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Kentucky Derby Looks Wide Open as Favorite Ruled Out

It's a rainy Monday in the Ville to start Derby Week and it's gloomier than usual around the Todd Pletcher barn. Pletcher, who has been the nation's leading trainer and his horses have won seven of the twenty-one graded prep races leading up to the Derby.  Going into last weekend, he had a possible eight horses that could be Derby entrants and that didn't count the filly Devil May Care who was entered in both the Derby and the Kentucky Oaks.  However, his Derby luck, or rather the lack thereof, since Pletcher is 0-24 in Derby starts, unfortunately seems to be holding.

Everyone's favorite Eskendereya, the winner going away of the Wood Memorial was ruled out of the Derby on Sunday with a leg problem.  Then, this morning, Pletcher scratched Rule but confirmed the filly Devil May Care will run in the Derby.  Barring injury, and the possible scratch of Line of David who struggled in his workout today on an off track, the field should be set at twenty. 

The morning line will now not likely come from the Pletcher barn, which is probably a relief to Todd.  It is likely to be Lookin At Lucky, the third place finisher in the Santa Anita Derby after a very troubled race.  He is likely to be around 3-1. The next choice is probably the horse that beat him at Santa Anita, Sidney's Candy with Awesome Act third.  Awesome Act is an interesting horse.  He came over from England to win the Gotham Stakes and finished third in the Wood Memorial, so I think he got accustomed to the North American racing style just fine.  Also at a reasonably short price for a twenty horse field should be the filly. 

Full post as published by Sports Biz on April 26, 2010 (boomark / email).