trip on or just off the pace, we think he could be a major player inside the final furlong. Breeders Futurity (G1) winner NOBLE'S PROMISE (Cuvee) finished off the board for the first time when fifth in the Arkansas Derby last out for conditioner Ken McPeek. The bay colt is a big question mark to excel at ten panels and we're not sure if he's coming into this in peak form, so we'll let him beat us on top. Willie Martinez will be up.

STATELY VICTOR (Ghostzapper) ran away to a 4 1/4-length win in the Blue Grass most recently to earn his way in the field, but his prior dirt form leaves something to be desired. We may be underestimating the improving bay, but we have to take a stand somewhere. Alan Garcia will be in the irons. HOMEBOYKRIS (Roman Ruler) is being asked to do a lot in here and we simply can't see him doing more than being an early factor due to his being fresh with one start in 2010. The Grade 1 hero had an excellent two-year-old season but hasn't shown much this campaign and must be omitted.

DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) earned his way here via a tally in the Lane's End S. (G2) for conditioner Mike Maker. The chestnut Kentucky-bred was defeated by 33 3/4-lengths in his lone dirt start to date and can't be endorsed by us with Robby Albarado in the saddle. MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein) is another with no dirt form in this field but did show a fine turn of foot when bagging the Pasadena S. on the lawn two prior. The problem is this race is not on grass. Joel Rosario will guide the longshot. BACKTALK (Smarty Jones) sports low BRIS Speed numbers and is a huge question mark at the trip, so we won't include the Tom Amoss charge with Miguel Mena.

1st-CONVEYANCE
2nd-DUBLIN
3rd-LOOKIN AT LUCKY

With the defection of Eskendereya (Giant's Causeway), Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1) became a much more wide-open race and the first two choices on the morning line, LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) and SIDNEY'S CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]), both drew tough posts on opposite ends of the 20-horse field.

Lookin at Lucky will have the opportunity to take back and potentially carve out a good trip from the rail, but post 20 puts Sidney's Candy in a difficult spot because his connections probably wanted to sit just off the speed. The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner now runs the risk of either getting embroiled in a wicked pace battle or carried extremely wide into the first turn.

I'll make a case for two horses, AWESOME ACT (Awesome Again) and DEVIL MAY CARE (Malibu Moon).

Awesome Act appears to be sitting on a big race for English-based conditioner Jeremy Noseda. Bred to excel on dirt tracks, he raced strictly on turf at two and made his dirt and three-year-old debut in the March 6 Gotham S. (G3), rallying boldly past his rivals on the far turn and into the stretch.

Nothing went right for the chestnut next time out in the Wood Memorial S. (G1) as he lost a shoe at the start, never settled into a good trip and perhaps suffered a "Euro-bounce" in his second start stateside, finishing a head back of runner-up JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil) in third.

Awesome Act returned to the worktab 10 days later, breezing five furlongs at Belmont Park, and then shipped to Churchill Downs, where he's recorded a pair of works in preparation for the Derby, including a sharp half-mile breeze on Tuesday. The Kentucky-bred colt appears ready to bounce back in his third start of the year and his tactical speed (102 BRIS E2 rating in the Gotham) is an asset in the 20-horse field. Jockey Julien Leparoux should be able to secure a spot in midpack before launching his rally on the far turn, and Awesome Act's quick turn of foot can carry him into a threatening position at the top of the stretch. I'll look for him to sustain his momentum through the stretch.

Devil May Care is a big, athletic filly who could provide Todd Pletcher with his first Derby score. She followed a good-looking maiden victory with a score in the Frizette S. (G1) last fall but didn't handle the synthetic footing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita. The bay miss was fractious in the paddock and post parade when making her seasonal bow in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) and spit the bit early in the race, but displayed her considerable skills in the 1 1/8-mile Bonnie Miss S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park last time, drawing off to a 2 3/4-length decision.

Devil May Care really leveled off in midstretch last time, passing the finish line full of run, and she's continued to thrive in the mornings since arriving at Churchill Downs, making an excellent appearance in her gallops and five-furlong workout last Saturday. Distance should be no problem for the lightly-raced filly, who adds blinkers to keep her focus intact, and she's well-drawn in post 11 for a perfect stalking trip. I expect to see her finish strongly.

I'll play Awesome Act to win and place and will use him and Devil May Care on top of my exotics.

Lookin at Lucky is a must-use underneath -- he remains a serious win threat despite the post -- and I'll include SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon), who loves the track and has Calvin Borel, in some tickets.

ICE BOX (Pulpit) could be along for part for Nick Zito, and MISSION IMPAZIBLE (Unbridled's Song) appears too sharp to be left out. AMERICAN LION (Tiznow), who exits a sharp score in the Illinois Derby (G2) and is listed at 30-1 from post 7, is a bomber that I'll also use in my exotics.

KY DERBY DRF PP

DRF Easy Form

Brisnet PP

WinStar Farm's homebred SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon) benefited from a classic Calvin Borel ride to give trainer Todd Pletcher his first Kentucky Derby (G1) win at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Saving ground along the rail all the way around, the bay colt ran the 1 1/4-mile classic over a sloppy, sealed track in 2:04 2/5.

"It never gets old," said an emotional Borel, who became the first jockey to win three Derbies in four years.

