I think I would go with General Quarters.  What you have mentioned above about his story is great, but you could also add the fact that McCarthy passed on the horse at a sale originally for $20K and then saw the horse entered in a maiden claiming race.  The pedigree looked familiar to him and then he realized it was the horse he had passed on just a year earlier.  He decided to claim the horse and what a claim it was.  Seems to be fate at work.  Definitely a great story.

I think Summer Bird has the best story. He was an unknown until the Arkansas Derby where made a run from behind to place third. his owners are legal immigrants that are realizing the American Dream --that hard work and dedication can result in great opportunities. Also Bird's trainer Tim Ice is a young new trainer who has taken Oaklawn by storm this past racing season.

Friesan Fire & Larry Jones,

       After watching Proud Spell capture the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby, Then to go from the extreme high of having his amazing filly, Eight Belles come in second in the Derby, then go to the lowest possible feeling with what happed to her, Have Old fashioned get injured then retired, Two second place finishes in the Derby...

       Larry Jones, who is retiring from training after this year, Deserves to go out on top winning the Triple Crown with this terrific athlete, Friesan Fire...Who will end his Career with six straight wins then retire...

I like General Quarters it is time the little guys show the million dollar horses they belong also just like Funny Cide did.

I like General Quarters, however, I don't like the fact that the man who really turned the horse around has not received any acknowledgement from the owner.  It's not really a "feel good" story when you don't give a man credit for a job well done.

I think General Quarters and Musket Man have compelling stories, but my vote goes to Friesan Fire and Larry Jones. When I first knew of Larry and Hard Spun, it caught my attention that Larry occasionally rode his trainees to assess their physical status for himself. I thought that was the sign of a true horseman. As such, I want a Derby for him before his retirement.(Of course, a Triple Crown would be good, too.)

Musket Man...he says "we all can"...General Q, too, plus who couldn't love LJ to win?

While ALL these stories tug at your heart strings and are great for making sympathetic favorites, they probably won't be in my memory palace forever; for THOSE places I have the memorable stories of that unlikeliest of winners - Black Gold, the "club-footed" Assault from Texas, Tom Smith's vindication with Jet Pilot, and Smarty Jones....the horse who tried to commit suicide and failed...but won the Derby anyway!

Now THOSE are stories for the ages. This is not to say I wouldn't love to see Mr Jones go out with a bang and a flourish, but I wish he wouldn't go out at all............

Has to be GQ  - by the way here is The Withers Field drawn today - looks like a great race on a weekend with nothing else going on. what do you think??

1 This Ones for Phil(L)

2 Gone Astray(L)

3 Seal Team(L)

4 Supreme Summit(L)

5 Mr. Fantasy(L)

6 Everyday Heroes(L)

7 Just a Coincidence(L)

    General Quarters definately!!!!

i was all for general quarters till i read mr haskins article miller time without miller training the horse all through the winter he wouldnt have started in blue grass great article mr haskins he needs to give mark miller credit where credit is due

i love FF not larry so much, deff square eddie and papa clem=]

I would so dearly love either I Want Revenge or Friesan Fire to win the Derby.  It's about time that the Seattle Slew/ A.P. Indy sire line had a Derby winner. Obviously, a General Quarters win would also be great, in my opinion.

Larry Jones and Freisan Fire. As GREG J. put it. No trainer could be more deserving. I'm hoping to catch his work this Monday at Churhill. General Quarters does have a good story but his owner trainer needs to give the training credit to the real man who trained him in Florida this winter. Sorry I have gorgotton his name.

Musket man gets my vot for best story then the general..how about birdstone getting to into his first derby chance not to bad.....

It would have to be between FF and GQ but my vote goes to Larry Jones Hope he can go out with a bang.

larry jones but i dont think he will win to bad.

General Quarters...if you could see and hear the expressions of his owner, it was very touching.

Larry Jones and FF!!

I would say larry jones after what happened to eight belles but killer willy is from canterbury thats equal fairmont or penn national as far as talent. For him to have a shot at the derby is pretty impressive, doubt he will win but you never know.

