4/24 DERBY NOTEBOOK: Jock's calls; Myectomy for Factor..
 

KENTUCKY DERBY

1 Uncle Mo (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez)
2 Dialed In (Nick Zito/Julien Leparoux)
3 Archarcharch (William 'Jinks' Fires/Jon Court)
4 Comma to the Top (Peter Miller/Pat Valenzuela)
5 Toby's Corner (H. Graham Motion/Eddie Castro)
6 Pants On Fire (Kelly Breen/Rosie Napravnik)
7 Midnight Interlude (Bob Baffert/Victor Espinoza)**
8 J P's Gusto (Joe Petalino/Cliff Berry)**
9 Soldat (Kiaran McLaughlin/Alan Garcia)
10 Brilliant Speed (Tom Albertrani/Joel Rosario)

11 Master of Hounds (Aidan O'Brien/Ryan Moore)**
12 Nehro (Steve Asmussen/Corey Nakatani)
13 Twice the Appeal (Jeff Bonde/Christian Santiago-Reyes)
14 Mucho Macho Man (Kathy Ritvo/Rajiv Maragh)
-- Astrology (Steve Asmussen/Mike Smith) Possible
15 Decisive Moment (Juan Arias/Kerwin Clark)
16 Animal Kingdom (H. Graham Motion/Robby Albarado)
17 The Factor (Bob Baffert/Martin Garcia)**
18 Stay Thirsty (Todd Pletcher/Ramon Dominguez)
19 Santiva (Eddie Kenneally/Shaun Bridgmohan)
20 Watch Me Go (Kathleen O'Connell/Luis Garcia) If Astrology doesn't go
-------------------------------------------------------
21 Shackleford (Dale Romans/Jesus Castanon)
22 Twinspired (Mike Maker/TBD-Albarado)
23 Silver Medallion (Steve Asmussen/Javier Castellano)
24 Anthony's Cross (Eion Harty/TBD-Rosario)
25 Derby Kitten (Mike Maker/TBD-Leparoux)
26 Mr. Commons (John Shirreffs/Mike Smith)
27 Sway Away (Jeff Bonde/TBD-Valenzuela)

Jeff Bonde confirmed Santiago-Reyes will retain the mount on Twice the Appeal..

There is speculation that should The Factor not run, Martin Garcia will pick up the mount on Midnight Interlude..

It's an 'equal opportunity Derby' I guess. These jocks have calls...

Eddie Castro
Cliff Berry
Christian Santiago-Reyes
Jesus Castanon
Kerwin Clark
Luis Garcia
Jon Court

While these, with 8 Derby wins between them, are currently mountless...

Garrett Gomez
Javier Castellano
Kent Desormeaux (3)
Mike Smith (1)
Edgar Prado (1)
Calvin Borel (3)
Rafael Bejarano

Great to see Eddie Castro remain on board. Although there were some spectacular rides that day at Aqueduct, I think his ride on Toby's Corner was special.......Patience is the key in these Classic races...

Good to see Jon Court in the Derby as well.....

Steve is the Astrology possibility a new development? