Getting to Know the Kentucky Derby 142 Contenders
May 06, 2016 Churchill Downs Communications
• Bay colt by Giant’s Causeway, out of the Sahm mare Sweet Breanna. Foaled March 17, 2013 in Kentucky.
• Purchased for $350,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale
• Won Grade I Blue Grass at Keeneland defeating My Man Sam and stable mate Cherry Wine by 1 . lengths
• Ran third in Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland behind Champion Two-Year-Old Nyquist and Swipe
• Won Grade I Breeders’ Futurity by one length over Exaggerator
• Broke his maiden on the second attempt on Sept. 11, 2015 at Churchill Downs lighting up the tote board at odds of 33-1; last Kentucky Derby winner that broke his maiden at Churchill Downs was 1933 winner Brokers Tip, who broke his maiden in that year’s Kentucky Derby
• Career earnings of $1,123,138; record of millionaires in the Kentucky Derby: 40-3-4-5; the winners: Street Sense (2007), California Chrome (2014) and American Pharoah (2015)
• Thirteen horses, including seven of the last nine winners, made two starts as a 3-year-old prior to winning the Kentucky Derby: War Admiral (1937), Shut Out (1942), Count Fleet (1943), Hoop Jr. (1945), Jet Pilot (1947), Sunny’s Halo (1983), Street Sense (2007), Big Brown (2008), Mine That Bird (2009), Super Saver (2010), Animal Kingdom (2011), I’ll Have Another (2012) and American Pharoah (2015); record since 1937: 132-13-13-7
• No. 5 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 114 points
Owned by Albaugh Family Stable (Dennis Albaugh)
• Dennis Albaugh founded Albaugh LLC, a manufacturer of agricultural crop protection products, in 1979 and sold the company in 2010 for $1.3 billion
• Grew up on farm and earned an agriculture business degree from Des Moines Area Community College
• Known in Iowa for his classic car collection and private 18-hole golf course along the west side of Interstate Highway 35 in Ankenny, about 100 miles north of Des Moines.
• Became interested in racing by going to Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha while he was growing up
• Campaigned 2007 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint third-place finisher Miss Macy Sue
• Was a member of the Donegal Racing partnership, whose third-place finish in the 2010 Derby with Paddy O’Prado inspired him to buy racing prospects with Derby potential
• Albaugh’s son-in-law, Jason Loutsch, serves as the stable’s general manager
• Brody’s Cause will be Albaugh Family Stable’s first Kentucky Derby starter
Trained by Dale Romans
• Born Aug. 14, 1966 in Louisville, Ky.
• Grew up on backstretch working for his late father and trainer Jerry Romans
• Credits his father with having the greatest influence on his career
• Took out trainer’s license at age 18 and saddled his first winner, Miss Mandy, on Feb. 15, 1987 at Turfway Park
• Trained Champion Turf Horse in 2004 Kitten’s Joy
• Won 2015 Travers Stakes with Keen Ice, who handed Triple Crown winner American Pharoah his only loss of his 3-year-old campaign
• Won 2005 Dubai World Cup with Roses in May
• Three-time Breeders’ Cup winner: Tapitsfly (2009 Juvenile Fillies Turf), Court Vision (2011 Mile), and Little Mike (2012 Turf)
• Won 2011 Preakness Stakes with Shackleford
• Won Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 2012
• Ran third in Kentucky Derby twice with Paddy O’Prado in 2010 and Dullahan in 2012, both of which were owned by Donegal Racing
• Kentucky Derby record: 6-0-0-2
Ridden by Luis Saez
• Born May 19, 1992 in Panama City, Panama
• Came to U.S. in 2009 and began riding on the South Florida circuit
• Won first graded stakes race aboard Twilight Meteor in Grade III Tropical Turf Handicap at Calder
• Won his first Grade I aboard champion Will Take Charge in 2013 Travers at Saratoga
• Guided Will Take Charge to victory in Grade I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs
• Won Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile in 2015 aboard Grand Arch
• Older brother of late apprentice jockey Juan Saez, who died in 2014 in a riding accident at Indiana Grand Race Course
• Kentucky Derby record: 3-0-0-0
Bred by Gabriel Duignan, William Arvin, Jr. & Petaluma Bloodstock
• Gray or roan colt by Tapit, out of the Privately Held mare Morena. Foaled March 30, 2013 in Kentucky.
• Creator is one of three sons of Tapit entered in this year’s Kentucky Derby; Lani and Mohaymen are the other two
• Purchased for $440,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling sale
• Last gray to win the Kentucky Derby was Giacomo (2005)
• Won Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park by 1 . lengths over Suddenbreakingnews and Whitmore
• Ran third in Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn Park finishing three lengths behind Cupid and Whitmore
• Broke maiden Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park on the sixth attempt; latest maiden winner to win the Kentucky Derby since 1934 was 1958 winner Tim Tam, who won his first race on Jan. 17 during his 3-year-old season
• Since 1914, no horse has broken its maiden at Oaklawn Park and won the Kentucky Derby
• Arkansas Derby was Creator’s fourth start as a 3-year-old; the last horse to make four starts as a 3-year-old prior to winning the Kentucky Derby was Smarty Jones (2004)
• No. 6 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 110 points
Owned by WinStar Farm LLC
• WinStar Farm is owned by Kenny Troutt, who was born Jan. 8, 1948 in Mt. Vernon, Ill.
• Located on 1,450 acres near Versailles, Ky., the farm was purchased by Troutt with former partner Bill Casner in 2000
• Troutt founded Excel Communications, a long distance telephone service and communications company
• Won 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver and 2010 Belmont with Drosselmeyer
• Won Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner in 2010
• Won $6 million Dubai World Cup with Well Armed in 2010
• Won 2011 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs with Drosselmeyer
• WinStar President and CEO Elliott Walden is a former trainer that trained Victory Gallop who spoiled Real Quiet’s bid for a Triple Crown in 1998 Belmont
• Finished second in 2006 Derby with Bluegrass Cat
• Finished third in 2013 Derby with Revolutionary
• Kentucky Derby record: 10-1-1-1
Trained by Steve Asmussen
• Born Nov. 18, 1965 in Gettysburg, S.D.
• Began training Thoroughbreds in 1986
• His brother, Cash, won an Eclipse Award for Top Apprentice in 1979
• His parents, Keith and Marylin, run the El Primero Training Center in Laredo, Texas
• Scored first graded stakes victory with Valid Expectations in the Grade III Derby Trial at Churchill Downs in 1996
• Won first Grade I with Dreams Gallore in 1999 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park
• Won Eclipse Award for Champion Trainer in 2008-09
• Trained two-time Horse of the Year Curlin (2007-08)
• Trained Curlin to victories in the 2007 Arkansas Derby, Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic; and 2008 Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Trained 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra
• Finished second in 2011 Kentucky Derby with Nehro
• Will be inducted into National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in 2016
• Won 7,000th race on April 1, 2015 at Oaklawn Park with Drama Coach
• Kentucky Derby record: 13-0-1-1
Ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr.
• Born Nov. 19, 1992 in Chorillo, Panama City, Panama
• Father, Ricardo Sr., was a jockey
• Came to U.S. in 2009 where he began riding at Delaware Park
• Won riding title at Delaware Park in 2012
• First graded stakes victory came in 2013 Count Fleet (GIII) aboard Justin Phillip
• Creator gave Santana his first Grade I triumph in the Arkansas Derby
• Won fourth straight Oaklawn riding title in 2016
• Enjoyed best Oaklawn meet to date this spring with 80 trips to the winner’s circle that garnered earnings of over $4 million
• Lone Derby mount, Tapiture, finished 15th in 2014
Bred by Mt. Brilliant Broodmares LLC
• Dark bay colt by Twirling Candy, out of the Songandaprayer mare Talkin and Singing. Foaled April 6, 2013
• Finished fourth last time out in Grade I Santa Anita Derby, in which he was 13 . lengths behind winner Exaggerator
• Won Grade II San Felipe by two lengths over Mor Spirit
• Broke maiden Dec. 26, 2015 at Santa Anita; last Kentucky Derby winner that broke maiden at Santa Anita was Giacomo (2005)
• Last dark bay or brown horse to win Kentucky Derby was Street Sense (2007)
• No. 10 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 60 points
Owned by Halo Farms (Teddy Aroney), Jim Bashor and Dianne Bashor
• Halo Farms is headed by Teddy Aroney
• Aroney was born Nov. 20, 1939 in Los Angeles, Calif.
• Resides in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
• Recalls going to the racetrack at age 10 when his dad took him to Santa Anita
• Started out in construction business, which segued into development, with his love for the track and horses always prominent
• Bought a share of his first racehorse in 1970 and he’s been an owner since
• First notable Thoroughbred success as a partner in a fast horse was Shanekite, a multiple stakes winner and eventual prominent California sire
• Owned King Glorious, who won 1988 Hollywood Futurity, and went to win the Haskell Invitational and Ohio Derby as a 3-year-old
• Won first Grade I with Alphabet Kisses in 2004 La Brea
• Owned 2010 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Dakota Phone
• Jim and Dianne Bashor reside in La Jolla, Calif.
