Morning Line : Big Brown

Preakness Draw: In the 'Zone'

ehammonds — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Par-tay
11 a.m.

The Alibi Breakfast is underway. A Preakness tradition, the Maryland Jockey Club offers a big spread of breakfast delights, plenty of juice and coffee, and a Black-Eyed Susan, if you’re so inclined.

It’s a chance for trainers and owners to offer up an “alibi” for the race. None do this year. In fact, most are more than candid.

After being goaded by host Chris Lincoln, trainer Rick Dutrow concedes and gives a “go to the windows” statement about Big Brown. The Derby winner is the 1-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Preakness.

Others concede to Big Brown.

“We all have the same horse to beat,” said trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., who conditions Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) winner Hey Byrn.

“It’s Big Brown’s party, but we’re happy to be here,” says Yankee Bravo’s trainer, Paddy Gallagher. –E.H.

Setting the Table
8:50 a.m.

The apron area at Pimlico fills with portable seats for the Preakness;
good viewing areas are at a premium

Clockwork
8:30 a.m.

Right on time, Big Brown exits the stakes barn to head to the track for a morning gallop. He’s met by a few hundred of his closest friend and admirers, the media. Exercise rider Michelle Nevin guides the big fella to take a sharp left and head out over the “Preakness” path to the track.

There are two wood-chipped pathways to the track from the stakes barn. The “Preakness path goes around another barn and meanders around along the back fence of the Pimlico property. It’s the long way around. Big Brown and Nevin are in no hurry.

Out the track, they take two laps around the dirt track at a nice, easy gait. Trainer Rick Dutrow and IEAH Stables principal Michael Iavarone look on. Later, Dutrow would say “Big Brown is not the kind of horse that takes your breath away in the morning.” We’re not so sure. He looks pretty good on this morning.

Back at the barn, a good section of the grassy area behind the stakes barn is roped off with yellow caution tape. Big Brown has a wide area in which to receive his morning bath.

Dutrow later takes to a podium to answer few questions.

He’s asked how great it is to have a horse like Big Brown?

“Any trainer in the world would love to be training Big Brown,” he says. “I’m in a special spot. It’s so interesting. He’s such a cool horse. I love it. You dream about it (having a horse like this).

“The first time I got excited about him was when he was at the quarter pole the first time that we ran him. It just took my breath away. I never imagined he could run like that.”

How will the colt take to the crowd in Baltimore?

“Big Brown is laid back,” Dutrow says. “He doesn’t get excited. It’s a good thing in front of a big crowd. When we put the bridle on him for the Derby, I wanted to take his temperature…I thought he was sick. He didn’t even care that we were going over there. It meant nothing to him at all.”

What’s up between now and the Preakness?

“I’m just wasting my time,” he says. “I just can’t wait to get over there for Saturday. There’s nothing that I’m going to do in the mean time to get me excited.” - E.H.

Where's Waldo? The Derby winner is in there somewhere...

Draw This One Up
Wednesday Evening

The post position draw for the Preakness Stakes is nothing like the draw for the Kentucky Derby: it’s just a good, old-fashion draw…with a little mustard on it.

Like the Derby, the event takes place in front of the national television cameras of ESPN2 and it takes place in a downtown setting. However, the connections don’t get to choose their starting gate spot, and the event takes place behind closed doors at the ESPN Zone restaurant.

The show runs an hour, which is long time to pull out 13 post positions. Derby winner and 1-2 morning line favorite Big Brown draws post seven…not too inside, not too outside…just right. With a long run to the first turn at Pimlico, and a 13-horse field, one can’t complain about any of the posts.

After the draw, the connections on hand are encouraged to come over to another room and address the media. Brightly dressed young girls hold signs of the runners where the connections are supposed to stand. Some draw plenty of attention, some are by themselves because none of the connections are there.

Cameras flock to Reade Baker, trainer of Kentucky Bear, and his wife, Janice. Terry Finley, who operates West Point Thoroughbreds – they have Derby Trial winner Macho Again breaking from the rail in the field, conducts some interviews.

Macho Again’s trainer, Dallas Stewart, pulled a good move earlier in the day, vanning his colt from Louisville to Lexington to hop an earlier flight to Baltimore, along with Preakness runners Gayego and Yankee Bravo. The plane then flew back to Kentucky, this time Louisville, to pick up another crew of runners including Big Brown. The flight was late departing the Derby city.