General Quarters all the way. I read somewhere in an earlier blog that there is a gray derby winner every 4 years for like the past 30 years. This is the 4th year so, given the fact that Old Fashioned who was my pick since his Remsen win is retired due to injury and The Pamplemousse who i think would have beaten them all (crazy stride and all) is out as well..I would have to say the leading gray candidate would be General Quarters and i think it is a great story. Although i like Dunkirks breeding,  i just do not think he has enough experience to get the job done in a 20 horse field. Especially over the likes of Friesan Fire, I Want Revenge (what a great name) and Pioneerof the Nile. Baring any changes in their status, I am taking General Q in a Tri with FF and Revenge.

As for The Pamplemousse, I really hope the lession on his tendon heals so we see him in the breeders cup classic in the fall. I watched his workout video on Youtube from OBS sale and my jaw dropped, ive never seen a horse run like that. Also, I agree with Needler, the sport needs more trainers like Larry Jones and he will be greatly missed.

I voted for GQ but Musket Man is a very close second.  As a Seattle Slew fan I echo Chicago Girl's rooting interest for the SS/A.P. line.  But I'm rooting for Chocolate Candy, Slew's grandson, maternally speaking.  And the Jenny Craig connection-with a sweetly named horse-would be, will be an interesting story, along with Sid Craig's recent death.

General Quarters all the way!!!  It's amazing how the horse was "re-found" by his current connections.  Gotta make all those billion dollar sheiks sit up and take notice!

FYI,

   Anybody who hasn't read Steve Haskin's Article about General Quarters REAL Story, You should read it, love the horse, just think it is a shame that they seem to have forgotten about, Mark Miller....That is why, Friesan Fire and Larry Jones story is more deserving, In my opinion...

www.bloodhorse.com/.../ky-derby-trail-its-millers-time-too

That is funny, right after I posted my previous comment, Larry Jones three year old filly, "Silver Time" won the ninth race at Keeneland!!!(Just noticed, the eight race winning Trifecta paid $55,381.80 on a $2.00 Bet, WOW)

I think the Chocolate Candy story is interesting.  Would be the first El Camino Real Derby winner since Casual Lies to put any kind of "dent" in the racing world.  Northern California has long lived in the shadows of its counter part.  Hollendorfer has something like 38 straight Golden Gate racing titles but only recently has started venturing out with the likes of GR 1 Winner Heatseeker, who torched Santa Anita, and Hysterical Lady.  The Craigs on the other hand have had a great run on the Southern California circuit.  The McCanally trained Candy Ride was just one of many. Candy Ride stands for just $12,500 and the homebred Chocolate Candy certainly has held his own on 4 different tracks with 7 different riders.  No hype.  No fuss.  Just a horse that likes to run.  He fires each and every time.  

Ditto what Greg J said about Larry Jones and Friesan Fire

I voted other because I was thinking of Mr. Hot Stuff. No horse will ever outrank Tiznow in my heart and I so want him to have a Derby winner. I also admire Eoin Harty and Mr. Casner for all he did with Well Armed. If it can't be Mr. Hot Stuff, then I'm torn between FF and QR. Larry Jones went to hell and back last year. The Jerkins are phenominal.

I will vote for the trainer who has made the least amount of money this year. Who ever that might be.

Has to be Larry Jones and Freisan Fire, want to see him go out a winner in the Derby as the man is so deserving.  FF has been my pick all along and I won't give up on him now.

You forgot the hilarious Gary Stute and his small barn.  And Papa Clem being named after Clement Hirsch and his son is the owner!  What a one to forget!

Sentimentally? Mr. Hot Stuff, Friesan Fire, General Quarters, Musket Man, and Quality Road. I'd love to see the big black doofus blossom on Derby Day, Jones has been through an insane roller coaster no one should ever ride last year, can't go wrong with Jerkens, and General Quarters and Musket Man are true "rags to riches" stories, which we all need in this crappy economy.

We can always use an Overdose...or Seabisuit, :D

  I love the story of GQ but Id like to see Fresian Fire win, That would give his sire AP Indy a Derby,Preakness and a Belmont winner! I saw AP Indy win the Belmont!!!The Bold Ruler line is aliveand well thanks to AP !!!!

preakness

 I think Dunkirk has the best storyline behind it because thousands of soldiers would have perished at Dunkirk during the Second World War if the winds suddenly had not changed and what a great memory to the event it would be if the horse called Dunkirk could run like the wind and win the Kentucky Derby.

Jones and Friesan Fire. But Larissa is correct to point out the Papa Clem connections. Both his trainer, Gary Stute, and owner, Bo Hirsch, are from Santa Anita/So Cal racing royalty and are trying to win the Derby for parents/relatives.