• Bashor took frequent trips to Santa Anita as a young boy and recalls seeing Swaps race as a child
• A real estate agent and well-known donor to the University of Southern California
• Danzing Candy will be the first Kentucky Derby contender for Halo Farms, Jim and Dianne Bashor
Trained by Cliff Sise Jr.
• Born Oct. 18, 1951 in St. Louis, Mo.
• Family had a summer trailer in Seaside Village, Calif. growing up and would take frequent trips to Del Mar
• Became a jockey and rode first horse in 1967 at age 16
• Rode until 1970, primarily at Turf Paradise in Arizona and on the California fair circuit
• Took out trainer's license in 1970
• Scored first graded stakes victory with sprinter Paying Dues in 1996 Los Angeles Handicap (GIII) at Hollywood Park
• Lone Grade I winner was Idiot Proof, who won 2007 Ancient Title and went on to finish second in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint
• Danzing Candy will be Sise’s first Kentucky Derby starter
Ridden by Mike Smith
• Born Aug. 10, 1965 in Roswell, N.M.
• Introduced to horses at young age by father and uncle and began riding at bush tracks at age 11
• Began riding professionally at age 16 and has won more than 5,000 races
• Won 2005 Kentucky Derby aboard 50-1 longshot Giacomo
• Winner of a record 22 Breeders’ Cup races
• Won Eclipse Award for Champion Jockey in 1993-94
• Rode numerous champion Thoroughbreds such as Azeri, Holy Bull, Lure, Skip Away and Zenyatta
• Won 1993 Preakness Stakes aboard Prairie Bayou
• Won 2010 Belmont Stakes and 2011 Breeders’ Cup Classic aboard Drosselmeyer
• Inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2003
• Kentucky Derby record: 21-1-4-1
Bred by Halo Farm
• Gray or roan colt by Giant’s Causeway, out of the Siberian Summer mare Dream of Summer. Foaled April 16, 2013
• Full brother to 2012 Kentucky Derby contender Creative Cause, who ran third in that year’s Preakness
• Most recent start was a victory in Grade II Tampa Bay Derby over stablemate Outwork
• Enters Kentucky Derby with a 56-day span between races, which would be longest documented layoff since complete records were kept starting in 1929 (note: Regret won 1915 Derby off a 259-day layoff and Sir Barton won the 1919 Derby off a 238-day layoff)
• Broke maiden on Oct. 11, 2015 at Belmont Park; a record 16 horses broke their maiden at Belmont Park and won the Kentucky Derby
• Won Grade III Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs; horses that ran in Sam F. Davis are 19-0-1-2 since 1980
• Last gray to win Kentucky Derby was Giacomo (2005)
• No. 11 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 51 points
Owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC (Steve Davison and Randy Gullatt)
• Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC is headed by Steve Davison and Randy Gullatt
• Davison and Gullatt are childhood friends that grew up in Ruston, La.
• Before managing Twin Creeks Farm, Gullatt trained Thoroughbreds for eight years all over the country including Louisiana, California, Arkansas and Kentucky
• Gullatt was among the leading trainers in Northern California and Louisiana and conditioned stakes winners La Paz, Missouri Ace and Esker Island
• Gullatt’s wife, Kim, is a former jockey and handles Twin Creeks’ client relations and social media
• Davison is an attorney as well as a principal owner in Genesis Energy, LP, a publicly traded energy and transportation company
• Davison is a developer of Squire Creek Country Club, the top-ranked golf course and residential development in Louisiana
• Twin Creeks Racing Stables owned graded stakes winners Graydar, Red Rifle and Mission Impazzible
• Mission Impazzible was Twin Creeks’ first Kentucky Derby starter and finished ninth in 2010
• Their other Derby starter, Vinceremos, finished 17th in 2014
Trained by Todd Pletcher
• Born June 26, 1967 in Dallas, Texas
• Son of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse trainer Jack “J.J.” Pletcher
• Graduated from University of Arizona with a degree in animal science
• Worked as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas for seven years prior to going out on his own in 1996
• Scored first career victory with Majestic Number on Jan. 26, 1996 at Gulfstream Park
• Won 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver
• Trained 10 Eclipse Award-winning Thoroughbreds
• Three of his 10 Eclipse Award winners came in 2007: English Channel (Champion Turf Male), Lawyer Ron (Champion Older Male) and Rags to Riches (Champion 3-Year-Old Filly)
• 12-time leading trainer at Saratoga
• 15-time leading trainer at Belmont Park
• 4-time NYRA leading trainer
• Has won training titles at Keeneland and Gulfstream Park
• Record five starters in Kentucky Derby in one year on two occasions (2007 and 2013)
• Started 43 horses in Kentucky Derby; Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas currently hold the record with 48
• Seven-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer
• Seven-time Breeders’ Cup winner
• Leading trainer by earnings in 2004-07 and 2010-13
• Won record 100 stakes and 57 graded stakes races in 2006
• Leads all trainers with 16 Kentucky Derby Day wins at Churchill Downs since 1991
• Kentucky Derby record: 43-1-2-3
Ridden by Javier Castellano
• Born Oct. 23, 1977 in Maracaibo, Venezuela
• Began riding career in 1996 at Santa Rita and La Rinconata Race Courses in Venezuela
• Moved to U.S. in June 1997
• Scored first U.S. victory on July 31, 1997 aboard Phone Man at Calder
• Won three straight Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey in 2013-15
• Five-time Travers Stakes winner: Bernardini (2006), Afleet Express (2010), Stay Thirsty (2011), V.E. Day (2014) and Keen Ice (2015)
• Set record for single season earnings in 2015 with $28,120,767
• Leading rider at Saratoga in 2013-14
• Has had four five-win days at Saratoga: Sept. 6, 2004, Sept. 3, 2005, July 25, 2010 and Sept. 2, 2013
• Five-time Breeders’ Cup winner: Ghostzapper (2004 Classic), Zagora (2012 Filly & Mare Turf), Ria Antonia (2013 Juvenile Fillies), Dayatthespa (2014 Filly & Mare Turf) and Stopcharginmaria (2015 Distaff)
• Kentucky Derby record: 9-0-0-0
Bred by James C. Weigel & Taylor Made Stallions Inc.
• Weigel grew up in La Crosse, Wisc.
• Retired engineer from Valencia, Calif.
• Owned Grade I winner Dream of Summer, the dam of Destin
• Taylor Made Stallions, Inc. is a family-run operation based out of Nicholasville, Ky.
• Run by brothers Duncan (President and CEO), Ben (Vice President), Frank (Vice President of Boarding Operations) and Mark (Vice President of Marketing and Sales Operations)
• Taylor Made is home to stallions Northern Afleet, Astrology and Graydar; will be the future home of 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome following his retirement
• Dark bay colt by Curlin out of the Vindication mare Dawn Raid. Foaled Feb. 5, 2013 in Kentucky
• Last brother jockey/trainer combo in Kentucky Derby was Dixieland Heat, who was 12th in 1993 for Randy and Gerald Romero. Prior to that, it was Jimmy and Nick Combest, who were seventh in 1964 with Mr. Moonlight.
• Has career earnings of $1,6,71,120; record of millionaires in Kentucky Derby: 40-3-4-5; the winners: Street Sense (2007), California Chrome (2014) and American Pharoah (2015)
• Won Grade I Santa Anita Derby over sloppy going by 6 . lengths over Mor Spirit
• Finished third in Grade II San Felipe behind Danzing Candy and Mor Spirit
• Finished second behind undefeated Nyquist in Grade II San Vicente at Santa Anita Park
• Won $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot by neck over Sunny Ridge
• Last dark bay or brown horse to win the Kentucky Derby was Street Sense (2007)
• No. 3 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 126 points.
Owned by Big Chief Racing LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Rocker O Ranch LLC
• Big Chief Racing LLC is headed by Matthew Bryan
• Bryan was born Oct. 21, 1969 in Colorado Springs, Colo. but currently resides in Flower Mound, Texas
• Got involved in racing through a syndication named “Don’t Tell Your Wife Stable”
• Serves as CEO of M.G. Bryan Equipment Co., an engine and generator distribution company based in Grand Prairie, Texas
• Met trainer Keith Desormeaux at a Texas horse sale in 2012
• Owned Ive Struck A Nerve, who won Grade II Risen Star at odds of 135-1 but missed Kentucky Derby due to an injury
• Head of Plains Partners LLC is headed by Sol Kumin
• Kumin helped form five other racing partnerships; one of which, Sheep Pond Partners, owns My Man Sam who also is a Kentucky Derby contender
• Kumin is CEO and founder of Folger Hill Asset Management, an equity hedge fund that was launched in March 2014
• Rocker O Ranch LLC is headed by Cody Ortowski
• Ortowski serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Select Energy Services LLC and served as its Executive Vice President since 2011
Trained by Keith Desormeaux
• Born Jan. 27, 1967 in Lafayette, La.