“Sometimes planes can get backed up and we took a calculated risk,” Finley said of the early move. “We didn’t want to get here after feed time. It saved us about four hours and now he’s settled in. We’re going after every edge we can.”

The majority of cameras zoom in on Michael Iavarone, the principal behind IEAH Stables, the majority owner of Big Brown.

After most of the sound bites have been said, Iavarone drops a bombshell on the industry by stating the chances of Big Brown racing as a 4-year-old are “none,” and if he doesn’t win the Preakness, the colt will likely to skip the Belmont. -E.H.

Thursday: And Then There Were 20

ehammonds — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:00:00 GMT

9:45 a.m.
Ground Delivery

There's always plenty of hay around the backstretch of any track, so it was a little surprising when we saw a bale arriving special delivery. It's no surprise though, that this bale was being delivered to Big Brown by UPS, aka "Big Brown." Louisville is the North American hub for UPS, so he'll have plenty of local support on Saturday. One fan is the delivery man, Pat Murphy, who has worked for UPS for 22 years.

Oddly enough, it is his first delivery to Churchill Downs. -E.H.

Pat Murphy has never bailed on a delivery

9:35 a.m.
Toes

Jennifer Brown shows us Toes, the six-toed cat.

Toes used to belong to trainer Mitch Shiroda. Mitch still stops by to deliver some food, but he’s in a different barn now. Toes is a about a year and a half old.

“He got hit by a car last year and we actually thought we were going to have to put him down,” Brown says. “They thought he broke his back. He started getting better and Mitch put him on a leash so he couldn’t run around. It was cute.”

That was one of Toes’ nine lives.

Now he’s back like nothing happened. He’s quite the media star today as several photographers have come to shoot him.

Toes is what is known as a polydactyl cat, or “Hemingway Cat,” named for the author, Ernest Hemingway, who had a six-toed Maine Coon cat at his home in Key West, Fla. –E.H.

Toes 'takes six' on the backstretch at Churchill Downs

8:45 a.m.
Taking Aim

Big Brown has made his entrance, and his exit, from the track this morning. Over at Barn 33, Aimee Dollase gives a leg up to an exercise rider. She’s the daughter of trainer Wally Dollase.

She’s also a great handicapper. She’s seen most of the Derby horses so we know her insight will be of interest.

“Colonel John looks phenomenal,” she says. “He looks like he’s really improved since the Santa Anita Derby. Flesh-wise, it looks like he’s put on a lot of weight and is strong. He’ll be in a really good tactical position because there is a lot of speed in the race.

“Big Brown just worked awesome,” she tells us. “He looks like he’s really something special, and I think with their post (20), they’re just trying to stay out of trouble as much as they can. There is the possibility they might lose some ground, but I think (jockey) Kent (Desormeaux) knows what he has.”

OK, Aimee, you’ve given us the top two choices. How about an outsider?

“Visionaire, I think is going to be a big surprise because the way the race might set up. If they go too quick early and get a little wobbly-legged, he’s going to be flying. He’s consistent horse and an honest horse. I think he’ll run a big one.”

She should know, in the barn is his half-sister, Scarlet Love. –E.H.

8:15 a.m.
Give the Guy a Go

Paulo Lobo stands outside of Barn 33, reading a copy of the Lexington Herald-Leader - an article by sports columnist John Clay, to be exact. The story is headlined "Give this guy a go," and reviews Lobo's chances at winning the Kentucky Derby with Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Gayego.

As Lobo is reading, Gary Drake from New Phoenix Racing steps up with a copy of The Blood-Horse opened to an ad featuring Gayego. No, Drake doesn't want the trainer's autograph. He points to an inset photo of a yearling, by Sarava out of Devils Lake. It is Gayego's half-brother.

"We'd like you to take a look at him," Drake says. "We might want to send him to California."

Later, once phone numbers have been exchanged, Lobo talks of breaking from post 19 in the 20-horse Derby field.

"He has very good tactical speed, so if he's going to avoid traffic on Saturday I'd rather have him on the outside. It's not a perfect draw, but it's better than the one hole, down inside."

Gayego walked the shedrow today, has not schooled at all since arriving at Churchill.

"I've never done that with him," Lobo says. "He's a very calm horse to be around. There were a lot of people at Oaklawn Park (for the Arkansas Derby) and he never batted an eye."

There'll be a lot more at Churchill on Saturday. -C.N.

7:10 a.m.
Bag Lady

Down by the rail, a familiar figure catches the eye. It's Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, who rode Lil E Tee to victory in the 1992 Kentucky Derby. Day, of course, has since retired - but he hasn't slowed down.He stays active with the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America and Mom's Closet Center, the latter being a non-profit operated by his wife, Sheila Day.

