STEVENS, McCARRON AGREE: DERBY IS AMERICA'S RACE
For every kid who ever dreamed of tossing the winning pass in a football game,
that game is the Super Bowl. For every kid who ever dreamed of getting the winning hit
in a baseball game, that game is the seventh game in the World Series. For every kid who
ever dreamed of winning an auto race, that race is the Indy 500.
And for every kid who ever dreamed of winning a horse race, that race is the Kentucky Derby.
Two of racing's most successful and articulate jockeys, who have won four of the last nine runnings, took time to express what it's like to ride in the world's most popular horse race, which will be decided for the 122nd time on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
GARY STEVENS (winner of the Derby on Winning Colors in 1988 and Thunder Gulch last year. He rides Editor's Note Saturday):
"I've been going there quite a few years and Bill Shoemaker told me before my first Derby, 'When you walk out on that race track, you're going to get a little choked up. Don't worry about it. I've been coming here for a long time and it gets me every year.'
"That helps me to stay relaxed and take everything in stride. But still, when you walk on that race track and they start playing 'My Old Kentucky Home,' it chokes you up a little bit. But it's time to get back to business as usual as soon as it's over.
"As far as winning the Derby, I can't think of any better experience in sports than possibly a driver going across the finish line first in the Indy 500, or being a member of a winning World Series or Super Bowl team. I would think that feeling's got to be pretty comparable.
"The Kentucky Derby is America's race. It's had a national following for years and years and years. Whether someone knows about the sport or doesn't, they know what the Kentucky Derby is."
CHRIS McCARRON (winner on Alysheba in 1987 and Go For Gin in 1994. He rides Cavonnier Saturday).
"Just riding in the Kentucky Derby is a big thrill. It's something that every rider, trainer, owner and horseman aspires to. It's the Big Show. I can't put it into words. It's really indescribable.
"When I galloped back on Alysheba to the throng of 100,000, it was just incredible. You just get goose bumps and very, very emotional. I can't say that I cried, but maybe I was too happy to cry . . . it's an honor to ride in it, it's a huge, huge thrill to win it.
"The strangest realization of the magnitude of the Derby probably came after I won. That's when you leave the podium where you were interviewed on television, and they take you up to the press box. It's like watching a rock star or a champion boxer being taken by his escorts, to the stage, from the stage, to the ring, from the ring.
"There are big guys all around you. They push and take you right through the middle of the crowd and up the press box elevator, and that's when I realized the magnitude of it. People were grabbing at me, trying to get my helmet and my whip. It was fun.
"All the top jockeys do a lot of traveling, and the thing that sticks out most in your mind is that whenever we go through an airport, and someone recognizes that we're a rider -- because they see our tack bag or whip, or whatever -- the first thing they say is, 'Have you ever won the Kentucky Derby?' That's always the first question.
"There's always been that attraction (about the Derby), always has been, always will be. The Breeders' Cup has gained a lot in status but it will never be the Derby, just like the Daytona 500 will never be the Indy 500 and the Rose Bowl will never be the Super Bowl. It's indescribable. It's hard to put into words."
DERBY PICK: PRINCE OF THIEVES
Although it's usually foolhardy to make firm Kentucky Derby selections before
the post position draw, deadline constraints leave no choice. Hopefully, I'll land a spot
from three to 10. Prince of Thieves' form has been erratic, but his efforts in the Santa
Catalina Stakes and the Lexington Stakes were the truest indications of this colt's ability.
He was in a menacing position at the half-mile pole in the Santa Anita Derby, before
bleeding caused him to fade. But even Lasix couldn't overcome a questionable riding
decision and subsequent traffic in the Lexington. His acceleration thereafter was as
impressive as any Derby hopeful I've seen this year. Alyrob has the running style and
heart to win at a mile-and-a-quarter, but could encounter traffic problems in the bulky
field and may not extricate himself until too late. Make it Prince of Thieves, Alyrob and
Grindstone, with Unbridled's Song going the way of the previous 16 Derby favorites.
It's still difficult to understand the performances of some recent Derby choices. I mean, if
Holy Bull couldn't run better than he did . . .
MAKINANHONESTBUCK -- Bill Shoemaker-trained gelding was dead short in first race in more than eight months, was nosed out in very game try after that and was overmatched in San Simeon Handicap. Returns to Hollywood Park, where 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf is his cup of tea.
MALTED -- Sophomore son of Phone Trick hesitated and was off slowly in debut, still closed from dead last, more than 15 lengths behind in field of 11 to finish fourth, beaten seven lengths. All this despite going widest of all turning for home. Shouldn't tarry long among maiden allowance types going six furlongs or longer.
SILVER BANDIT -- New Mexico invader was beaten more than nine lengths at Santa Anita for $20,000, but improved position from 11th and next-to-last to finish sixth, despite being bumped at the start. Sprint surprise in the making vs. similar.
THE HOMESTRETCH: Friday night's opening on-track attendance of 32,432
was up 5,783 over last year's 26,649, but total handle of more than $8.2 million was down considerably, due in part to a stalemate between the Nevada racebooks and the track over the simulcast percentage. The fee has been 3.5 percent in past years, but Hollywood Park seeks a half-percent increase to four percent . . . Horse to beat in the Derby? "Unbridled's Song, obviously," says Gary Stevens. "Off his past races, he's definitely the horse to beat." Chris McCarron, who rides Cavonnier: "I'd like to think Cavonnier.". . . Wednesday's Derby draw will be shown live on ESPN at 3 p.m. If 20 start, the gross purse will be $1,184,800. Gates open 9 a.m. Saturday at Hollywood Park, with Derby post time 2:31 . . . Wally Dollase was puzzled by Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye's strategy in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap aboard 9-5 favorite Windsharp, a game second, beaten a length by pace-setter Raintrap. "I just wish Delahoussaye had been lapped on Raintrap, instead of letting him hold a clear lead,"
Dollase said of tactics in the about 1 3/4-mile grass marathon. Alex Solis rode Raintrap, who crawled on the lead, setting fractions of :49 2/5, 1:13 3/5, 1:39 1/5 and 2:04 1/5. The final time was 2:48 2/5. Explained Delahoussaye: "They were going so slow. I thought maybe if I could track Raintrap, but I knew Alex had a lot of horse . . . I wish he would
have had a pace-setter with him, but there was nothing you could do." Windsharp and Raintrap could meet again in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Woodbine on Oct. 26 . . . Bobby Frankel, whose disposition can range from courteous to cranky, seemed happier than ever after sending out Juddmonte Farms' Raintrap to win the Grade I San Juan Capistrano. "I'm excited. It's a great race to win," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "There are other races, like the Kentucky Derby, I'd rather win more than this, but I'm very thrilled to win this race. This is the most excited I've been in a long time." Any good 3-year-olds coming along? "Maybe next year."
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