Updated: February 20, 2012. This week's rankings come directly from Jill Byne, Director of On Air Communications and official handicapper at Churchill Downs. This is our first professional contenders list for the 2012 Kentucky Derby!
Byrne is an accomplished horsewoman who worked in the development of 1997 Horse of the Year and juvenile champion Favorite Trick and Countess Diana.
Next Update: Monday, February 27. Be sure to subscribe to the Derby Experiences blog and follow QuintEvents on Facebook and Twitter @QuintEvents for updates on this year’s Kentucky Derby.
Top 10 Kentucky Derby Contenders
1. El Padrino - El Padrino had a poor sowing in the Remsen but has shown some promise contending in some races. He will be a horse to watch to see if he can kick it up another level and contend in major races.
2. Gemologist - Gemologist is another undefeated colt with a perfect record from three races. His last win came at Churchill Downs where he won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. He has enough graded stakes earnings to compete in this year's Kentucky Derby, so be on the lookout for Gemologist this May!
3. Union Rags - Graded Stakes noted that they are concerned about Union Rags ability to go the classic distance in the Derby. He was unlucky in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with only a second place finish, but won the Champagne and Saratoga Special in blowout fashion. He is currently second in graded stakes earnings with $830,000.
4. Algorithms - Algorithms won the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park by five lengths on January 29. He opens as the favorite to win this year’s Kentucky Derby according to the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1.
5. I'll Have Another - I'll Have Another won the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes in shocking fashion at 43-1 odds! He has now earned $184,000 from his 4-2-1-0 line and is now 15th in graded stakes earnings.
6. Out of Bounds - His win at the Sham Stakes in January caught the attention of many Derby futures. Out of Bounds is a large colt who seems to have limitless potential and a big motor get him around the lengthy Kentucky Derby.
7. Fed Biz - Fed Biz's recent win at Santa Anita has gotten the attention from many Derby experts. He has plenty of questions to answer, but he is well on his way to generating enough graded stakes earnings for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.
8. Alpha - Alpha made it two straight wins over the Aqueduct inner track this winter winning the Withers Stakes last Saturday by 3 ¼ lengths. Godolphin-owned colt continues to enhance his credentials as a serious contender for this year's Kentucky Derby.
9. Creative Cause - Creative Cause finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which was an impressive finish given who he finished behind, Union Rags and Hansen. He opens up as a 20-1 favorite and is currently fifth in graded stakes earnings.
10. Take Charge Indy - Take Charge Indy opened as a 30-1 favorite to win this year's Kentucky Derby. Though he has not raced since the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Take Charge Indy won his debut in Arlington, finished second in the Arlington-Washington Futurity, and fourth in the Breeders' Futurity.
Who are your top 10 contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby? List yours below!
Ready for the first Saturday in May? See your contenders face off at Churchill Downs® in the "Run for the Roses" at the Kentucky Derby! Get Official Ticket Packages from Churchill Downs® now!
Last Updated: February 10, 2012. This is our first of many rankings of the 2012 Kentucky Derby contenders. Our first contender ranking is centered on the announcement of Pool 1 of the 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
A Pool 1 field horse has wound up winning the Derby in six of the last 13 years, including Animal Kingdom’s win last year!
Next Update: I will track the top contenders of the 2012 Kentucky Derby and list my top 10 every Monday. Be sure to subscribe to the Derby Experiences blog and follow QuintEvents on Facebook and Twitter @QuintEvents for updates on this year’s Kentucky Derby.
Top 10 Kentucky Derby Contenders
The field of all others opened as the morning-line favorite at 9-5, which is a common occurrence since Churchill Downs began offering pari-mutuel futures in 1999.
1.Algorithms (8-1) – Algorithms won the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park by five lengths on January 29. He opens as the favorite to win this year’s Kentucky Derby and is showing no signs of slowing down in Derby qualifiers.
2. Union Rags (10-1) – Graded Stakes noted that they are concerned about Union Rags ability to go the classic distance in the Derby. He was unlucky in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with only a second place finish, but won the Champagne and Saratoga Special in blowout fashion. Union Rags open as the second favorite.