This morning, Day plays escort to a group of guests who watch the works with great interest. Among them is Susan Handley, president and founder of Bijou Bags, the sponsor of yesterday's Winner's Purse luncheon fundraiser for Mom's Closet Center. The Los Angeles resident flew in to attend the event, which was held on behalf of single women in the Louisville area.

"I loved it," she says. "When I found out about the mission statement I knew it was right up our alley, because I started my company five years ago as a single mom and it wasn't easy. I spend as much time as possible inspiring other women with my story, and the opportunity to do so here was a great fit."

And, of course, it's nice to be at the Derby.

"I told my husband, we'll probably get on the plane next week and say 'What just happened to us?'" she says. "The hospitality in this city is just amazing; the whole experience has been so exciting."

Derby picks?

"When I'm standing here, I love them all," she says. "But I've heard Big Brown is the horse to beat." -C.N.

7:00 a.m.
Once in a Lifetime

Outside of Barn 19, Susan Casner talks horses with WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden and her husband, Bill. They're waiting for Bill Mott to escort the Derby contenders to the track - WinStar owns Court Vision in partnership with IEAH, while Zayat Stables' Z Humor is also in the trainer's barn.

Asked which Derby contender she wants to win, Casner smiles.

"Well, I love Court Vision, but Colonel John is my baby," she says. "I picked the mare - or, actually, the mare picked me, so I've been connected to him since before he was born."

As Casner tells it, Colonel John's mare - Sweet Damsel - was at a Keeneland sale when a WinStar horse was about to go through the ring.

"She came through and I said, 'Bill, look at that mare!'" Casner recounts. "She was big and black and just very impressive - talk about presence. When she went through I said, 'Bill, did you get her for me?' And he said, 'Who, what?' You know how men are. I said, 'That mare I mentioned!' So he went running back to the sales office and she hadn't sold. He went out to look at her and bought her the next day."

Sweet Damsel is often turned out in the pasture in front of the Casner home on WinStar Farm, where her owners can watch her graze with her foals.

"She has beautiful babies, and I've always had a connection with her," Casner says. "Bill keeps asking me, 'Do you want to go to the sales and pick out another mare?' But I think it's a once in a lifetime experience." -C.N.

6:55 a.m.
HRH

Eight Belles may be the belle of this year’s Kentucky Derby, but Penny Chenery is the Queen of the Triple Crown. Her Royal Highness was on hand on the backstretch this morning donning a bright red sweatshirt with a rather large “BIG RED” logo.

Big Red, of course, is Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Triple Crown. His Derby win is still the fastest on record and his 2:24 clocking in the Belmont will likely never be shaded. Oh yeah, by the way, Chenery also won the 1972 Derby with Riva Ridge.

On this morning, Chenery was picked up at 4:45 a.m. to make her way to the Downs. You can’t take the racetrack out of the girl.

She’s made the rounds on most of the local television morning programs that are broadcasting from the backstretch this week. She’s also signing bottles of Woodford Reserve Bourbon as fundraiser.

Woodford your brand of choice?

“Tiznow,” she says. –E.H.

6:45 a.m.
Friendly Pick

Michael Blowen is working grassy area in front of the media center on the backside at Churchill Downs. Wearing his signature green jacket with the gold “Old Friends” logo, Blowen is always on the lookout for old friends. He runs the retirement home for Thoroughbreds in Scott County near Lexington.

“We’re handing out invitations to our Sunday party,” he says. “It’s to welcome home Danthebluegrassman. It’s a welcome home party.”

“We got him for 7,500 bucks up at Penn National; a bargain,” he says.

Danthebluegrassman won the Northern Dancer Stakes at Churchill Downs when he was a 3-year-old. His Derby claim to fame was when he was entered in the Run for the Roses, then scratched. The move kept the Steve Asmussen-trained Windward Passage from making the field of 20.

How about a pick for this year?

“Z Fortune. He’s a grandson of Fortunate Prospect, one of our horses,” he says. “I hit with Giacomo because the Mosses gave us Ruhlmann and Kudos.”

The Mosses’ Giacomo won the 2005 Derby at 52-1.

Old Friends keeps pretty good company. –E.H.

Wednesday Evening
And Then There Were 20

The draw for post positions has been held at Fourth Street Live! for three years now…and this year’s edition was clearly the most interesting.