General Quarters has an amazing story, but I can't ignore my Derby pick or favorite trainer, so my vote goes with Larry Jones and 'Fire.

Ya gotta go with the guy who claimed a horse for 20G's and has a Derby horse 6 months later.That's every horsemans dream, to claim one and move them up that much.

Story: Todd Pletcher, finally has Derby win. Pletcher realizing he probably has his best chance of winning the Derby with his super (expensive) colt, Dunkirk, but just needs to set the race up for him so he can make his one big run to victory in the stretch. Knowing he's up against the likes of the super powerful, almighty Quality Road, and the never quitting Pioneer of the Nile, and the "nothing stops me"- I Want Revenge. Todd quietly develops the super speedy  Advice (capable of sub 35 three furlongs), in such a way as to never show this colts penchant for speed, and cleverly gains earnings to get his "rabbit" into the Derby. The unsuspecting foes,taken by surprise at the fast pace being set, fall prey to the cunningly prepared Advice, and follow his lead and get served up in the overly anxious moment, while the all knowing Dunkirk waits to inhale the leftovers in the stretch.

It's just a story, or is it?

i think the best story is Friesan Fire. Larry Jones having back to back seconds in the derby and having one last shot at the derby is always great.

Quality Road, "a giant killer" from the regally bred and raised son of the "Giant Killer," H. Allen Jerkens. E.P. Evans' dad won the Derby with Pleasant Colony. The apples don't fall far from the tree. As with Quality Road, it must be in the genes. LOL

CG, are you specifically wanting a winner for SS through AP Indy, 'cause SS already has a Derby winner himself (Swale).

Dunkirk carries the SS/API line through his dam...

Interesting trivia: SS is the only Belmont winner to produce a Belmont winner to produce a Belmont winner...

When I think of amazing Triple Crown runs I always think about Cannonero II incredible story.

Best story is Win Willy. How can a horse who broke his maiden at CBY Park show up here? That's like the Govenor of some obscure state overlooking Russia ending up as a VP candidate. Win Willy was a nobody until he burst on the scene by running down Old Fashioned.

All of CBY will be buzzing when they open the gates and all eyes will be on Win Willy to see how he fares. Too bad like the obscure VP candidate he doesn't really have a chance. Heck at Canterbury we can almost see Canada and we wonder what they are doing up there in those Red Uniforms up on those horses. Not planes just ponies.

Hey slyder those guys in the red uniforms are guarding the border for you all! You do know that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has a breeding program and that those horses are mostly TB. Their bred for size, color and disposition.

I'm a fan of Win Willy, so it's Willy's story that is still my favorite.  

Willy's the first of two stories told by Steve Haskin in "Simple Twists of Fate" .... www.bloodhorse.com/.../ky-derby-trail-simple-twists-of-fate

If you haven't already, enjoy reading about Hip Number 5241.

    Summer Bird and his Jockey, Chris Rosier deserve mention.      

    Summer Bird just started his racing career 55 days ago and now he has a shot at the Derby, Amazing.  His Jockey, Chris Rosier, was a cocky little punk when he started in 2001, He thought he knew everything and he didn't, and for the first couple years his career was going no where. While attempting to get his sputtering career back on track at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, He was sidelined with a broken collarbone in 2004 when he went blind for six days. Diabetes was diagnosed.

     It took becoming a husband and father and a brief bout with blindness from an unknown case of diabetes for Rosier to get to this point, A fine jockey and a gentleman.

     After Summer Bird's fast-closing third in the Arkansas Derby in his third career start(Chris has been on Summer Bird every start). The phone was ringing off the hook from Jockey's agents to ride him in the Derby, But Summer Bird's trainer Tim Ice, who began training this year, stuck with Chris.  Chris gallops and works horses for Ice in the morning and rides the bulk of his stock in races. The past five months no other rider has been aboard Summer Bird, whose first race was March 1.

    Rosier said he did not race from late 2005 until September 2007 and did not resume riding full time until last summer. He adopted a healthier diet and wears an insulin pump in morning training but not during races.

    So now he can tell his kids he rode in the Derby, And crazier things have happened, Maybe even tell his kids he won the derby...

    So my hats off to Summer Bird, Chris, and Tim Ice for what would be one hell of a success !!!story....