• Graduate of Louisiana Tech with a degree in animal science
• Following college he went to Maryland and became an assistant to trainer Charlie Hadry
• Younger brother, Kent, is a three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey
• Trained 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red
• Typically keeps a string of horses in California, Texas and Louisiana
• First graded stakes winner, Ive Struck A Nerve, won Grade II Risen Star at odds of 135-1 and was owned by Big Chief Racing LLC
• Exaggerator will be Desormeaux’s first Kentucky Derby starter
Ridden by Kent Desormeaux
• Born Feb. 27, 1970 in Maurice, La.
• Grew up on a farm where he was introduced to horses through 4-H
• Began racing Quarter Horses at Evangeline Downs
• Began riding Thoroughbreds on Maryland circuit and found immediate success
• Won Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 1987
• Two-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Jockey (1989, 1992)
• One of three jockeys to win Eclipse Award in apprentice and overall categories; Chris McCarron and Steve Cauthen are the other two.
• Moved tack to Southern California in 1990 and was leading rider in North America by earnings in 1992
• Three-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey with Real Quiet (1998), Fusaichi Pegasus (2000) and Big Brown (2008)
• Looks to join Hall of Famer Bill Shoemaker as a four-tine Kentucky Derby winner
• Won 2009 Belmont Stakes aboard Summer Bird
• Five-time winner of Breeders’ Cup races
• Kentucky Derby record: 19-3-0-4
Bred by Joseph B. Murphy
• Chestnut colt by Candy Ride, out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Quiet Giant. Foaled March 8, 2013 in Kentucky
• Won Grade II Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds by 4 ó lengths over Tom’s Ready and Dazzling Gem
• Won Grade II Risen Star at Fair Grounds by a half-length over Forevamo and Mo Tom
• Lone defeat came in last year’s Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club where he was fourth beaten 3 . lengths behind Airoforce and Derby contenders Mor Spirit and Mo Tom
• Broke maiden at Churchill Downs on Sept. 11, 2015; last Kentucky Derby winner that broke maiden at Churchill Downs was 1933 winner Brokers Tip, who broke his maiden in that year’s Kentucky Derby
• Will attempt to join Needles (1956) and Animal Kingdom (2011) as the only horses to win the Derby off a 42-day layoff since complete records were kept starting in 1929
• Thirteen horses, including seven of the last nine winners, made two starts as a 3-year-old prior to winning the Kentucky Derby: War Admiral (1937), Shut Out (1942), Count Fleet (1943), Hoop Jr. (1945), Jet Pilot (1947), Sunny’s Halo (1983), Street Sense (2007), Big Brown (2008), Mine That Bird (2009), Super Saver (2010), Animal Kingdom (2011), I’ll Have Another (2012) and American Pharoah (2015); record since 1937: 132-13-13-7.
• No. 1 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 151 points
Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ron Winchell) & Three Chimneys Farm (Goncalo Borges Torrealba)
• Winchell Thoroughbreds is owned by Ron Winchell, born March 29, 1972
• Winchell is son of late Verne Winchell, who owned successful donut chain Winchell’s Donuts
• Owner of Winchell’s Pub & Grill, a Vegas-area restaurant chain
• Owns 16 small gaming sites in Nevada, many of which are named Joanie’s Jackpots in honor of his mother
• Campaigned 2004 Wood Memorial winner Tapit, who is now the leading North American sire
• Tapit was Winchell’s first Derby starter finishing ninth in 2004
• Owned two Kentucky Oaks winners: Summerly (2005) and Untapable (2014), both trained by Steve Asmussen
• Campaigned 2012 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar
• Kentucky Derby record: 5-0-0-0
• Three Chimneys Farm is located near Midway, Ky. and was founded in 1972 by Robert and Blythe Clay
• Goncalo Borges Torrealba became a partner in Three Chimneys in Nov. 2012
• Torrealba operates Stud TNT in Brazil
• Raced Grade I winner Cara Rafaela, named after his daughter
• Three Chimneys has been home stallions such as Seattle Slew, Silver Charm, Point Given and Big Brown
• Owned Chief’s Crown in partnership with Star Crown Stable, who finished third in 1985 Kentucky Derby
• Kentucky Derby record: 2-0-0-1
Trained by Steve Asmussen
• Born Nov. 18, 1965 in Gettysburg, S.D.
• Began training Thoroughbreds in 1986
• His brother, Cash, won an Eclipse Award for Top Apprentice in 1979
• His parents, Keith and Marylin, run the El Primero Training Center in Laredo, Texas
• Scored first graded stakes victory with Valid Expectations in the Grade III Derby Trial at Churchill Downs in 1996
• Won first Grade I with Dreams Gallore in 1999 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park
• Won Eclipse Award for Champion Trainer in 2008-09
• Trained two-time Horse of the Year Curlin (2007-08)
• Trained Curlin to victories in the 2007 Arkansas Derby, Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic; and 2008 Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Trained 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra
• Finished second in 2011 Kentucky Derby with Nehro
• Will be inducted into National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in 2016
• Won 7,000th race on April 1, 2015 at Oaklawn Park with Drama Coach
• Kentucky Derby record: 13-0-1-1
Ridden by Florent Geroux
• Born July 16, 1986 in Argentan, France
• Entered a jockey school in his native France and began riding at 17
• Moved to California in 2007 as an apprentice and began riding for trainer Patrick Biancone
• Leading rider at Fair Grounds in 2016
• Won three Grade III stakes at Arlington on July 12, 2014: American Derby (Divine Oath), Modesty Handicap (I’m Already Sexy) and Stars and Stripes Stakes (The Pizza Man)
• Won 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint aboard Work All Week
• 2015 was his most successful year to date; highlights included two Breeders’ Cup victories with Catch A Glimpse (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Mongolian Saturday (Turf Sprint) and a victory in the Arlington Million aboard The Pizza Man
• Gun Runner will be Geroux’s first Kentucky Derby mount
Bred by Besilu Stables LLC
• Besilu Stables was founded by Benjamin Leon who first started buying Thoroughbreds in 2008
• Born Dec. 4, 1946 in Oriente, Cuba
• Established Leon Medical Centers in 1996
• Purchased 2011 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic winner Royal Delta for $8.5 million at the Keeneland November Sale
• Campaigned her through 2012-2013 where she won a second consecutive Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic in 2012
• Gray or roan colt by Tapit, out of the Sunday Silence mare Heavenly Romance. Foaled Feb. 22, 2013 in Kentucky
• Lani is one of three sons of Tapit entered in this year’s Kentucky Derby; Creator and Mohaymen are the other two
• Last gray to win the Kentucky Derby was Giacomo (2005)
• Won Group 2 UAE Derby over UAE Oaks victor Polar River
• Will become the ninth Kentucky Derby starter that raced exclusively outside of North America prior to running in the Kentucky Derby
• Horses that ran in the UAE Derby are 11-0-0-0 in the Kentucky Derby
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Derby: Getting to Know
Friday, May 6, 2016
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• Will attempt to join Needles (1956) and Animal Kingdom (2011) as the only horses to win the Derby off a 42-day layoff since complete
records were kept starting in 1929
• Record of millionaires in the Kentucky Derby: 40-3-4-5; the winners: Street Sense (2007), California Chrome (2014) and American Pharoah
(2015)
• Thirteen horses, including seven of the past nine winners, made two starts as a 3-year-old prior to winning the Kentucky Derby: War
Admiral (1937), Shut Out (1942), Count Fleet (1943), Hoop Jr. (1945), Jet Pilot (1947), Sunny’s Halo (1983), Street Sense (2007), Big Brown
(2008), Mine That Bird (2009), Super Saver (2010), Animal Kingdom (2011), I’ll Have Another (2012) and American Pharoah (2015); record
since 1937: 132-13-13-7
• No. 7 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 100 points
Owned by Koji Maeda
• Born Feb. 27, 1949 in Nara, Japan
• Started his own waste management business when he was 17
• Owns numerous garbage burning facilities in Japan
• His company, Aitech, is one of the top five waste management companies in Japan
• Owned first horse when he was 25 years old
• Owned Sunday Break, who ran third in 2002 Belmont Stakes
• Has won 30 Group 1 races in Japan
• Won Japanese Derby two years in a row with Kizuna and One and Only in 2013-14
Trained by Mikio Matsunaga
• Born April 10, 1967 in Kumamoto, Japan
• Top jockey in Japan before switching to training 10 years ago
• Won more than 1,400 races as a jockey, 11 of which were Group 1 races
• Rode Heavenly Romance, Lani’s dam, to an upset victory in 2005 Tenno Sho Autumn at Tokyo Racecourse
• Has won 269 races as a trainer
• Trains steeplechase horses in Japan, as well as flats
• Earned Japan Racing Association’s Award for Training Technique
• Lani will be the second horse that Matsunanga will start in the U.S. His filly, Red Desire finished third in the Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park before running fourth in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Ridden by Yutaka Take
• Born March 15, 1969 in Kyoto, Japan
• A nationwide celebrity in Japan, his father was legendary jockey Kunihito Take
• Rode Deep Impact, the second undefeated winner of the Japanese Triple Crown in 2005
• Was champion jockey in Japan from years 1989-1999, with the exception of 1991
• Three-time winner of the Japan Cup
• Five-time winner of the Japanese Derby
• Outside of Japan, Take also has won races in Great Britain, France, United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong
• Lone Kentucky Derby mount, Ski Captain, finished 14th in 1995
Bred by North Hills Co. Limited
• Bay ridgling by Tiznow, out of the Unaccounted For mare Unacloud. Foaled April 28, 2013
• Finished second to champion Nyquist in the Grade I Florida Derby
• Broke maiden Feb. 27; latest maiden winner to win the Kentucky Derby since 1934 was 1958 winner Tim Tam, who won his first race on
Jan. 17 during his 3-year-old season
• Last horse to make four starts as a 3-year-old prior to winning the Kentucky Derby was Smarty Jones (2004)
• Only two horses that broke their maiden at Gulfstream Park have won the Kentucky Derby: Needles (1956) and Monarchos (2001)
• No. 18 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 40 points
Owned by Groupo 7C Racing Stable (Alejandro Ceballos)
• Groupo 7C Racing Stable is headed by Alejandro Cebellos, a businessman from Venezuela
• Owned graded stakes winners Grand Bili and Grand Tito
• Majesto will be Groupo 7C Racing Stable’s first Kentucky Derby starter
Trained by Gustavo Delgado
• Born March 25, 1957 in Maracaibo, Venezuela
• One of the most successful trainers in Venezuelan history, he won the Triple Crown in his native country on four occasions
• Won the most prominent race in Venezuela, the Clasico Simon Bolivar, five times
• Scored first American graded stakes victory with Grand Bili in 2015 Carry Back (GII) at Gulfstream Park
• Won the 2016 Mac Diarmida (GII) with Grand Tito
• Majesto will be Gustavo Delgado’s first Kentucky Derby starter
Ridden by TBA
Bred by Diamond A Racing Corp.
• Owned 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect
• Lone Kentucky Derby start as an owner, Minister Eric, finished 16th in 2004
• Dark bay colt by Uncle Mo, out of the Rubiano mare Caroni. Foaled May 6, 2013 in Kentucky
• One of three horses sired by 2015 leading freshman sire Uncle Mo; the others are Nyquist and Outwork
• A win would make sire Uncle Mo the youngest Derby-winning sire at age 8, joining Gallant Fox (Omaha in 1935), Pensive (Ponder in 1949),
Royal Courage (Venetian Way in 1960), Raise a Native (Majestic Prince in 1969) and Maria’s Mon (Monarchos in 2001)
• Was a troubled fourth last time out in Grade II Louisiana Derby on March 26
• Will attempt to join Needles (1956) and Animal Kingdom (2011) as the only horses to win the Derby off a 42-day layoff since complete records were kept starting in 1929
• Broke maiden at Ellis Park on Sept. 5; looks to become the first Ellis Park maiden victor to win the Kentucky Derby
• Last dark bay or brown horse to win the Kentucky Derby was Street Sense (2007)
• No. 20 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 32 points
Owned by G M B Racing
• G M B Racing is headed by Gayle Benson
• Benson grew up in Algiers, La.
• Benson’s husband, Tom Benson, is the owner of the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and New Orleans Pelicans (NBA)
• Became an interior designer in the late 1970s and began buying and selling historic properties in New Orleans
• Has also redesigned suites and public spaces in the Superdome and opened a wholesale design showroom for her industry peers
• G M B Racing also owns Tom’s Ready in this year’s Kentucky Derby; last time an owner ran one-two in the Derby was in 1948 when Citation and Coaltown ran one-two for Calumet Farm
• Purchased six colts from the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $920,000, one of which was Mo Tom; another colt purchased from the sale, Tom’s Ready, is also entered in the Kentucky Derby for Mrs. Benson
• Mo Tom and Tom’s Ready will be G M B Racing’s first Kentucky Derby starters
Trained by Tom Amoss
• Born Nov. 17, 1961 in New Orleans, LA
• Graduated from LSU with a degree in marketing
• Roomed with fellow native Louisianan and horse trainer Al Stall Jr. during his time in college
• Worked for top trainers Jack Van Berg and Frank Brothers before going out on his own
• Saddled first winner in 1987 at Sportsman’s Park with Prize Dream
• Winner of 11 training titles at Fair Grounds
• Has been leading trainer at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Downs and Ellis Park
• Inducted into Fair Grounds Hall of Fame in 1999
• Trained Grade I-winning filly Heritage of Gold who ran third in 1999-2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff
• Kentucky Derby record: 4-0-0-0
Ridden by Corey Lanerie
• Born Nov. 13, 1974 in Lafayette, La.
• Grandfather was a trainer, and father, Gerald, was a jockey and is now a trainer
• Grew up where racing was a strong part of the local culture and non-sanctioned “bush” tracks are held on weekends
• Was always around horses growing up and began riding at bush tracks in his native Louisiana
• First winner was aboard High Hopes Banquet at Evangeline Down on April 19, 1991
• His first graded stakes victory came aboard Parade Leader in Grade III Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in 1999
• Scored first Grade I victory aboard Hooh Why in 2009 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland
• Dominated riding circuit at Lone Star Park from 1999-2003 taking four riding titles
• Has won 10 of last 11 meets
• Earned 2014 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
• Lone Kentucky Derby mount, Harry’s Holiday, finished 16th in 2014
Bred by Hargus & Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm
• Hargus was born on Aug. 18, 1920, in Green Hall, Ky.; Sandra was born March 15, 1948 in Safford, Ariz.
• Sandra is niece of Rex Ellsworth, the owner of 1955 Kentucky Derby winner Swaps
• Bred Grade I winners Capo Bastone, and Corinthian
• Bred five Kentucky Derby starters: Ragtime Rebel (ninth in 1993), Crypto Star (fifth in 1997), Desert Hero (Corinthianʼs half-brother; 13th in 1999), Valhol (15th in 1999) and Gayego (17th in 2008)
• Gray or roan colt by Tapit, out of the Dixie Union mare Justwhistledixie. Foaled May 2, 2013 in Kentucky
• One of three sons of Tapit entered in this year’s Kentucky Derby; Lani and Creator are the other two
• In Arabic, the word “mohaymen” means dominant
• Purchased for $2.2 million, he’d become fourth highest-priced starter in Kentucky Derby history behind Fusaichi Pegasus (1st in 2000, $4
million), Dunkirk (11th in 2009, $3.7 million) and Houston (8th in 1989, $2.9 million)
• Mohaymen and Mor Spirit were 12-1 co-favorites in Las Vegas at the start of the year; winter book favorites that won Kentucky Derby include Spectacular Bid (1979) and Street Sense (2007)
• Suffered lone defeat in most recent start, when fourth in Grade I Florida Derby behind Nyquist
• Following his maiden victory at Belmont Park, he found more success as a 2-year old taking the Nashua and Remsen, both Grade II events at Aqueduct
• Record 16 horses broke their maiden at Belmont Park and won Kentucky Derby
• Last gray to win Kentucky Derby was Giacomo (2005)
• Won Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth, both Grade II, at Gulfstream Park
Owned by Shadwell Stable (Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum)
• Shadwell Stable is run by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
• Maktoum was born Dec. 25, 1945 in Dubai, Trucial States (now known as United Arab Emirates)
• Serves as Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry of the United Arab Emirates
• Received early education in the Emirates then attended Bell School of Languages, Cambridge.
• He and his brother Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who owns Godolphin Racing, control the state-owned Dubai Ports World along with the Dubai Holding Co. and its many subsidiary companies
• Shadwell Stable owned 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor, who was inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2013
• Shadwell Stable’s lone Derby starter was Jazil, dead heat for fourth in 2006, who went on to win that year’s Belmont Stakes
• Shadwell also owns Shagaf in this year’s Kentucky Derby; last time an owner ran one-two in the Derby was in 1948 when Citation and Coaltown ran one-two for Calumet Farm
• Kentucky Derby Record: 1-0-0-0
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin
• Born Nov. 15, 1960 in Lexington, Ky.
• Briefly attended University of Kentucky but left in order to pursue a full-time racing career
• Served as assistant to Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas where he worked with Champion Filly Open Mind
• Briefly was jockey’s agent for two-time Kentucky Derby winner Chris Antley
• Leading trainer at Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba on three occasions
• Trained Invasor, the winner of the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2007 Dubai World Cup
• Won 2007 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Lahudood
• Trained Alpha who won 2012 Travers in a dead heat with Golden Ticket
• Trained 2005 Kentucky Derby runner-up Closing Argument who ran second at odds of 70-1
• Kentucky Derby record: 6-0-1-0
Ridden by Junior Alvarado
• Born May 20, 1986 in Venezuela
• Named for father, Rafael, but confusion in the registration process listed Junior as his first name
• Came to U.S. in 2007 riding on the Florida circuit
• Won first stakes race aboard Annabill in the Capital Request Stakes at Calder
• Began riding at Arlington Park in 2008 where he scored 81 wins in his first meet
• Won first Grade I with Éclair de Lune in 2010 Beverly D. at Arlington Park
• Mohaymen will be Alvarado’s first Kentucky Derby mount
Bred by Clearsky Farms
• Located just outside of Lexington, Ky.