First off, the staged event in downtown Louisville was indeed live, while it didn’t play live on ESPN2. A soccer match on the Deuce ran long, so the folks at ESPN called an audible: hold the event, then run it on the air on a half-hour tape delay. Not that it mattered, but the majority of folks on sight never this was going on.

Second of all, the sound on site was been spotty at best, but this year, it was abysmal. There was some sort of University of Louisville pep band playing that was amplified a little too much. When it came to the key moment of drama in the show, where Big Brown was going to be slotted, there was no sound. Few heard the morning line favorite for the race was going to break from post 20 until they saw it on the monitor No wonder a hush fell over the crowd…they didn’t know it was going on.

Then, filling out the trifecta, Mother Nature stepped in with a gust of wind to blow the placards off the board with five more entrants to choose from. I would imagine that next year’s draw will include Velcro.

Following some lively discussion and a swank buffet line inside the bar “Felt” for the connections, most headed out for dinner. Another crowd, larger-and younger-that what was on hand for the draw was building at Fourth Street Live! as a concert was getting ready to go on.

We didn’t stick around, but we doubt the band could touch the Leningrad Cowboys. –E.H.

The "In Crowd" at Fourth Street Live!

Wednesday Evening
The Other Colonel in Kentucky This Week

Colonel Sanders look-a-like at Fourth Street Live!

Super Tuesday

ehammonds — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:34:00 GMT

2:00 p.m.
A Site to See

An electronic press release arrives in our in box. WinStar Farm announces they have set up a Web site for their Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Colonel John. One of the favorites for Saturday's Kentucky Derby, fans can go inside the WinStar camp for daily information at www.coloneljohn2008.com

Sir, Yes Sir!

1:10 p.m.
Open Seating

Its 46 degrees in Louisville on Tuesday; after the first race, there's plenty of open seating outside

9:20 a.m.
The Dirt on Polytrack

Trainer Nick Zito is holding court with a ring of media members outside his barn. The two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer has two starters for Saturday’s running: Cool Coal Man and Anak Naktal. As outspoken as any other trainer in the game, Zito is talking about the subject of the year: synthetic surfaces.

We have a feeling he’s not a big fan.

Three weeks ago at Keeneland, even-money favorite Pyro, Big Truck, and Cool Coal Man all ran up the track in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) over Polytrack. All three will seek to bounce back in the Derby.

Zito has made his career by being the New York trainer whom the state of Kentucky has embraced. Throughout his great run in the Derby, that started with Strike the Gold in 1991, he has made a point to use Keeneland as steppingstone.

“I took my New York act to Keeneland and they adopted me in Kentucky,” Zito says. “For me not to run there, breaks my heart. But how can I run? I don’t have turf horses. I don’t have horses that like the Polytrack. It’s obvious. But I’ll do good over here (Churchill). I did good in New York and I did good in Florida. I’ll do good where there’s dirt and grass.

“You can’t even make it up – for those horses, not one of them to hit the board. But it’s a good subject. It keeps people talking. Racing needs that. Forget the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is an event. For the sport in general, you have to talk about things like this. It’s a big issue. You’ve got 200 years of breeding that is going to be affected. They never ran on those kind of surfaces. Right now the Triple Crown is on dirt…and that’s good.” –E.H.

Zito dishs dirt on synthetic surfaces

8:30 a.m.

Brown Town

Big Brown takes to the track at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning

8 a.m.
Ultimate Combo

Right by the main gap on the backstretch the Louisville Thoroughbred Club has set up a fundraising stand selling sausage and biscuits to the crowd on the backstretch. President, founder, and “benevolent dictator” of the club--Manny Cadima—mans the station. Taking a closer look, Manny shows us a bottle of “My Racing Heart" perfume.

Pork sausage and perfume…now that’s the ultimate combo.

We catch the scent from a spritz he puts on a piece of paper. Hey, not bad.

“We hooked with an outfit here in town called the Perfumery,” Manny says. “It’s $60 a bottle. It is also available in the Derby Museum and in the Churchill Downs gift shop.”

Cadima is now joined by Kate Wilt, executive director of My Racing Heart, a charitable foundation for retired racehorses.

“We have the Thoroughbred club, and we have our partnerships, which we call Thoroughbred Racing Nation, and the My Racing Heart Foundation, which is the latest edition” Cadima says. “So, we go from breeding them, to racing, and to retirement. We think we’re the first syndicate that has done that.”

