10 Things We Learned From Kentucky Derby 136
May 2nd, 2010By Jude T. Feld
WinStar Farm’s Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and jockey Calvin Borel looking good in the post parade minutes before their impressive victory.AMANDA DUCKWORTH PHOTO
Super Saver ran a 105 Brisnet speed figure. It was the highest of his life and three points higher than any other horse in the field ever posted. It was two points lower than the 107 par for the Kentucky Derby however. Still a very solid effort in extremely trying conditions. He is a fresh horse heading into the Preakness and Belmont.
Calvin Borel should be in the Hall of Fame. The man is not just another pretty face, who dines with Queens and Presidents. He is a jockey of the highest quality, who knows how to get the job done “when the whole world is watching.†He will be in big demand for this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
When Todd Pletcher tells you it’s Easter, paint your eggs. A man of few words, he said a week before the Derby that Super Saver had never trained better in his life. It was A Message to Garcia.
Garrett Gomez would have been a magnificent Pony Express rider. Go back and watch the replay of Kentucky Derby 136. All that is missing is a cowboy hat and a set of pearl-handled pistols. It looked like Jesse James was chasing him. (And I don’t mean Sandra Bullock’s ex-husband.)
It is impossible to decide to run in the Derby 10 days out and win. I wonder what impact Devil May Care would have had in the Kentucky Oaks? She ran o.k. in the Derby, but on a fast track, against easier competition…? After all, Blind Luck almost got beat.
Ice Box ran incredibly well. Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito was once “the voice’ of the Kentucky Derby, never missing an interview or photo op. In the last few years, he has become almost reclusive, but “the quiet man†can train a Derby horse as good as anybody.
The bottom 10 finishers were much easier to predict than the top 10 finishers. Really, look at the chart. Other than the non-descript performance by Awesome Act, for various reasons, I didn’t think the other nine had much of a chance of winning the Derby.
Regardless of Bob Baffert’s laments, post positions going a mile and a quarter are irrelevant. Much ado was made of Lookin At Lucky drawing the rail, yet Ice Box ran huge from the two-hole. Was that a much better post? Super Saver drew the four. Was that a big edge over ‘Lucky? Joe Talamo did a great job of saving ground from the 20 post, but did his horse figure to finally be challenged on the front end and wilt in the drive? Yes. It wasn’t the post that beat him.
Track announcer Mark Johnson is a tremendous asset to Churchill Downs. Articulate, entertaining, a student of the game and a lover of our sport, the Englishman adds a lot to a day’s racing, even if he calls Derby City “Louie Ville.â€
Derby Pick Six players are scrambling for cash. None of them nailed all the longshots, so there is a $947,641 carryover to Thursday’s card. Get handicapping!