• Founded in 2009 by Irish businessman Eamon Cleary who passed away in 2012
• Bred 2015 Kentucky Derby runner-up Firing Line
• Cleary left school at age 11 to work on father’s farm in Ireland
• Campaigned New Zealand Group 1 winner Rags to Riches and steeplechase champion Rand
• Dark bay ridgling by Eskendreya, out of the Dixie Union mare Im a Dixie Girl. Foaled Apri 1, 2013 in Pennsylvania
• Last dark bay or brown horse to win the Kentucky Derby was Street Sense (2007)
• One of two Pennsylvania-breds (other is Tom’s Ready); hopes to join Lil E. Tee (1992) and Smarty Jones (2004) as Pennsylvania-bred Kentucky Derby winners
• Never finished worse than second in seven career starts
• Ran second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby over a sloppy going finishing 6 . lengths behind Exaggerator
• Made his 3-year-old debut a successful one winning the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita by 1 ó lengths
• Won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity by 1 ó lengths over stable mate Toews On Ice
• Last Kentucky Derby winner that broke his maiden at Santa Anita was Giacomo (2005)
• Mohaymen and Mor Spirit were 12-1 co-favorites in Las Vegas at the start of the year; winter book favorites that won the Kentucky Derby include Spectacular Bid (1979) and Street Sense (2007)
• No. 8 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 84 points
Owned by Michael Lund Petersen
• Grew up next to Charlottenlund Racetrack in Copenhagen, Denmark and began going to races at the age of 12
• Currently resides in Baltimore, MD
• Moved to the United States in 2002; founded Pandora Jewelry that same year
• Petersen owns five Thoroughbreds, three of which are 2-year-olds
• Also owns steeplechase horses
• An avid golfer, Petersen won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament last year
• Met Bob Baffert through friend Bernie Schiappa while spending time at his home in Cabo San Lucas
• Owned One Lucky Dane, who ran second to Dortmund in last year’s Santa Anita Derby and could not make the Kentucky Derby due to a leg injury
• Mor Spirit will be Petersen’s first Kentucky Derby starter
Trained by Bob Baffert
• Born on January 13, 1953 in Nogales, AZ
• Got his start at the racetrack grooming and galloping Quarter Horses owned by his father
• Rode for a year before starting classes at the University of Arizona, where he was a part of the Race Track Industry Program
• Trained Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds at the beginning of his career, but began training Thoroughbreds exclusively in 1991
• Trainer of 12 Thoroughbred champions and four Quarter horse champions
• Trained 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah who became the first horse in 37 years to sweep all three American classic and went on to win that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland
• Four-time Kentucky Derby winner: Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), War Emblem (2002) and American Pharoah (2015)
• Six-time Preakness winner and also won the Belmont twice: Point Given (2001) and American Pharoah (2015)
• Two-time winner of the Dubai World Cup: Silver Charm (1998) and Captain Steve (2001)
• Two-time Kentucky Oaks winner: Silverbulletday (1999) and Plum Pretty (2011)
• Two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic: Bayern (2014) and American Pharoah (2015)
• Four-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2015
• Inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2009
• Kentucky Derby record: 25-4-3-3
Ridden by Gary Stevens
• Born on March 6, 1963 in Caldwell, ID
• Son of trainer Ron Stevens
• Began riding quarter horses at bush tracks and fairs at age 14
• Won his first thoroughbred race when he was 17 at Les Bois Park in Boise
• In 1993 he became the youngest jockey in history to surpass the $100 million earnings mark
• Winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 1998
• Three-time Kentucky Derby winner: Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995) and Silver Charm (1997)
• Two-time Kentucky Oaks winner with Tiffany Lass in 1986 and Silverbulletday in 1999
• Inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1997
• Winner of over 5,000 career victories in North America
• Has won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes both three times
• Played jockey George Wolfe in the 2003 film Seabuscuit
• Retired from racing in 1999 due to knee problems but came back in 2000
• Retired for a second time in 2005, but came out of retirement in January 2013
• Won the Breeders’ Cup Classic that year aboard Mucho Macho Man
• Guided Oxbow to a victory in the 2013 Preakness Stakes
• Kentucky Derby record: 21-3-3-1
Bred by Elkstone Group LLC
• Bay colt by Trappe Shot, out of the Arch mare Lauren Byrd. Foaled on March 3, 2013 in Kentucky
• Was a late-closing second in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes last time out behind Brody’s Cause
• Broke maiden Jan. 31 by 8 lengths; latest maiden winner to win the Kentucky Derby since 1934 was 1958 winner Tim Tam, who won his first race on Jan. 17 during his 3-year-old season
• Has made four career starts; horses that made four starts or fewer prior to the Kentucky Derby are 56-5-3-5. The winners: Alan-a-Dale (1902, 4 starts), Regret (1915, 3 starts), Exterminator (1918, 4 starts), Big Brown (2008, 3 starts) and Animal Kingdom (2011, 4 starts)
• No. 17 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 40 points
Owned by Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables LLC and Jay W. Bligh
• Sheep Pond Partners is headed by Sol Kumin
• Kumin is the CEO and founder of Folger Hill Asset Management, an equity hedge fund that was launched in March 2014
• Kumin served as the COO at SAC Capital Advisors from 2004-14
• Earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Government from John Hopkins University in 1999
• Helped form five other racing partnerships; one of which, Head of Plains Partners, owns a share of Exaggerator, also entered in the Kentucky Derby
• Owned undefeated grass filly Lady Eli, also trained by Chad Brown
• Won New Owner of the Year Award in 2015
• My Man Sam will be the first Kentucky Derby starter for Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables LLC and Jay W. Bligh
Trained by Chad Brown
• Born on Dec. 18, 1978 in Mechanicville, NY
• Grew up going to historic Saratoga Race Course with his family and became interested in horses and the sport
• While in high school, Brown began working with Standardbreds at Saratoga Raceway
• Graduated from Cornell University in 2001 with a degree in animal science
• Began hot walking Thoroughbreds for Shug McGaughey following college
• Spent five years as an assistant to the late Bobby Frankel where he worked with champions such as Ghostzapper, Ginger Punch and Intercontinental
• He scored his first winner with Dual Jewels on Nov. 27, 2007 at Churchill Downs
• Won the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2008 with Maram
• Scored his first training title during the 2010 Aqueduct Fall Meet
• His wife, Terrill, is the granddaughter of the late trainer William “Red” Terrill
• Accomplished a rare Grade 1 double on Aug. 17, 2013 with Big Blue Kitten winning the Sword Dancer at Saratoga and Real Solution in the Arlington Million
• Won three Breeders’ Cup races in 2014: Lady Eli (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Bobby’s Kitten (Turf Sprint) and Dayatthespa (Filly & Mare Turf)
• Scored his first Grade 1 victory in the 2011 Diana Handicap at Saratoga with Zagora, who went on to give Brown his second Breeders’ Cup win in the following year’s Filly & Mare Turf
• Won the Belmont Fall Meet training title three years in a row from 2012-14
• Won his first NYRA training title in 2015
• His lone Kentucky Derby starter, Normandy Invasion, ran fourth in 2013
Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr.
• Born on Aug. 11, 1992 in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
• His grandfather, also named Irad, was a jockey; as was his uncle Ivan
• Attended Puerto Rico’s Escuela Vocacional Hipica, a jockey’s school in his native country
• Began his riding career on New Year’s Day of 2011 and scored his first victory the following day at Hipodromo Camarero aboard Wild Logic
• Rode in Puerto Rico until June 2011 when he moved to New York
• Won his first victory in the United States on Jun. 24, 2011 at Belmont Park aboard Millennium Jet
• Won his first Saratoga riding title in 2015
• Won two straight Belmont Fall Meet riding titles in 2014-15
• Won back-to-back NYRA riding titles in 2014-15
• Scored his first Breeders’ Cup victory in the 2014 Juvenile Fillies Turf aboard Lady Eli
• His lone Kentucky Derby mount, Uncle Sigh, ran 14th in 2014
Bred by Jay W. Bligh
• Bay colt by Uncle Mo, out of the Forestry mare Seeking Gabrielle. Foaled on March 10, 2013 in Kentucky.
• A win would make sire Uncle Mo the youngest Derby-winning sire at age 8, joining Gallant Fox (Omaha in 1935), Pensive (Ponder in 1949), Royal Courage (Venetian Way in 1960), Raise a Native (Majestic Prince in 1969) and Maria’s Mon (Monarchos in 2001)
• Purchased for $400,000 at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton March sale by trainer Doug O’Neill’s brother, Dennis.