“We realized we had our broodmares that were going to be aging out,” Wilt says. “We needed to start thinking about their retirement needs. It dovetailed into other interests that our charities had.”

“It’s one thing to talk about retirement, you have to actually be able to fund it,” Cadima said.

That’s where the perfume and sausage comes in.

During the course of the week, they hope to raise a few thousand dollars.

Sweet. –E.H.

Kate Wilt and Manny Cadima

7:37 a.m.
Quiet, Please

Trainer Graham Motion is available without any wait this morning, and there are no other reporters to share questions with. His barn has been quiet this week, which is fine with him. His starter, Adriano, has not raced since a March 22 score in the Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) over Polytrack. He's not exactly what you'd call a lock to win the Kentucky Derby.

And Adriano may not be quiet on Derby day. Although he's pleasant in the barn, he knows what happens at the races. And he gets excited about it.

"He's a very nice horse, very pleasant to be around in the barn, and anyone could get on and ride him when he's quiet, but he has a tendency to get very hot-blooded at the races," Motion says. "He gets riled up, so I try to be very repetitive about everything with him, and he's handling that quite well. I think it's a sign of class and maturity that he's responding well, he's growing up and still has a bit to do. He's only a May foal, so he's not really even three yet."

Motion says his colt will definitely school in the paddock, perhaps as many as three times, before the Derby. The pagentry of the crowd and the tension of the afternoon are definitely distracting, even to the most professional runners.

"He tends to get hot, that's something he's always done even around the barn, so hopefully it'll stay cooler," the trainer remarks. "I think he'll be managable, though." -C.N.

7:35 a.m.
Blanket Security

Roger Franklin and Dennis White are very, very happy as they close up their folding chairs and pack blankets into backpacks. It's the end of their eight-hour security shift at barn 42, where trainer H. Graham Motion keeps Adriano and four others prepping for the weekend's races.

"I can't wait to go home and get into a nice, warm bed," Franklin says. "It was pretty cold there around 4 a.m."

Franklin passed the dull hours by watching DVDs on his portable player. Showing this morning: Open Season and The Notebook.

"It's just something to pass the time," says Franklin. "The horse was fine, I got up to check on him every 10 minutes. Then I'd get back under my blanket."

Next time, we'll know to bring popcorn. -C.N.

7:30 a.m.
Parade Rest

Trainer Eoin Harty stops outside of Barn 41 to talk about Colonel John, his Derby starter. The Colonel is walking the shedrow after taking a light morning jog once around the track. He is not cranked up, but his strides are rapid and fluid as he swings along. He's definitely feeling his oats.

"He had a really easy morning, and he was full of himself," Harty sid. "I was just glad I got him around in one piece without him doing something stupid. When you combine a day off with this cooler weather, it puts them on their toes."

Colonel John worked impressively Sunday, blowing through five furlongs in :57 4/5. This morning, he's on parade rest. -C.N.

7:20 a.m.
Towers of Power

Television satellite towers near the media center on the backstretch

7:10 a.m.
Standing Tall

In the stand by the main gap on the backstretch, Elliott Walden, the vice president of WinStar Farm is standing with the crew from the IEAH Stables. The IEAH crew got into town yesterday – they figure to cut wide swath through Louisville as owners of two Derby starters: Big Brown and Court Vision. WinStar is in on Court Vision and also owns Colonel John.

Richard Schiavo of IEAH braces the 38 degree weather. Michael Iavarone, wearing a borrowed jacket, braces the fact he’ll have 104 people to take care of Derby weekend.

“We came here unprepared for the cold, “Schiavo says. But they are prepared for the festivities: trainer’s dinner tonight, draw downtown Wednesday. “Thursday, we have most of our people coming in," he says.

“To come here is exciting, to be lucky enough to run one, let alone two, is beyond belief.”

Court Vision gallops by. Colonel John is on the track. It doesn’t get any better than this. –E.H.

6:50 a.m.
Barn 23

Big Brown, the “big horse” for this year’s Kentucky Derby stands in stall 12 in Barn 22. The whole area around his stall has been cordoned off with yellow police tape. A security guard is doing her best to keep away the evil doers.

Across the way, in Barn 23, trainer Steve Margolis is working with his stable of 30 horses. One of his charges, Change Up, may run in Saturday’s Humana Distaff (gr. I). Margolis used to be stabled in the new “House of Brown,” but is now across the row in a bigger barn.

He got a good look at Big Brown this winter while he was at Gulfstream Park.

