2011 Kentucky Derby Favorites: Meet the Field at this Year's Race
The 137th Run for the Roses, the 2011 Kentucky Derby will race Saturday, May 7th at Churchill Downs. Coverage of the greatest two minutes in sports will be from 5-7 p.m. ET on NBC.
So far there are no hints that any of these horses could take the Triple Crown, a feat that has not been accomplished since Affirmed did it in 1978. Uncle Mo had generated a lot of talk early on in the season, but a cold, even a minor one, could really take down the capacity to surge to the finish on the track.
Nobody from the stable is mentioning how well he is or is not recovering. Perhaps it’s a closely guarded secret and he’ll do the unthinkable and charge the wire several lengths ahead of the rest. This will be an interesting year to watch.
Uncle Mo
1 of 20
He was leading the pack as the favorite, but came down with a virus. Even though he is still scheduled to race, it has many race fans worried about how well he will do. He came in third in his last start at the Wood memorial. He’s finished first on a shorter track, but a virus and the distance may prove too much this time.
Dialed In
2 of 20
He’s a little younger than the rest of the field, but he did win the Florida Derby. He is trained by Nick Zito, which is a good thing to have on your side when you race with the best. Keep a close eye on this one; he’s young, but he may have youthful energy on his side.
Archarcharch
3 of 20
He came in first in the Arkansas Derby, and that’s where Smarty Jones began his run for the Triple Crown. He’s got the stamina to hold for a long race and he has the speed, but he also has the ability to get a little bit distracted by the other horses when trying to pass.
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Soldat
4 of 20
A lot of second-place finishes here, not to mention his fifth-place showing in the Florida Derby, where he raced last. He’s got a nice, smooth stride and the ability, but does he have the desire to take this race? He did win the Fountain of Youth, but that was back in February.
Pants On Fire
5 of 20
He may not run like his pants are literally on fire, but he did win the Louisiana Derby, beating Mucho Macho Man, who came in third. He’s not quite a favorite, but he does like a muddy track, so if the weather turns gloomy, money could be placed on him, raising his odds.
Mucho Macho Man
6 of 20
He likes to run and seems to be enjoying himself, but I’m not sure he knows the point is to come in first. His last race placed him third in the Louisiana Derby. I can say that he consistently finishes in the top five.
Comma To The Top
7 of 20
Pretty in pink, he was bred for speed, but that doesn’t seem to be panning out for this horse. This horse is owned by the co-founders of Spyglass Entertainment, Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum. They might consider sticking to movies.
Midnight Interlude
8 of 20
First-place winner in the Santa Anita Derby, this is a Bob Baffert-trained horse. The last two races have given this horse first-place wins, but he’s only run four times. He’s getting better with every race, so this one is not to be counted out.
Brilliant Speed
9 of 20
His last race was the Toyota Blue Grass, where he came in first. It’s said he’s bred to suit the 1.25 distance track, but he’s too inconsistent to consider for this race.
Master Of Hounds
10 of 20
His only win was last summer. He’s not a dirt-track runner, even if his pedigree will be the best in the field. This horse is not in the running.
Nehro
11 of 20
He’s getting better, but can’t quite get there; he was just a bit off the win in the Arkansas and Louisiana Derbies at second place in both, so the trainer needs to get him to make that final push to win. He’s a good horse that should be considered in the top three.
Twice The Appeal
12 of 20
In his last start, he finished first in the Sunland Derby. This horse is not known for speed, but rather for his stamina. The best shot this horse has is that Calvin Borel will be riding him, and as Derby winner three of the last four runnings, this horse may have a shot.
Decisive Moment
13 of 20
Eight races, but only two wins, he’s pretty good at second and third place. I don’t think, in a field of this talent, that will be good enough. If looks alone was the deciding factor, he’d probably win as sleek as this black is.
Animal Kingdom
14 of 20
A gorgeous big red, but he is not a dirt runner. He has faced it in practice, but pulled out earlier this week due to muddy conditions. AK has the ability, but this may not be his race. He came in first in his last race, the Spiral Stakes.
Stay Thirsty
15 of 20
Uncle Mo’s stable mate did a poor seventh place in the Florida Derby. He has trouble adjusting to changes of tracks. A few eyes have been on him since last year’s Hopeful, but I wouldn’t think anything of him as he is a long shot.
Santiva
16 of 20
The last race, he came in ninth in the Blue Grass. That was his longest race yet which may be a good indicator that this track is not for him. He could pull out fast, but would fade just as quickly.
Watch Me Go
17 of 20
Unproven, inconsistent and unreliable. He barely won in the Tampa Bay Derby, but finished sixth in his last race, the Illinois Derby. His name is not indicative of his performance.
Shackleford
18 of 20
Second in the Florida Derby, he was beaten out by Dialed In. He’s won a couple in his past, but not in a while. His only hope is that the Florida Derby is a sign of his future, and that it’s on the upswing.
Twinspired
19 of 20
The only grey on the field. In his last races, he placed fourth, third and second, respectively. There’s a saying in the racing world that goes something like this: If it’s a rainy day, put money on the grey. Twinspired better hope for rain, or that his name inspires him at Churchill Downs.
Toby's Corner
20 of 20
A favorite for some, but if you haven't heard, he’s been scratched due to a rear-leg injury. Derby Kitten is the rumored fill-in, but hasn’t been officially placed on the card yet.
Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at mregaw@gmail.com.
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