The time finally has come to make something resembling selections....
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So, the post position draw finally is out of the way and none of the major contenders got burned....
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The four unknowingly helped inspire the name of Kentucky Derby contender Normandy Invasion, along with the other thousands of brave soldiers who participated in the historic events of June 6, 1944. ...
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Each year, there is at least one horse you take an instant liking to....
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If this year's Derby has you confused now, you'll really be tested if the projected forecast for rain on Saturday holds true....
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It didn't take the eagle eye of Bob Baffert long to zero in on Orb, who has flourished since arriving at Churchill Downs....
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You want Derby works, boy do we have Derby works. A total of eight Derby horses had their final drills Saturday morning, many of them moved up a day due to the impending rain expected later today and tomorrow....
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What better way to kick off live Kentucky Derby coverage than with a photo gallery of some of the major players and some early observations....
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In the case of Palace Malice, it was a simple, but fateful, decision by Burl McBride, the trainer of the colt's dam, Palace Rumor, that has led the son of Curlin to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby....
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Just as a reminder to those who have now dismissed Verrazano as a potential Kentucky Derby winner, take note of past Derbys....
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David Nunn and Formal Gold rekindle memories....
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Dirt, grass, Polytrack, Tapeta, it doesn't matter. He has excelled on all of them....
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While many of the leading 3-year-olds were competing in the warm, sunny climes of Florida and Louisiana, a silent assassin was laying low up in the chilly confines of Belmont Park....
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What they have in common is they all carry the John Nerud influence in their pedigree, mainly through the descendents of Fappiano and Dr. Fager and continuing through Unbridled and Quiet American. It is the last two on which we will concentrate, as they both reflect the true genius of Nerud, who celebrated his 100th birthday this year. What is ironic is that Nerud never believed in the Derby and ran only one horse in the race -- Gallant Man in 1957....
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Just seeing the name Broad Brush brought back a flood of memories, evoking images of one of the toughest racehorses I've ever been around, and in many ways the most remarkable....
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U.S. horses slump in the Dubai World Cup since surface change....
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If there is one thing we've learned from the new points system, it's that you're playing with fire by skipping the 50-point races and going straight from the wee little 10-pointers to the big, bad 100-pointers....
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Who, at this time, had heard of or paid any attention to Animal Kingdom, Big Brown, Mine That Bird, Funny Cide, War Emblem, Grindstone or Giacomo?...
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The Kentucky Derby is like a mountain. It never changes and never withers with time. But in some ways it does change, as every year, new climbers gather on its slopes and attempt to reach the summit, disregarding the many perils along the way....
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Shakin It Up's early career has parallels to another Bob Baffert runner, 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm....
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In 1971, when Cot Campbell started the concept of buying horses at auction for the purpose of forming syndicates, he had to watch one of his first rejects, Canonero II, who he turned down for $1,200 because of a crooked leg, win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Now that Campbell has announced his retirement from syndicates at age 84 after revolutionizing the sport, how appropriate would it be for him to finally get that elusive Derby winner 42 years later?
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Patton vs. Rommel! Lee vs. Meade! Washington vs. Cornwallis! Pletcher vs. Baffert? Yes, the armies are massing and they could confront each other on the banks of the Ohio on the first Saturday in May....
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Step back in time and enjoy the images of racing and the horses who made history....
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The Kentucky Derby graded earnings system is gone, thank goodness. No more one-time 2-year-old hotshots getting a free pass and riding the gravy train all the way to Louisville. Those lucrative 2-year-old races no longer will get you a starting berth in the Derby, although we feel some tweaking is needed to separate the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Champagne, and FrontRunner from the other 10-point juvenile races...
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When Dutrow does return, assuming he has exhausted all avenues and finally capitulates, he'll be 64....
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