"It's a joy," Pletcher agreed. "People said we had one with our name written on it. I didn't take anything for granted. It feels awfully good."

On a rainy, dreary day, the sun broke through the clouds minutes before the Derby field took to the track, shining brightly off Super Saver's white WinStar silks. The bay colt broke well from his 4 post and Borel immediately steered him over to the rail as Conveyance (Indian Charlie) moved up to lead the massive field through splits of :22 3/5, :46 and 1:10 2/5. Sidney's Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]) was drafting off the pacesetter's flank and Line of David (Lion Heart) tracked in third.

Noble's Promise (Cuvee) moved up to take over third from Line of David, and was in the perfect spot to grab the lead from Conveyance as he began backing up. Posting the mile in 1:37 3/5, the bay wasn't allowed to hold the advantage for long, as Super Saver was moving up to his inside.


In a ride that paralleled last year's win aboard Mine That Bird (Birdstone) in the Derby, Borel kept Super Saver skimming the rail all the way around until nearing Conveyance. Angling slightly off the inside, Super Saver smoothly passed the early pacesetter rounding the turn and then headed right back toward the rail. The three-year-old maintained his momentum to pass Noble's Promise and then hold a closing Ice Box, giving his connections the historic win while 2 1/2 lengths clear on the wire.


Borel celebrated his second straight Derby win aboard Super Saver (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com)
"I had him where I wanted," Borel said. "I got him off the pace and he relaxed good. I learned a lot the last time I rode him (in the Arkansas Derby). The first time I rode him, I won on the lead, but in the last race, I took him back and learned a lot about him.

Sent off the 8-1 second choice in the full 20-horse field, Super Saver earned his first victory since taking the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) under the Twin Spires as a two-year-old. Borel was aboard for that ride as well, and this win rewarded supporters with payouts of $18, $8.80 and $6. Sent off at 11-1, Ice Box (Pulpit) rallied to take second over Paddy O'Prado (El Prado [Ire]), returning $11.20 and $8 while keying the $152.40 exacta. Paddy O'Prado was worth $7.40 at 12-1 and ended the $2,337.40 trifecta.

Make Music for Me (Bernstein), who just got into the Run for the Roses at the last minute, took fourth over Noble's Promise and completed the stellar $202,569.20 superfecta (4-2-10-9). Following the top five under the wire was an unlucky Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike), who was bumped and forced to check repeatedly as the 6-1 favorite.

Dublin (Afleet Alex), Stately Victor (Ghostzapper), Mission Impazible (Unbridled's Song), Devil May Care (Malibu Moon), American Lion (Tiznow), Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil), Discreetly Mine (Mineshaft), Dean's Kitten (Kitten's Joy), Conveyance, Homeboykris (Roman Ruler), Sidney's Candy, Line of David, Awesome Act (Awesome Again) and Backtalk (Smarty Jones) completed the order under the wire.


The first Kentucky Jockey Club winner to take the Derby since Cannonade in 1974, Super Saver's only other career victory came when he broke his maiden in the slop by seven lengths at Belmont Park last September. That came in his second lifetime start, and the bay colt would make his stakes bow a fourth-place run in the Champagne S. (G1), just two lengths behind winner Homeboykris.

Super Saver ended 2009 on a high note when winning the Kentucky Jockey Club and returned off a near four-month break to just miss by a half-length when third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). The sophomore reunited with Borel to make his final Run for the for Roses prep in the Arkansas Derby (G1), where a neck was all that separated him and victor Line of David on the line. The winner's share of the $2,185,200 purse shot Super Saver's earnings to $1,826,432 and his mark now stands at 7-3-2-1.

The Kentucky-bred, whose stablemates Eskendereya (Giant's Causeway) and fellow WinStar homebred Rule (Roman Ruler) were withdrawn from Derby consideration earlier in the week, is out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Supercharger. The 15-year-old mare has since produced an unraced juvenile colt named Brethren (Distorted Humor), an unnamed Awesome Again yearling filly and a 2010 colt by Medaglia d'Oro.

This is a stellar black-type family as Supercharger is a full sister to Grade 2 scorers Daydreaming and Girolamo as well as a Grade 3 hero and Grade 1-placed Accelerator. She is also a full sister to the unraced She's a Winner, herself the dam of 2006 Haskell Invitational (G1) winner Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat), who ran second in that year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont S. (G1), and Grade 2 victor Lord of the Game (Saint Ballado).

Super Saver's second dam is Grade 3 winner Get Lucky (Mr. Prospector), a full sister to 1989 champion two-year-old colt and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) victor Rhythm as well as successful stakes-placed sire Not for Love. The trio's half-sister Oscillate (Seattle Slew) is the dam of another well-known sire, Group 2-placed listed winner Mutakddim (Seeking the Gold), and Grade 1 runner-up Smooth Charmer (Easy Goer).


Farther back, Super Saver counts as his fourth dam 1971 champion two-year-old filly Numbered Account (Buckpasser), who would go on in the breeding shed to produce his third dam, Grade 1 queen Dance Number (Northern Dancer), and multiple Grade 1-winning sire Private Account. Others of note in this line include Irish champion and top sire Woodman (Mr. Prospector) as well as Group 1 winner Assatis (Topsider).