SureBet’s Onsite Derby Digest with Tom
Dawson -
brought to you by
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino
- posted May 1, 2010 - Update 5 -
SUPER SAVER &
CALVIN 'BO-RAIL' WIN KENTUCKY DERBY [G1] -
Where have we seen this before? Calvin Borel rides the rail in the slop to win
the Kentucky Derby for people with history and connections to the Southwest. Oh
yeah, Mine That Bird. Borel didn’t come from the clouds today, but there he was
in his old familiar place, super-saving every inch of ground, moving around just
one horse at the top of the stretch and rolling unimpeded to the wire.
Go back and read my previous post and digest what Borel’s agent Jerry Hissum
told me. Calvin would find the rail easily, and stay there for as long as he
could. The “Bo-rail” as Calvin’s nickname suggests. That’s three Derby wins in
the last four years, an unprecedented feat.
Todd Pletcher sheds the tag as best trainer to never win the Derby. His first
thought in the post race press conference was that he was glad it happened while
his parents were still here to see it. They are no strangers to the Southwest as
Todd’s father J.J. Pletcher was training at Sunland Park in the 70’s, and later
at Louisiana Downs and Oaklawn Park. It has been well documented that Winstar
Farm co-owner Bill Casner is a native of El Paso, had his first racetrack job at
Sunland Park, sponsored the Sunland Derby for several years and won it this past
March with Endorsement.
Early in the week, it looked like both owner and trainer might remember this
Derby more for misfortune than accomplishment. Eskendereya, perceived to be
Pletcher’s best chance, was withdrawn with an injury a week ago. Then Winstar’s
colt Rule was removed from consideration, and on Wednesday, Endorsement was
injured, requiring surgery. But later that day, the farm’s co-owner Bill Casner
told me they were still in it with two chances.
Yes they were. When Casner and his partner Kenny Troutt met in Omaha 25 years
ago when both were involved with claiming horses. Troutt went into business,
brought Casner in, and fortunes were made. When they decided to re-enter the
horse business in the late 90’s, they knew it should be at the highest level.
They bred and sold 2003 Derby winner Funny Cide and have been playing on the big
stage ever since. They bred this one as well, but kept him in the fold.
After a windy and rainy day, the sun came out during the post parade. I didn’t
see a rainbow, but if there was one, it must have been pointing squarely at the
four horse, wearing the Winstar white.
Meanwhile, the dark cloud continues to hover over the ironically named Lookin at
Lucky. He was assaulted twice in the first quarter mile, dropping back to 18th,
and leaving him with much more to do than was intended.
He kept trying and finished 6th. Trainer Bob Baffert won the race after the
Derby. I don’t think it was much consolation.
It should also be noted that runner-up Ice Box was in a serious jam. He’s a late
runner so being 19th early was not a big deal. But when he tried to come from
Mine That Bird land, he was seriously impeded twice and forced out widest of
all. Yet he still finished with interest to nab the place.
It’s been a great week. I could tell you what my feelings are but I found
somebody who is better at putting it in perspective, John Steinbeck. “I am
fulfilled and weary. This Kentucky Derby, whatever it is- a race, an emotion, a
turbulence, an explosion-is one of the most beautiful and violent and satisfying
things I have ever experienced. And I suspect that, as with other wonders,
people one by one have taken from it exactly as much good or evil as they
brought to it. What an experience”.