• Named after Swedish ice hockey player Gustav Nyquist, a starting right wing for the Detroit Red Wings
• Won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland defeating Swipe by a half-length
• Won Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old in 2015
• Will attempt to become 21st champion 2-Year-Old to win the Kentucky Derby; last was American Pharoah (2015); he would become the 75th 2-year old champ to compete in the race; 2-year-old champion Derby record: 74-20-14-5
• Undefeated in seven career starts, four of which are Grade 1 races
• Will be the 27th undefeated horse to start in the Kentucky Derby since 1912 (record: 26-7-3-4); seven exited the Kentucky Derby unbeaten: Regret (1915), Morvich (1922), Majestic Prince (1969), Seattle Slew (1977), Smarty Jones (2004), Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008)
• Will enter the Kentucky Derby with a record $3,322,600, eclipsing Snow Chief’s prior mark of $1,719,040 in 1986
• Record of millionaires in the Kentucky Derby: 40-3-4-5; the winners: Street Sense (2007), California Chrome (2014) and American Pharoah (2015)
• Won his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 San Vicente defeating Santa Anita Derby winner Exaggerator by 1 ó lengths
• Earned a $1 million bonus for winning his most recent start, the Grade 1 Florida Derby, offered to any graduate of the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale to win the race
• Broke maiden June 5; would be the earliest maiden winner to win the Kentucky Derby since 1983 winner Sunny’s Halo broke his maiden on May 9 during his 2-year-old season
• No. 2 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 130 points
Owned by Reddam Racing LLC (J. Paul Reddam)
• J. Paul Reddam was born on July 28, 1955 in Windsor, Ontario.
• Founded Dietech.com, a mortgage loan company that was the first to use television and billboard advertising for current rates.
• Sold Dietech.com to General Motors in 1999.
• Owner of CashCall, a firm specializing in small loans at high interest rates.
• Was introduced to racing by a high school friend, Carlo Fisco, who worked as a groom at Windsor Raceway.
• Claimed first Thoroughbred, Ocean Warrior, in 1988
• Owned his first Kentucky Derby starter in 2003 with Ten Most Wanted, who finished ninth and was owned in partnership with James Chisholm, Horizon Stable and Michael Jarvis
• Owned 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another
• Owned 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Red Rocks and 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Wilko
• Campaigned Grade 1 winners Swept Overboard, Elloluv and Pt’s Grey Eagle
Trained by Doug O’Neill
• Born on May 24, 1968 in Dearborn, MI
• Introduced to horse racing as a young man by his father, when he and his two brothers would go to Santa Anita.
• Began working at the track in 1986, right out of high school, and learned under Jude Feld, Hector Palma and Doug Peterson before taking out his license in 1994.
• Scored his first graded stakes victory with Classy Cara in the 2000 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park
• Achieved international success in 2003 when Fleetsreet Dancer won the Japan Cup Dirt
• Scored his first Grade 1 victory with Sky Jack in the Hollywood Gold Cup
• Trained 2005 Champion 2-Year-Old Stevie Wonderboy
• Trained two-time California-bred Horse of the Year Lava Man, who he claimed for $50,000 won three consecutive Hollywood Gold Cups
(2005-07); retired in 2009 with $5.2 million in career earnings
• Named California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Trainer of the Year in 2002 and 2006
• Won the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with I’ll Have Another, who also was owned by Paul Reddam
• Winner of five Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships
• Kentucky Derby Record: 4-1-0-0
Ridden by Mario Gutierrez
• Born on Sept. 19, 1986 in Veracruz, Mexico
• Rode Quarter Horses in his native Veracruz and in Mexico City at age 14
• Moved to Canada in 2006 to ride at Hastings Race Course in Vancouver, where he won riding titles in 2007 and 2008
• Scored his first graded stakes victory aboard Sir Gallovic in the 2007 British Columbia Premiers Handicap at Hastings.
• His lone Derby mount, I’ll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby in 2012 and went on to win the Preakness Stakes
• Nyquist will be Gutierrez’s second Derby mount
• Kentucky Derby Record: (1-1-0-0)
Bred by Summerhill Farm
• Chestnut colt by Kitten’s Joy, out of the Theatrical mare Devine Actress. Foaled on March 26, 2013
• Won the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park at odds of 22-1
• Not an early ($600) or late ($6,000) nominee, would have to supplemented to the race for $200,000 to become eligible for the Triple Crown;
would be only the second supplemental entry to start: Greeley’s Galaxy was 11th in 2005 (note: Unshaded was supplemented for $150,000 in 2000 but was excluded from the race)
• A record 16 horses broke their maiden at Belmont Park and won the Kentucky Derby (1993 winner Sea Hero broke maiden on turf at Belmont Park)
• Only three horses broke their maiden on turf and won the Kentucky Derby: Sea Hero (1993), Barbaro (2006) and Big Brown (2008)
• No. 13 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 50 points
Owned by Ken & Sarah Ramsey
• Ken Ramsey was born on Nov. 3, 1935 in Artemus, KY
• Lives on Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, KY with his wife, Sarah
• Owned his first race horse in 1969, a $1,500 claimer named Red Redeemer
• Bought several cellular telephone network franchises and eventually accumulated a string along I-75 between Georgia and Kentucky
• Sold business in 1994 for an estimated $39 million
• Purchased Almahurst Farm, birthplace of 1918 Derby winner Exterminator, in 1994 and renamed it Ramsey Farm
• All-time leading owner at Churchill Downs and winner of a record 25 owners’ titles
• Winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner in 2004, 2011, 2013 and 2014
• Winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder in 2013 and 2014
• Leading owner by earnings in 2013 and 2014
• Four-time Breeders’ Cup winner
• Campaigned leading sire and Eclipse Award winner Kitten’s Joy, the sire of Oscar Nominated
• Kentucky Derby record: 6-0-0-0
Trained by Mike Maker
• Born on Feb. 7, 1969 in Garden City MI
• He grew up attending races at Hazel Park and Detroit Race Course where his father, George Maker, trained a string of horses
• First became involved as a Thoroughbred owner at 13 when he bought a horse with money earned from walking hots for his father
• Served as an assistant under Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas before training horses on his own in 2003
• Won Churchill Downs Fall training title in 2008
• Won Churchill Downs spring training title in 2015
• Won his first Grade 1 in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with Furthest Land
• Won training titles at Ellis Park in 2010 and 2012
• Has been the leading trainer at Turfway Park 11 times
• Won 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs with Hansen
• Kentucky Derby record: 8-0-0-0
Ridden by Julien Leparoux
• Born on July 15, 1983 in Senlis, France
• His late father, Robert, was a jockey who eventually became a trainer
• Grew up around horses in Chantilly but moved to the U.S. in early 2003 to ride for trainer Patrick Biancone
• Won Eclipse Award for Top Apprentice Jockey in 2006
• Won Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 2009
• Married to Shea Mitchell, daughter of the late California-based trainer Mike Mitchell
• Leading rider at Churchill Downs nine times, breaking record set by the track’s all-time leading rider Pat Day
• Six-time Breeders’ Cup winner
• Kentucky Derby record: 8-0-0-0
• Bay colt by Uncle Mo, out of the Empire Maker mare Nonna Mia. Foaled on March 8, 2013
• A win would make sire Uncle Mo the youngest Derby-winning sire at age 8, joining Gallant Fox (Omaha in 1935), Pensive (Ponder in 1949), Royal Courage (Venetian Way in 1960), Raise a Native (Majestic Prince in 1969) and Maria’s Mon (Monarchos in 2001)
• One of three horses sired by 2015 leading freshman sire Uncle Mo
• Trainer Todd Pletcher leads all trainers with 16 Kentucky Derby Day wins at Churchill Downs since 1991
• Broke his maiden on April 23, 2015 at Keeneland
• Only two horses that broke their maiden at Keeneland have won the Kentucky Derby: Forward Pass (1968) and Animal Kingdom (2011)
• Outwork would be the earliest maiden winner to win the Kentucky Derby since 1975 winner Foolish Pleasure broke his maiden on April 4 during his 2-year-old season
• Won the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in his fourth career start
• Horses that made four starts or less prior to the Kentucky Derby are 56-5-3-5. The winners: Alan-a-Dale (1902, 4 starts), Regret (1915, 3 starts), Exterminator (1918, 4 starts), Big Brown (2008, 3 starts) and Animal Kingdom (2011, 4 starts)
• Three of Outwork’s four career starts were victories, his lone defeat came in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby where he was second beaten one length behind stable mate Destin
• No. 4 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 120 points
Owned by Repole Stable (Mike Repole)
• Repole Stable is headed by Mike Repole
• Repole was born on Jan. 21, 1969 in Queens, NY
• Major investor in Pirate Brands, purchased for $195 million by B&G Foods in 2013
• Former president and co-founder of Glaceau, maker of Vitamin Water and Smart Water
• Returned to the beverage business in 2012 as a “non-executive” chairman of Body Armor
• Leading owner in New York in 2009
• Three-time leading owner at Saratoga (2010-12)
• His wife, Maria, is often the inspiration behind the names of some of his fillies such as 2015 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria
• Owned Champion 2-Year-Old Uncle Mo, the sire of Outwork as well as fellow Derby contenders Nyquist and Mo Tom
• Kentucky Derby record: 2-0-0-0
Trained by Todd Pletcher
• Born on June 26, 1967 in Dallas, TX
• Son of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse trainer Jack “J.J.” Pletcher
• Graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in animal science
• Worked as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas for seven years prior to going out on his own in 1996
• Scored his first career victory with Majestic Number on Jan. 26, 1996 at Gulfstream Park
• Won the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver
• Trained 10 Eclipse Award winning Thoroughbreds
• Three of his 10 Eclipse Award winners came in 2007: English Channel (Champion Turf Male), Lawyer Ron (Champion Older Male) and Rags to Riches (Champion 3-Year-Old Filly)
• 12-time leading trainer at Saratoga
• 15-time leading trainer at Belmont Park
• 4-time NYRA leading trainer
• Also a leading trainer at Keeneland and Gulfstream Park
• Seven-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer
• Seven-time Breeders’ Cup winner
• Leading trainer by earnings in 2004-07 and 2010-13
• Won a record 100 stakes and 57 graded stakes races in 2006
• Kentucky Derby record: 43-1-2-3
Ridden by John Velazquez
• Born on November 24, 1971 in Carolina, Puerto Rico
• Began riding in his native Puerto Rice before moving to New York in 1990
• Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero, Jr. serves as his agent
• Won the 2011 Kentucky Derby aboard Animal Kingdom
• Two other Triple Crown wins came aboard Rags to Riches (2007 Belmont) and Union Rags (2012 Belmont)
• Inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2012
• Became Saratoga’s all-time leading rider on July 27, 2013 surpassing previous record set by Jerry Bailey
• All-time money earning jockey in North American with over $343 million in career earnings; surpassed Pat Day’s mark on Oct. 13, 2013
• Chairman of the Jockey’s Guild Board of Directors; also serves on the board of the Permanently Disabled Jockey’s Fund
• Recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2009
• Won his first Grade 1 aboard Turk Passer in the Turf Classic at Belmont Park
• Winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 2004-05
• Winner of 13 Breeders’ Cup races
• Winner of more than 5,500 races
• Kentucky Derby record: 17-1-1-0
Bred by Repole Stable
• Bay colt by Bernardini, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Muhaawara. Foaled on Feb. 5, 2013 in Kentucky
• Was fifth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct last time out, which was the first loss of his career
• Last horse to finish worse than fourth in final prep that won Kentucky Derby was Iron Liege (1957), who was fifth in the Derby Trial
• Won the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct
• Horses that ran in the Gotham are 39-0-2-0 since 1980
• Has only made four career starts; horses that made four starts or less prior to the Kentucky Derby are 56-5-3-5. The winners: Alan-a-Dale (1902, 4 starts), Regret (1915, 3 starts), Exterminator (1918, 4 starts), Big Brown (2008, 3 starts) and Animal Kingdom (2011, 4 starts)
• No. 14 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 50 points
Owned by Shadwell Stable (Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum)
• Shadwell Stable is run by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
• Maktoum was born on Dec. 25, 1945 in Dubai, Trucial States (now known as United Arab Emirates)
• He currently serves as Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Minister of Finance and Industry of the United Arab Emirates
• Received his early education in the Emirates then attended Bell School of Languages, Cambridge
• Shadwell has won many top races in Europe, including the Epsom Derby (twice), English 1,000 Guineas (three times), Irish 1,000 Guineas, the St. Leger, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
• He and his brother Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who owns Godolphin Racing, control the state-owned Dubai Ports World along with the Dubai Holding Co. and its many subsidiary companies
• Won Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner in 2007
• Shadwell Stable owned 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor, who was inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2013
• Shadwell Stable’s lone Derby starter was Jazil, dead heat for fourth in 2006, who went on to win that year’s Belmont Stakes
• Shadwell also owns Mohaymen in this year’s Kentucky Derby; last time an owner ran one-two in the Derby was in 1948 when Citation and Coaltown ran one-two for Calumet Farm
• Kentucky Derby Record: 1-0-0-0
Trained by Chad Brown
• Born on Dec. 18, 1978 in Mechanicville, NY
• Grew up going to historic Saratoga Race Course with his family and became interested in horses and the sport
• While in high school, Brown began working with Standard breds at Saratoga Raceway
• Graduated from Cornell University in 2001 with a degree in animal science
• Began hot walking Thoroughbreds for Shug McGaughey following college
• Spent five years as an assistant to the late Bobby Frankel where he worked with champions such as Ghostzapper, Ginger Punch and Intercontinental
• He scored his first winner with Dual Jewels on Nov. 27, 2007 at Churchill Downs
• Won the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2008 with Maram
• Scored his first training title during the 2010 Aqueduct Fall Meet
• His wife, Terrill, is the granddaughter of the late trainer William “Red” Terrill
• Accomplished a rare Grade 1 double on Aug. 17, 2013 with Big Blue Kitten winning the Sword Dancer at Saratoga and Real Solution in the Arlington Million
• Won three Breeders’ Cup races in 2014: Lady Eli (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Bobby’s Kitten (Turf Sprint) and Dayatthespa (Filly & Mare Turf)
• Scored his first Grade 1 victory in the 2011 Diana Handicap at Saratoga with Zagora, who went on to give Brown his second Breeders’ Cup win in the following year’s Filly & Mare Turf
• Won the Belmont Fall Meet training title three years in a row from 2012-14
• Won his first NYRA training title in 2015
• His lone Kentucky Derby starter, Normandy Invasion, ran fourth in 2013
Ridden by Joel Rosario
• Born on Jan. 14, 1985 in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Grew up on a farm in the Dominican Republic that had horses, which he sometimes used for transportation
• Attended the races with an older brother and had his sights on becoming a jockey at age 13
• Attended the jockey school for six months and was a licensed professional by age 14; won his first race in July 2000
• Leading rider in the Dominican Republic four times
• Began riding in the U.S. in 2006 mainly on the Southern California circuit, but moved his tack to New York in the summer of 2012
• Winner of riding titles at Keeneland, Del Mar, Santa Anita and Hollywood Park
• Won 2013 Kentucky Derby on Orb
• Won 2014 Belmont Stakes on Tonalist
• Four-time Breeders’ Cup winner: Dancing in Silks (2009 Sprint), Dakota Phone (2010 Dirt Mile), Bobby’s Kitten (2014 Turf Sprint), Wavell Avenue (2015 Filly & Mare Sprint)
• Scored his 2,000th career victory on April 23, 2015 at Keeneland aboard Dating Lady Luck
• Kentucky Derby record: 6-1-0-0
Bred by Shadwell Farm LLC
• Bay gelding by Mineshaft, out of the Afleet Alex mare Uchitel. Foaled on May 2, 2013 in Kentucky
• Will attempt to become the 11th gelding to win the Kentucky Derby; most recent was Mine That Bird in 2009
• Finished second to Creator in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park
• His only off-the-board effort came in the Rebel Stakes, in which he was fifth beaten 4 . lengths as the lukewarm favorite
• Made his 3-year-old debut a winning one in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park defeating Whitmore by 2 . lengths
• Would become the first horse to break his maiden at Remington Park (Oklahoma City) and win the Kentucky Derby
• No. 12 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 50 points
Owned by Samuel F. Henderson
• Currently resides in Odessa, TX; known as “Sonny”
• Grew up in Texas and was on horseback from the age of 5
• Developed a love for the game through frequent trips to Oaklawn Park as a child
• Graduated from Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University
• Began his professional career as a stockbroker in Dallas, but quickly moved on to orchestrating oil deals after the market went south in the 1960s
• Founder of five oil and gas fields in Texas before he turned 30 years old
• Has owned racehorses on and off since the 1970s
• Has owned Quarter horses and currently breeds Brangus cattle
• Successfully battled bouts of leukemia and heart disease in the past few years
• After overcoming such health issues, he decided to get back in the game and rebuild his Thoroughbred stable in 2014; Suddenbreakingnews was one of 17 yearlings acquired over a two-year period
• Suddenbreakingnews will be Henderson’s first Kentucky Derby starter
Trained by Donnie Von Hemel
• Born on Oct. 10, 1961 in Manter, KS
• Son of Midwestern trainer and Nebraska Hall of Famer Don Von Hemel
• His brother, Kelly, also trains Thoroughbreds
• Graduated from Fort Hayes State University with an accounting degree, but went into the family business in 1984
• Won his first training title at Louisiana Downs in 1988
• Was inducted into Remington Park’s Hall of Fame in 1998
• His lone Kentucky Derby starter was Clever Trevor, who finished 13th in 1989
• Clever Trevor also handed von Hemel his first graded stakes victory in the GMC St. Paul Derby at Canterbury Park
• Trained 2011 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Caleb’s Posse
• Trained multiple graded stakes winner Mariah’s Storm, who was the dam of prominent sire Giant’s Causeway and the inspiration behind the film Dreamer
• His horse Alternation won the Essex, Razorback and Oaklawn Handicap (all at Oaklawn Park) in 2012
Ridden by Luis Quinonez
• Born on Jan. 6, 1967 in Sinaloa, Mexico
• Currently resides in Jones, OK
• Began riding in 1989
• Scored his first graded stakes victory aboard Maysville Slew in the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park
• Guided Alternation to victories in Oaklawn’s three major races for older horses, the Essex, Razorback and Oaklawn Handicaps, in 2012
• Established dominance at Canterbury Park from years 1995-99; was dubbed “riding king of Minnesota” during this time
• Suddenbreakingnews will by Quinonez’s first Kentucky Derby mount
Bred by Branch Equine LLC
• Dark bay colt by More Than Ready, out of the Broad Brush mare Goodbye Stranger. Foaled on Feb. 1, 2013 in Pennsylvania
• Last dark bay or brown horse to win the Kentucky Derby was Street Sense (2007)
• Finished second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby to Gun Runner
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• One of two Pennsylvania-breds (other is Mor Spirit); hopes to join Lil E. Tee (1992) and Smarty Jones (2004) as Pennsylvania-bred Kentucky Derby winners
• Will attempt to join Needles (1956) and Animal Kingdom (2011) as the only horses to win the Derby off a 42-day layoff since complete records were kept starting in 1929
• Broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on Sept. 26, 2015
• Last Kentucky Derby winner that broke his maiden at Churchill Downs was 1933 winner Brokers Tip, who broke his maiden in that year’s Kentucky Derby
• No. 16 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 44 points
Owned by GMB Racing
• GMB Racing is headed by Gayle Benson
• Benson grew up in Algiers, LA
• Benson’s husband, Tom Benson, is the owner of the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and New Orleans Pelicans (NBA)
• Became an interior designer in the late 1970s and began buying and selling historic properties in New Orleans
• Has also redesigned suites and public spaces in the Superdome and opened a wholesale design showroom for her industry peers
• GMB Racing also owns Mo Tom in this year’s Kentucky Derby; last time an owner ran one-two in the Derby was in 1948 when Citation and Coaltown ran one-two for Calumet Farm
• Purchased six colts from the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $920,000, one of which was Tom’s Ready; Mo Tom was also purchased at the sale
• Tom’s Ready and Mo Tom will be GMB Racing’s first Kentucky Derby starters
Trained by Dallas Stewart
• Born on Sept. 15, 1959 in McComb, MS
• Before opening his own stable in 1997, he worked as an assistant for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas for 12 years
• Scored his first graded stakes victory with Uanme in the Grade 3 Forward Gal in 1998
• Unbridled Elaine gave Stewart his first Grade 1 victory in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Distaff
• Finished second in the Kentucky Derby two years in a row with long shots Golden Soul (2013, 34-1) and Commanding Curve (2014, 37-1)
• Finished second in the Preakness twice, also with long shots; Macho Again (2008, 39-1), Tale of Verve (2015, 28-1)
• Kentucky Derby record: 4-0-2-0
Ridden by Brian Hernandez, Jr.