3. Hansen (12-1) – Hansen stumbled out the gates at the Holy Bull Stakes, but salvaged a second place finish. This has created some doubts in his ability to perform well at this year’s Derby. He is inexperienced, but has the potential to run well if he can start out of the gate well. Should be a horse to watch in the next few races.
4. Discreet Dancer (15-1) – Discreet Dancer set a track record for 5 ½ furlongs at Gulfstream Park winning his debut by 9 ¾ lengths on Dec. 3 and followed that impressive win with a 5 ½ lengths win in the Gulfstream Test. He opens as a 15-1 favorite and could be a horse on the rise.
5. Alpha (20-1) – Alpha made it two straight wins over the Aqueduct inner track this winter winning the Withers Stakes last Saturday by 3 ¼ lengths. Godolphin-owned colt continues to enhance his credentials as a serious contender for this year's Kentucky Derby.
6. Gemologist (20-1) – Gemologist is another undefeated colt with a perfect record from three races. His last win came at Churchill Downs where he won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. This gave him some much needed graded stakes earnings and gave him experience on the Derby track.
7. Creative Cause (20-1) – Creative Cause finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which was an impressive finish given who he finished behind, Union Rags and Hansen. He opens up as a 20-1 favorite and is a horse to watch in many of the Derby qualifiers.
8. Out of Bounds (20-1) – His win at the Sham Stakes in January caught the attention of many Derby futures. Out of Bounds is a large colt who seems to have limitless potential and a big motor get him around the lengthy Kentucky Derby.
9. El Padrino (20-1) – El Padrino had a poor sowing in the Remsen but has shown some promise contending in some races. He will be a horse to watch to see if he can kick it up another level and contend in major races.
10. Sabercat (30-1) - Sabercat had an impressive four-length victory at the Delta Downs Jackpot in November. $600,000 payday assures that he'll have enough graded earnings to get into the field at the Kentucky Derby and at 30-1 could give betters a big payday.
Who are your top 10 contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby? List yours below!
Ready for the first Saturday in May? See your contenders face off at Churchill Downs® in the "Run for the Roses" at the Kentucky Derby! Get Official Ticket Packages from Churchill Downs® now!
In the mainstream sporting world, the buzz is surrounding the NFL Playoffs, Tebowing, NCAA basketball, and the upcoming NFL Super Bowl.
In the horse racing world, it’s Derby Season!
That’s right, the Kentucky Derby® is four months away, but Derby prep season is upon us!
The Derby Prep Season
Thoroughbreds qualify for the Kentucky Derby through graded stakes races. The Derby is limited to 20 starters and entry is based on graded stakes earnings.
There are 36 prep races for the 138th Kentucky Derby, including 18 graded stakes preps. To qualify for the Kentucky Derby, horses must be among the top 20 of lifetime graded stakes earners.
January 7, 2012, kicked off the Derby prep season with the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park. This marked the first of a series of races restricted to 3-year-olds in preparation for the Kentucky Derby. The next major graded stakes prep is Lecomte at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
Last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, was 15th on the list of lifetime graded stakes earnings for the 2011 Kentucky Derby. He won his first and only graded stakes race at Turfway Park’s Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes, March 26, 2011, which qualified him for the Kentucky Derby.
- With lifetime graded stakes earnings being the means of entry, horses that won graded stakes race as two-year-olds have an advantage over horses that began their graded stakes career at the age of three.
- Thoroughbreds do not need to win prep races to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, but a win at a major graded stakes race will almost assure a horse a spot.
Let the Journey Begin...
Like all derbies, the Kentucky Derby restricts its entries to three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
As January 1st came and went, all Thoroughbred race horses, no matter what date they were actually born, officially turned a year older. That means all registered Thoroughbred horses, which were born in 2009, turned three-years-old on January 1, 2012, making them eligible for the 138th Kentucky Derby.
The road to the Kentucky Derby can be a grueling one for many Thoroughbreds and can mean heartbreak for many owners/trainers if their horse does not qualify.
