Kentucky Derby 2015: Examining Best Jockeys and Top Horses for 141st Race Field
When it comes to determining the legacies of both the best jockeys and the top horses in racing history, the Kentucky Derby is often a qualifier.
As one of the three Triple Crown events, the Run for the Roses is among the most highly coveted titles in horse racing. It's served as a proving ground for some of the most legendary names in the sport, both of the human and equine variety.
With the 2015 edition a little over a day away, here's a look at some of the jockeys and horses to watch Saturday.
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Best Jockeys
Calvin Borel
Between 2007 and 2010, Calvin Borel cast a massive shadow over the Kentucky Derby. He won three times in that four-year span—the kind of run jockeys aspire to have.
Since 2010, Borel's luck at Churchill Downs has run somewhat dry. However, he and Revolutionary finished third in 2013, and he helped Ride On Curlin place seventh in last year's race. There's little chance that Borel will be a complete non-factor Saturday.
Borel will ride El Kabeir for this year's Kentucky Derby. The three-year-old isn't one of the top favorites, boasting 33-1 odds to win, per Odds Shark. Although those aren't great odds, Super Saver wasn't exactly a massive favorite to win either.
Maybe Borel and El Kabeir can weave similar magic.
Victor Espinoza
Victor Espinoza doesn't have a long list of Kentucky Derby mounts to his name over the years, but when he shows up to Churchill Downs, he tends to be right in the middle of the fray. According to Horse Racing Nation, the 42-year-old has won two of the six races in which he's entered, and finished third in another.
Espinoza's first win came in 2002 with War Emblem.
In an interview with Jonathan Lintner of The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky, the jockey spoke about how he's evolved in the years since: "I'm more mature now. I'm not afraid to make quick decisions during races. I have more confidence now, and in my early years, I would think twice—'Should I do this or not?' Now, I just react to what happens because I have more confidence."
Espinoza is also riding American Pharoah, the top contender to win the Derby this year.
Top Horses
American Pharoah
American Pharoah could hardly be entering Churchill Downs on a hotter run. He has won his last four races, including the Rebel Stakes in March and the Arkansas Derby in April. On April 13, American Pharoah earned the No. 1 ranking on the list of best three-year-olds in horse racing.
His victory in the Arkansas Derby was a thing of beauty. Bridget's Big Luvy was holding strong for a large part of the race, but with a little under a half-mile remaining, American Pharoah turned on the jets. Once the colt was in full stride, nobody was stopping him.
American Pharoah is a physical marvel with massive size and great speed. While it may not be a sure thing that he captures the 2015 Kentucky Derby, on paper he's the strongest horse in the field.
Dortmund
Bob Baffert, who trains both American Pharoah and Dortmund, had a great way to compare the two horses to legends from another sport.
"They're two different types," he said, per Lintner. "Dortmund, he's all lanky—built like a greyhound. This horse (American Pharoah)—he's more of a full package. Like Shaq and Kobe Bryant, you know? But they're both really good horses, and we don't know how good they really are."
The three-year-old colt is a perfect 6-of-6 in competitive races, his last win coming at Santa Anita Park on April 4.
After some close finishes earlier on in his career, Dortmund really showed off his ability, winning the 2015 Santa Anita Derby with relative ease.
Dortmund has shown an affinity for winning close races, most notably the 2014 Los Alamitos Futurity, which featured a three-way photo finish. Even if Dortmund gets off to a sluggish start, you can't count him out at Churchill Downs.
Carpe Diem
Much like with Dortmund and American Pharoah, Carpe Diem's results speak for themselves. He finished second at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile but has otherwise tasted nothing but success. The three-year-old colt has four wins on his resume heading into the Kentucky Derby.
ESPN senior researcher Chris Fallica found reason to be a bit cautious about jumping on the Carpe Diem bandwagon:
Of course, this is a completely different horse with whom trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez are working. A historical trend isn't a surefire indicator that Carpe Diem is doomed to failure.
He's looked great on the track throughout his career, and Pletcher is unquestionably a skilled trainer. Maybe he and Velazquez can both end their bad luck.
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