The running of the 151st Kentucky Derby is just on the horizon, and the esteemed event, which will be viewed by upwards of 150,000 at the Churchill Downs racecourse and millions remotely, looks set to be one of the biggest to date.
The Kentucky Derby is one of the highlights of the racing calendar, and one horse in particular is securing a great deal of interest from pundits and punters alike, with big favorite Journalism very much the colt to beat.
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Journalism comes into the race on the back of a four-race winning spree and one of his co-owners, whose previous career as an editor is part of the reason for his horse’s name, Aron Welman, hopes that run will continue when it matters most.
He spoke of Journalism’s wonderful win at the Santa Anita Derby in early April, remarking how he “stamped himself as a brilliant horse” and showed the “killer instinct” to be a genuine challenger for the Kentucky Derby.
Those sentiments were backed by jockey Umberto Risopoli, who said after the win.
“It’s rare for a horse to get held up at the three-eighths pole and to get back in the race in that way,”
It’s always difficult, especially for such a big horse. But he has such an amazing style and is just an amazing horse.”
Following a 12-hour trip to the race course, trainer Michael McCarthy commented,
“It looks he traveled very well,”
“No complaints,” he added.
McCarthy’s Endlessly ran last year’s Kentucky Derby and didn’t receive quite so much media attention, a point he made to those present on his arrival.
“I didn’t see much of you guys here last year,”
“It is nice to garner a little bit of attention outside of the racing world with a horse like (Journalism).”
“I’d say my confidence level is high,” he added in terms of the chances of a triumph in the iconic race.
“I think that is the way you want to be coming into this with a horse like him. Just want a decent draw. He’s tactical and will find himself right behind the speed.” McCarthy added.
Clearly, the 3-1 shot is seen by many as almost a sure thing, which will instantly lead many to warn against complacency and if Journalism were to not write himself into the history books, Sandman and Sovereignty, both at 8-1 with most sportsbooks, are ready and waiting to take the prize.
Sandman won the Arkansas Derby, and his trainer, the experienced Mark Casse, may well like the fact that most, if not all, the attention is on Journalism.
“I’ve been doing this for a long, long time so I know there’s so many things that can go wrong,”
“You need some luck, but I’m as confident as I’ve ever been in him, maybe more so. I feel like he’s coming to the race great. Everything is working out, and we need some luck.” Added Casse, who is very much not experiencing his first Kentucky Derby experience.
It is worth noting that the Kentucky Derby is the only Triple Crown event for which Casse does not yet have a winner. Sandman will be his eleventh runner and is well-positioned to potentially bring that run to an end.