“He’s a beast to look at,” Margolis says. “He’s a big, monster looking horse. He’s a beautiful horse; he has a lot of presence to him.”

However, Margolis won’t make a Derby prediction until they draw post positions Wednesday night.

“I’ll tell you what, though, I happened to be over there when Colonel John worked the other day (Sunday), because I was working a few of my own, and that horse, man, he didn’t even look like he was going that fast. He went in 57 and change. I saw him come from the eighth pole home and he looked good.” –E.H.

6:10 a.m.

I Heart Proud Spell

Outside of Larry Jones' barn, assistant Casey York keeps an eye on Eight Belles and Proud Spell. Jones is nowhere to be found. He's taking it easy this morning, won't be at the track until around 7 a.m.

"This is about the only vacation time he gets," York says. "After we go back to Delaware, he's back to getting on 12 head a day. This morning, he only has to gallop two after the break."

Those two would be the fillies, Eight Belles pointed toward a start in the Derby and Proud Spell heading to the Kentucky Oaks.

"I'll tell you one thing, if Proud Spell was the size of Eight Belles, then they'd really be in trouble," York remarks. "Eight Belles is big, she's built like a linebacker. Proud Spell's only knock against her is her size. That's one of the reason we're running her in the Oaks - if she got smashed around a couple times, it would just take the air right out of her. Eight Belles can handle a couple knocks and keep on running. But let me tell you something about Proud Spell - she may be little, but she's got heart." - C.N.

Pop the Cork

5:55 a.m.

Trainer David Carroll is in high spirits this morning. Yesterday, he learned that his horse will make it into the Derby field on the graded earnings list, thanks to the defection of Padua Stables' Behindatthebar. Denis of Cork worked well Monday morning, skipping over the Churchill Downs surface in :48 flat for a half-mile. Today he will walk the shedrow.

A longtime favorite of online Blood-Horse readers has been the "Derby Names" story, about the origins of each Derby contender's title. Carroll gives us the history behind Denis of Cork's.

"Mr. (William) Warren loves to name his horses after people, and he's good friends with priest in Ireland from County Cork whose name is Father Denis Casey, so he named the horse after him."

How appropriate is it, then, that Irish-born Carroll be assigned the traiing duties for the colt?

"Ah, it's ironic. I'm from County Meath and we don't like Corkmen," he says. "But I sure do like Cork horses." -C.N.

Monday Evening
John With a Capital “E”

What is the Monday night before the Derby without dinner at John E’s Restaurant? The horsemen’s hangout has been a staple on this evening for years. With the sponsorship of Woodford Reserve and most of the Derby trainers on hand for a live radio broadcast with Paul Rogers, Caton Bredar, and Chris Lincoln, that makes for an instant Daily Double with the Thoroughbred set.

Some of the notable people and quotes from the evening:

First up was trainer Carl Nafzger, winner of the Derby last year with Street Sense and in 1990 with Unbridled. Last week, it was announced that Nafzger will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

“You think of who you are in there with: Whittingham, Nerud, you name them all…but then you think of the responsibility this sport has put on you,” he said. “Now, you’re representing the sport. It’s a humbling experience…and then you just keep your mouth shut.”

As for winning the Derby twice, he said: “I thought winning the Kentucky Derby the first time was the greatest trip I ever took,” he said. “It changed me from Carl ‘Who’ to Carl ‘Says.’ The second time around, it was…you know the train you’re on, you just slow down, and say, ‘I’m going to enjoy this.’ It’s a powerful ride.”

Ronnie Lamarque, co-owner of Recapturetheglory with trainer Louie Roussel, stole the show with his comments, remembering his glory ride 20 years ago with Preakness and Belmont (both gr. I) winner Risen Star.

“Twenty years ago, we were here with the greatest horse in America, Risen Star,” he said. “This year, we’re under the radar. We get no respect. 50-1-, 80-1, who cares? Anything can happen on the racetrack.”

"Our horse won a race called the Illinois Derby. They call it a ‘merry-go-round’ race,” he says. “They went around the track and no one improved their position. Maybe they were in the wrong place because we were standing at the finish line and it looked like a great merry-go-round to me.”

Then, as if on cue, Lamarque broke into song: “Way down yonder in New Orleans/Risen Star was the king of kings/Star was the talk of the town there/Oh, you know what I mean…”

Steve Asmussen is asked about both Pyro and Z Fortune.

“Pyro has a lot of experience; knows what is expected of him,” the trainer says of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner. However, in his next start, Pyro ran 10th over the Polytrack in the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I).