To qualify for the “Run for the Roses” is a feeling unlike any other and makes the journey well worth the trip. To SEE the Run for the Roses is the experience of a lifetime. FEEL the thrill of victory at the 138th Kentucky Derby with Official Ticket Packages direct from Churchill Downs® through Derby Experiences.
Who do you think will be the top contender in this year’s Kentucky Derby?
Share your thoughts below and be sure to follow QuintEvents on Facebook and Twitter for updates on the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby.
To experience the Kentucky Derby for yourself, visit www.DerbyExperiences.com for Derby ticket and experience packages. Make sure you are there this May when history is made at the 138th Kentucky Derby!
**Update** Animal Kingdom, the long shot winner of the 137th Kentucky Derby, earned an Eclipse Award last night for his incredible 2011 race season.
Animal Kingdom earned 3-year-old male honors, edging Caleb's Posse, 114-111 in the voting.
He was nominated in the Three-Year-Old Male Division January 5th, along with Preakness Stakes winner, Stableford, and Breeder’s Cup Dirt Mile champion, Caleb’s Posse.
Recognizing excellence in Thoroughbred racing, the Eclipse Awards are presented annually to recognize those horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories.
The Eclipse Awards are determined by 267 voters representing the Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters.
The 41st Eclipse Awards was held January 16, 2012, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.
Animal Kingdom was a 21-1 favorite for the 137th Kentucky Derby and was overlooked by many as a serious contender. Struggling early in the race, Animal Kingdom charged down the backstretch and won by a length. A comeback that will go down as one of the greatest in Derby history
Click here for a complete list of 2011 Eclipse Awards winners.
Do you agree with Animal Kingdom's Eclipse Award win? Share your opinions below.
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The biggest topic of last year’s Kentucky Derby was not the morning favorite, the betting odds, or the buzz of a potential Triple Crown winner. Rather, many Derby goers were fixed to Doppler radars, weather reports, and the nearest seller of weather proof attire.
Weather ruled the buzz of the 2011 Kentucky Derby and for good reason. The Southeast was hammered leading up to the 2011 Kentucky Derby, which generated skeptics questioning the condition of the track and the likelihood of a timely start.
Facts:
- Nearly half of the 137 Kentucky Derbys have taken place during rain.
- The Kentucky Derby has never been canceled due to the weather, but delayed starts are common.
- Races are only delayed if there is lightning.
- Races are run in the rain!
What most Derby goers don’t realize is that most of the seating areas at Churchill Downs are uncovered, including a completely uncovered infield. Attendees without covered seating must brace the day’s elements and risk being soaked by unpredictable weather.
With the Kentucky Derby being one of the most fashionable sporting events of the year, why would anyone want to risk the appearance of their Savannah hats and rain in their Mint Juleps?
The Secrets of Churchill Downs®:
To battle the toils of unsavory weather, Churchill Downs built covered
hospitality areas in an effort to keep the worries away from the sky and onto the most exciting two minutes in sports! These
hospitality venueswere created to offer sanctuary from the harsh elements, a place to reunite with your group and packed with amenities like the luxury of a private dining area with comfortable seating.
There are many different venues strategically placed around the grounds of Churchill Downs that offer simulcast televisions, private betting kiosks and in some cases, even live entertainment and celebrity appearances! So, how do you get access to these amazing venues?
VIP Secrets:
Churchill Downs partnered with QuintEvents to create these
hospitality venues and made access to them ONLY available through their Official Packages. So, where do you get these packages?
www.DerbyExperiences.com, the Official website for ticket packages that include these amazing hospitality venues, and much more!
Derby Experiences’ ticket packages come direct from Churchill Downs and include tickets to the Kentucky Oaks and/or Kentucky Derby, and other insider extras including access to hospitality venues at Churchill Downs, celebrity meet & greets, transportation, parking, parties, tours, accommodations, VIP gift bags and more!
So when you’re booking your tickets to the 138th Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks, make sure you’re “covered” and book through Derby Experiences, the Official Experience Package Provider for Churchill Downs®.
To book your Kentucky Derby and/or Kentucky Oaks package, please visit our website at www.derbyexperiences.com.
Did you get caught in the rain at the Kentucky Derby or hear of someone that did? Tell us your story!
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