• Born on Nov. 3, 1985 in Lafayette, LA
• His father, Brian Hernandez, Sr., is a jockey on the Louisiana circuit
• His younger brother, Colby, is also a jockey
• Began his riding career at Delta Downs exercising horses in the morning before high school and rode races at night
• Scored his first victory on Nov. 29, 2003 aboard Hughes at Delta Downs
• Won his first riding title at Evangeline Downs in 2004
• Won an Eclipse Award for Top Apprentice in 2004
• Won his first graded stakes race in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby aboard Cielo Gold in 2006
• Won the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic aboard Fort Larned on his 27th birthday
• Tom’s Ready will be Hernandez, Jr.’s first Kentucky Derby mount
Bred by Blackstone Farm LLC
• Bay colt by Street Cry, out of the Summer Squall mare Storm Song. Foaled on March 17, 2013
• His dam, Storm Song, was Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in 1996
• Finished second to Outwork in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in his most recent start
• Has yet to find the winner’s circle in six career starts
• Nine maidens have run in the Kentucky Derby since 1937: Bert G (14th in 1945), Senecas Coin (14th in 1949), On The Mark (8th in 1950), Flamingo (13th in 1958), The Chosen One (14th in 1959), Fourulla (19th in 1971), Great Redeemer (10th in 1979), Pendleton Ridge (13th in 1990) and Nationalore (9th in 1998); three horses broke their maiden in the Kentucky Derby before 1937: Buchanan (1884), Sir Barton (1919) and Brokers Tip (1933)
• No. 19 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 40 points.
Owned by Julie Gilbert & Aaron Sones
• Julie Gilbert is an attorney who has served as President of Jackson Hole Trust Company (“JHTC”) in Wyoming
• In 1995, Gilbert began serving in roles as trustee or trust protector on behalf of U.S. and foreign clients with U.S. trusts
• Aaron Sones is a doctor based in Los Angeles, CA, who specializes in internal medicine
• Sones founded Physicians Management Group in 1992 and served as its CEO until selling it to a private equity firm in 2007
• He received his M.D. from UCLA School of Medicine in 1981 and B.A. from University of California Davis in 1976
• This will be Julie Gilbert and Aaron Sones’ first Kentucky Derby starter
Trained by Paddy Gallagher
• Born on Nov. 15, 1956 in Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland
• Involved in racing most of his life; competed as an amateur rider in Ireland and rode jumpers in his youth.
• His older brother, Jimmy, also rode in Ireland
• Worked for trainers Paddy Norris and Andy Geraghty before moving to the United States in 1980
• Served as an assistant to fellow Ireland native John Sullivan from 1981-1990
• Worked for retired champion jockey Bill Shoemaker when he switched over to training
• Took out his trainer’s license in 1997
• His most successful racehorse to date, Magical Fantasy, was a four-time Grade 1-winning turf filly in southern California
• His lone Kentucky Derby starter, Domestic Dispute, finished 10th in 2003
Ridden by Aaron Gryder
• Born on June 5, 1970 in West Covina, CA
• A son and grandson of racing fans, Gryder knew he wanted to be a jockey since age 5
• Left home at 12 to learn how to ride from former jockey Rudy Campas
• Won the riding title at Hollywood Park in 1987, becoming the first apprentice rider to do so
• Winner of three riding titles at Arlington Park
• Won the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Marathon aboard Calidoscopio
• His biggest triumph to date was in the 2009 Dubai World Cup aboard Well Armed
• Co-founded the non-profit organization The Giving Circle, which connects donors with communities in need
• Kentucky Derby record: 3-0-0-0
Bred by Dr. Aaron Sones
• Chestnut gelding by Pleasantly Perfect, out of the Scat Daddy mare Melody’s Spirit. Foaled on Jan. 23, 2013 in Kentucky
• Named after Wilbur Whitmore, a high school football teammate of trainer Ron Moquett
• Finished third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby behind Creator and Suddenbreakingnews
• Runner-up in the Grade 2 Rebel and Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park
• Broke his maiden first time out on Nov. 6, 2015 at Churchill Downs at 15-1 odds
• No. 15 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 44 points
Owned by Harry T. Rosenblum, Robert V. LaPenta and Southern Springs Stables
• Born on Aug. 9, 1950 in Little Rock, AR
• His full name is Harry Truman Rosenblum, and he is named for Harry S Truman, the 33rd President
• Serves as the managing director of Crews and Associates, a major firm headquartered in Little Rock
• Owned Gentlemen’s Bet who ran third in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint
• His only Kentucky Derby starter, Far Right, finished 15th in 2015 and was trained by Ron Moquett
• Robert LaPenta was born on Aug. 20, 1945 in Yonkers, NY
• Introduced to racing by his mother at a young age, and began owning horses in 1998 in partnership with University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino
• Started owning horses on his own in 2001
• Former president and CEO of L-1 Solutions, a provider of solutions and services that protect personal identities and assets, until he sold the company in July 2011
• Won 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with War Pass
• Won 2008 Belmont Stakes with Da’ Tara
• Ran second in the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Ice Box
• Kentucky Derby record: 4-0-1-0
• Southern Springs Stables is a racing partnership headed by trainer Ron Moquett, in attempt to introduce new owners to the sport. Whitmore will be their first Kentucky Derby starter.
Trained by Ron Moquett
• Born on Aug. 31, 1971 in Fort Smith, AR
• Grew up attending the races at Oaklawn Park as a child
• Studied at the University of Arkansas and admits to cutting class to go to the races at Oaklawn
• Started off working for trainer Bernie Flint before going out on his own in 1996
• Won his first graded stakes race with Asher in the Grade 3 Gardenia Handicap in 2001
• His only Grade 1 victory took place in the 2006 Stephen Foster Handicap with 91-1 longshot Seek Gold
• Trained stakes winner Gentlemen’s Bet, who ran third in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint
• His lone Kentucky Derby starter, Far Right, finished 15th in 2015
Ridden by Victor Espinoza
• Born on May 23, 1972 in Mexico City, Mexico
• Drove a bus in Mexico City before becoming a jockey
• Started riding horses in Mexico and won his first race at the Hippodromo de las Americas in 1992
• Began riding in the U.S. in 1993 at Santa Anita
• Has been a leading rider at all tracks in the southern California circuit
• Three-time Breeders’ Cup winner with Spain (2000 Distaff) and Take Charge Brandi (2014 Juvenile Fillies) and American Pharoah (2015 Classic)
• Three-time Kentucky Derby winner with War Emblem (2002), California Chrome (2014) and American Pharoah (2015), who swept the Triple Crown becoming the first horse in 37 years to do so
• Guided 2014 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year California Chrome to a victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup
• Kentucky Derby record: 7-3-0-1
Bred by John Liviakis
• A native of Sacramento, CA who owns Liviakis Financial Communications
• Bred and sold three 2012 Breeders’ Cup participants: Reneesgotzip, Handsome Mike, and Renee’s Queen
About Churchill Downs Racetrack
Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on May 7, 2016. The track’s 2016 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 30-July 2. The track has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships eight times. For more information visit www.ChurchillDowns.com
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