“As far as the synthetic surfaces go, I’ve figured out how to train on them, but you have to figure out how to race on them.”

Assistant trainer Mike McCarthy subbed for Todd Pletcher, who will send out Monba and Cowboy Cal (one-two finishers in the Blue Grass) next Saturday.

“Todd has been sick for the last four or five days,” McCarthy reports. “I guess he has strep throat. He’s fairly happy about that because the last time he had strep throat, he won a classic with Rags to Riches. He’s hoping lightning strikes twice.”

Jockey E.T. Baird (Recapturetheglory) was the only rider on hand, and he spoke out about his late father, R.L. “Bobby” Baird, who rode Raymond Earl in the 1978 Derby with Affirmed and Alydar and was fifth to Needles aboard Pintor Lea in the 1956 running.

“When he rode against Steve Cauthen, who was the youngest rider (Affirmed), at the time, my father was the oldest rider,” he says. “They were side by side in the gate, and he went to the lead. Sensitive Prince went by him down the backside and Affirmed ended up winning it.

“My dad told me he really thought he had a chance in 1956,” Baird says. “He always told me he might have won it that year, but the horse took a bad step and ended up breaking a foot. The day he passed away, he said that was his Derby to win.” –E.H.

E.T. Baird with Erica Nordean

Last Monday in April

cnovak — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:16:00 GMT

11 a.m.
Inspiring Artist

Out by section 115, Maureen O’Donnell Lassiter is working hard with her sketch pad. One look up and then down at her paper, you can see her inspiration: the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs.

The Louisville native loves the Downs. She’s getting an up-close look today, but often times she’ll sketch the landscape from memory.

While not an “artist,” Lassiter has a PhD in microbiology. Right now she’s not doing anything with her degree, but relishing her role as a grandmother.

She may, or may not be, at this year’s Derby, but she does have a pick that is perfect for her artist’s palette.

“It’s a wide open race,” she says, now as a handicapper. “But I like ‘brown’ horse: Big Brown. The reason is a personal one. My son works for UPS and I figure, ‘what can Brown do for me?’” – E.H.

9:09 a.m.
Flying Coach

Richard Migliore bounds through Barn 45 at Churchill Downs at a few minutes past nine. That’s late for a racetracker, but the jet-setting jockey has a valid excuse. He just got into town.

The California-based rider left the Left Coast at 11:30 and took a red-eye flight to Cincinnati, and then had to hop a flight to Louisville. Standiford Field in Louisville is just a few miles from the Twin Spires.

“I got to Cincinnati at 7:30 and I just got here now,” the Mig says. “I booked it so late, I wound up in coach in the middle of two people, but I was able to sleep a little.”

Mig made it town—and left Louisville on an 11:30 flight back to California—to work Bob Black Jack a half-mile over the Churchill Downs strip. It was a successful venture as they got in solid :48 3/5 drill in advance of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Ironically, the pair was ponied to the track by Kim Carroll, the wife of trainer David Carroll. Carroll trains Denis of Cork, who at the moment is 21st on the list by graded earnings and needs a defection to get into the big kahuna. The trainer kids that he instructed his wife to take them to the track…and then right to the outside fence.

That became a moot point by noon, when Behindatthebar was taken out of consideration for the Derby, putting Denis of Cork in at No. 20.

In his first six starts, Bob Black Jack was ridden by David Flores. Migliore was aboard for a runner-up effort in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

“At first, we figured David might ride him, but I told my agent that ‘I feel that we’re going to ride him,’” Mig says. “It was never a question in my mind; I just kind of knew.”

Migliore has had four mounts in the Derby throughout his illustrious career. His first mount, Eternal Prince in 1985, finished 12th. His best finish came in 2000 when he was fifth on Wheelaway. – E.H.

Team Bob Black Jack: Richard Migliore, trainer James Kasparoff, with an assit to Kim Carroll

9 a.m.
A Real Corker

Jockey Calvin Borel is holding court outside David Carroll’s barn. Winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense, Borel has just taken a tour of the Churchill Downs racing strip aboard the Carroll-trained Denis of Cork.

As of now, there is a very good possibility Denis of Cork will not run in the Derby. He’s on the outside looking in in terms of graded earnings, the yardstick when the racing office takes entries for the $2-million race tomorrow. Only the top 20 by graded stakes earnings get a shot at the roses.

“He’s peaking right now,” Borel laments. “This horse is getting better, and better, and better. Maybe we’ll get in.”