PAPA CLEM--- Gary is a great guy, the horses story is stepped in old CAlifornia racing history and I always like to see the little guy with the underestimated horses win big races!

GOOD LUCK GARY!!!!

Definitely FF and Larry Jones! General Quarters and his (second) trainer/owner should be ashamed not to mention the REAL trainer of GQ, if it wasn't for him, then GQ would still be a claimer/allowance horse. I love that Mr. Haskin gets the "backside" stories on the derby contenders and lets everyone in on it.  So much info doesn't get portrayed to the media and it is great that the bloodhorse gets the stories! Keep up the good work!

Musket Man...He is unknown and overlooked by the racing world, though he won the Illinois Derby impressively.

Another War Emblem is coming to Kentucky!!!

I can't stand any principal (they all think they are gods) so that leaves out GQ. I gotta go with Quality Road cause he's going to blow them all away. In other words I'm not wishing i'm going with the winner. JR finally gets his Derby win (lmao it's without Pletcher) and the Jerkens family finally gets theirs.

You go WOLVERINE. I do like Musket Man also. Was there and saw him win the Illinois Derby. Nice horse. Cannot part with my Freisan Fire though. Will have M.M. in my tri's.

GREG J.: Nice story about Summer Bird, Tim Ice and Chris Rosier. The colt seems like a really nice sort. Love his pedigree and hope he has a career that will make him an attractive stallion prospect for a farm that will do right by him when the time comes.

The Derby is an awfully tough assignment for such a lightly raced colt. I hope he gives a good account of himself and comes out of the race in good shape. Afterwards, I hope his connections realistically pick their spots to give the colt a chance at actually winning some stakes races.

TO:GW BUSHWACKER:

I want you to know that's a totally crazy statement regarding holding it against Gen. Quarters cause his trainer was a former principal. You've got to be kidding!

For Big Red,

     I thought it was a cool back story about Chris Rosier/Summer Bird.  I love the fact that Tim Ice is sticking with him, alot of other trainers would have opted for a big name.  I love Summer Bird, Had him in the Tri. in Ark. Derby.  I will put him third or forth in derby and cross my fingers, Has distance in him, just think this is asking way too much for an immature horse, but one never knows, He could be one to watch in Belmont(Even though Friesan Fire is taking home the Triple Crown)...

I happen to be a high school principal and don't for one second think I am "god", but I do love horse racing. I would love to see an underdog like Musket Man win the derby. It's a deep and interesting field this year.

Tough one, although my vote went to General Quarters.  I do think that Larry Jones is a class act and certainly wouldn't be disappointed to see his Fresian Fire win. (I was a huge Hard Spun supporter!) And I love Win Willy's sire.  I don't think that Monarchos gets the credit that he deserves.  Maybe this is his year.

I think General Quarters by far has the best story.  It would be amazing if he could win the Derby.  The media attention would be unbelievable.  As far as the story on the other trainer in Florida over the winter I really don't under stand it.  I cannot see how it was Mr. McCarthy's responsibility to mention that the other person trained his horse last winter.  I am sure he was paid for his work.  Curlin had another trainer in the beginning and it was always Asmussen that got all the credit.

Square Eddie was born into the Euro lifestyle early on as a 2 year old . He won a race or two and his connections said let's send him to the Breeders up in the US. He wins and is an instant success .

In the last four months he has a fractured leg , three new jockeys , a humilating loss to the Pamplemousse , and now a Japanese -American jockey for the Kentucky Derby . Yes , he has healed up and ran a " get ready race in the Lexington Coolmore Stakes where he finished third , but man o man did he make a move that woowed the crowd . Front 8th to 1st in 1/16th of a mile . The timing was bad , but the move was a thriller to watch . Square Eddie , Corey Nakatani , Doug O'Neil and J. Paul Reddam have been very special  indeed . Poor Rafael Bejarano who jumped off this mount for Papa Clem ...You'll be sorry !

