Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.An Expert’s Look On Kentucky Derby Hopefuls
Posted on Friday, March 10th, 2006
By Greg Melikov
One of my favorite racing writers is Steve Haskin, the award-winning veteran renowned for his Kentucky Derby commentary.
Haskin, who spent nearly three decades with the Daily Racing Form, joined Blood-Horse Publications as senior correspondent in 1998. I asked him two questions about the Triple Crown and he responded after finishing an online chat.
“What Kentucky Derby preps do you consider the most important this year and why,” I inquired.
“Each year is different,” he replied via e-mail. “There’s no way to tell which will be the most important. Recently, the Arkansas Derby has been the best, and with the Wood (Memorial) moved back a week, I’d have to guess it’ll be the Arkansas Derby again.”
Winning the Arkansas Derby, set for April 15, only catapulted two colts into the winner’s circle at Louisville: Smarty Jones in 2004 and Sunny’s Halo in 1983. But quite a few have distinguished themselves in Triple Crown races.
Smarty Jones, a length short in the Belmont, and Afleet Alex, a length shy of taking the 2005 Kentucky Derby, followed their Arkansas Derby triumphs with four victories in Triple Crown events. Each also won the Eclipse Award for 3-year-old of the Year.
Three horses that hit the board in Oaklawn Park’s premier race smelled the roses: Grindstone, second, 1996; Lil E. Tee, second, 1992; and Gate Dancer, third, 1984. Other winners of Triple Crown legs came out of Hot Springs: Temperence Hill, Pine Bluff, Victory Gallop, Tank’s Prospect and Caveat.
I also asked, “And what 3-year-olds do you believe have a chance emerging from dark horse status to surprise the experts at Churchill Downs on May 6?”
Haskin replied, “I’d keep an eye on Barbican, Sunriver and Hesanoldsalt, but there are a lot more.”
On Jan. 15, those horses raced at Gulfstream Park:
Hesanoldsalt captured an allowance contest at 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 2/5 by three-quarters of a length after angling outside the leaders leaving the far turn and running down Sunriver inside the eighth pole. Barbican defeated allowance company at a mile, coming from far back to win by 4 lengths at 1:35 4/5 after circling the field four wide.
Continue reading: 2006 Kentucky Derby Hopefuls >>
"An Expert’s Look On Kentucky Derby Hopefuls" was posted on Friday, March 10th, 2006 at 4:39 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Kentucky Downs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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