Carroll has a little rosier outlook on the situation.

“We got ourselves in this pickle…there’s no one to blame,” the trainer says in his thick Irish accent. “Mr. Williams (owner Warren) is a great man and was trying to do the best by his horse. You can’t point fingers anywhere. It is what it is.

“My best friend’s daughter is in the hospital right now, and that’s putting things into perspective. We hope she makes a full recovery. This is just a horse race. We’d love to be in it, but her recovery is more important at the moment to me. If I don’t run Saturday, the sun’s going to come up Sunday and I’ll have a nice, fresh horse.” –E.H.

7:00 a.m.
Smooth Recovery

Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air takes to the track after a nailbiting weekend - the Benny Stutts Jr. trainee spiked a temp on Friday but is feeling his oats today. He is accompanied on his first circuit of the track by a stout pony who serves as a buffer for his antics as he twists and strikes, ears pinned in playful vice.

Later, back at the barn, Stutts and Mount Joy owner Brian Burns confer in front of the colt's stall. Even after getting some energy out on the track, Smooth Air is on edge. His hotwalker takes a snug hold on the lip chain when she brings him out of the stall.

"Now that's the horse I knew in South Florida," Stutts says. "The vet has been drawing blood every day and you could see the blood cells drop and spike back up after we put him on the antibiotics. He's 100% back to his old self; he's made a smooth recovery."

And as if to accentuate the point, Smooth Air pauses in his circuit of the shedrow to let out a healthy kick.Smooth recovery, indeed. -C.N.

6:15 a.m.
Hangin’ With Mr. McGinness

The sentinel posted at Gate 10 this morning is an imposing character. Lee McGinness has been a security guard at Churchill Downs for nine years, but this is his first time at this post. In his years on the post, he hasn’t had any major trouble. One look at him and you see why. Not many would mess with Mr. McGinness.

During a series of corporate cutbacks, Churchill Downs let McGinness go, but has hired him back for the season. He’ll have a full plate this week.

In the pre-dawn of Monday morning, cars roll through past his guardhouse and he checks for horseman’s tags to allow entry onto the backstretch. His mantra this morning? “Show your tags, show your tags,” he shouts.

Someone without a tag offers weakly that he’s looking for someone with the Salvation Army. McGinness sends him away for another parking lot.
While he doesn’t wager, he does have a Derby horse.

“Big Brown,” he says. “That’s my mother’s maiden name.”

As good an angle as any. –E.H.

5:30 a.m.

Rookie Rewards

At the Circle K gas station on Third Avenue, horsemen fill their tanks and grab some fuel for themselves as well. A trainer, buying a water and a can of Red Bull, plunks a few power bars down on the counter. He is discussing the schedule of his filly, who will school in the paddock later in the morning, with a buddy who is clearly a rookie when it comes to backside affairs.

"This is great," the rookie remarks. "I'm going to learn about training and betting, all in one week."

The clerk attempts to ring up the power bars. No shot.

"Sir, I'm sorry," she says. "I can't sell these to you, they won't register."

The rookie is holding the same bar. "Try mine," he says.

"$1.49" flashes across the register. Bingo.

"Look at that," the trainer says. "Go figure, you grab the right bar. Must be beginner's luck starting already."

Following the rookie's first selections at the racetrack looks like a good hunch bet to us. -C.N.

5:50 a.m.

Scuttlebutt

Ron Soellner and Wanda Pate are cheery volunteers at Churchill this morning. Wanda drives the media shuttle from the Longfield Avenue parking lot to the backside press center; Ron rides shotgun. They've both been volunteering as shuttle drivers for about five or six years. Pate's husband drives a shuttle as well. Their time is compensated by donations to their associated charities - Pate volunteers through the Salvation Army, while Soellner is with Kiwanas.

"The best part of this job is meeting nice people such as yourself," says Soellner, who donated as many as 98 hours in a two-week span one year. "We're allowed to watch the Derby from the backside, which I like to do. We usually get a few people riding in here who give us the scuttlebutt."

Really? What's the scuttlebutt this year, Ron?

"Everyone's been pretty quiet so far, but it's the beginning of the week. Right now I like that Colonel horse."

"Colonel John," Pate puts in.

"Yeah, him," says Soellner. "I don't consider myself to be a horse person, but at this point I'd say there's about three to five horses that could legitimately win."

The shuttle pulls up to the press center. Soellner opens the door.

"You have a nice morning, now!" he says.

We will, Ron. We're off to find some scuttlebutt. - C.N.