Greg J,

It's funny you should mention Silver Time because I am in the middle of teaching the finer points of horseracing to my six year old nephew who comes here from school and demands that I put the tv on the horses if it's not already on tvg.  We were watching and he just stands up and says "Oh my gosh, look at her. She's really on the muscle. I like her. Yep! She's mine. That's the one I'm picking to win. She's going to walk the dog on them. Now who are you going to pick?" I comince to turn and look at this child in amazement. Walk the dog? He's a chip right off of his aunt-me of course. Just who was the horse he picked you may be wondering.  Silver Time, Keeneland, race nine. And at the end of the race he looks up at me with a grin from ear to ear and says "Told you she'd walk the dog on them." That's my boy!  By the way he likes FF too.  Now that's a feel good story.

Friesan Fire and Larry Jones all the WAY!!

i would love to see jimmy jerkens win. he is from a great training family with his dad the giant killer allen jerkens. jimmy a great trainer has punched himself a possible hall of fame career himself if he wins the derby. he is a very respectful and old school trainer that does the right thing by his horses. a derby win would  validate and even may surpass his dad.

Musket Man by far. However, there is a gruop of horses that merit mention.

When the field for Derby 135 is finally assembled there is likely to be 12 colts from the Raise A Native sire line included. They are Regal Ransom, Quality Road, Desert Party, Dunkirk, POTN, Chocolate Candy, Win Willy, Papa Clem, Square Eddie, Flying Private, Summer Bird and Mine That Bird. Horses from this line have won 12 of the last 24 derbies. Now when there are 12 of the possible 20 derby starter from this line, one has to wonder if the other lines that have produced little or no winners in the last 24 year can survive a 12 horse attack. Folks this will be the Raise A Native’s line ‘Shock and Awe’

The next sire line with the largest block of potential starters is the A.P. Indy/Bold Ruler with I Want Revenge, Friesan Fire, General Quarters and Join In The Dance. No Horse from this line has won a derby in the last 24 years. Can these colts withstand the Raise A Native line’s ‘Shock and Awe’? I doubt it. Go Regal Ransom!

General Quarters is my pick for story my heart is pulling for him & Friesan Fire. I picked GQ for the Lexington this year, one reason was I liked his background, bloodline and story. I liked Friesan Fire prior to his success and I have a lot of respect for Larry Jones.  

Quality Road has developed another quarter crack.  He may not make the derby. Who will your pick be then, Draynay?

I think General Quarters has the best story but I would love for Larry Jones to win with Friesan Fire.

Friesan Fire and Larry Jones!  You've got to love the fact that Larry is a born and raised Kentuckian!

I think the feel good story is General Quarters and would love to see him win the Derby but I think I Want Revenge will do that.

Jer-Mar Stables owners of Winwilly are what horse racing ownership is all about.Willywin! yes he can.

I would love to see WIN WILLY take the Derby this year!!  His sire, MONARCHOS, is the only horse to win the Derby in under 2:00, besides SECRETARIAT and is one of the best deals in Kentucky. WIN WILLY is a come from out of it runner, so post position shouldn't make a difference and I think he will like the distance.  As for GQ, don't fault the horse because  you disagree w/ the owner/trainers actions.  This is a dream for Mr. McCarthy and sometimes we get caught up in it and can't think clearly (Like trying to remember to thank everyone, when winning an Academy Award).  GQ has proven he belongs in the Derby and I think he has a very good chance.

WIN WILLY and GQ, one,two.

Like Musket Man's story best but it would be nice if there was one posted for every horse likely to run. I think Pioneer Of The Nile(Zayat homebred) is a really nice horse and Desert Party might do well. Desert Party has the opposite story from Musket Man since he sold for $2.1M as a yearling. According to a horse rescue person Hollendorfer has sold horses at kill buyer auctions. Do not like A P Indy and am not fond of Larry Jones. I would like to see all horses have to pass a bone density scan before they can race to keep fragile horses from breaking down.

You can watch and time allyou want too, but the real deal was the Pamplemosse if he was not worked that day on the muddy track at Santa Anita, we might would have seen the next Triple Crown sooo sad

i hope larry jones wins this yr or general quarters i really like larry because of his sorrow of losing eight belles how i wish he wouldnt retire but i do understand why

little mikie relavant,

My statement is no more crazy than pulling for a horse because you like the trainer. It's the same kind of logic so where are your stupid comments to those who want to see Friesan Fire win because they like Larry Jones? I just happen to not like the owner so it's not the best story for me. Why I don't like him is not relavant. If you thought about what you said b4 you said it you wouldn't look so ridiculous. Liking a story because of the trainer is no different than not liking a story because of the owner. If it's ok one way then it's ok the other.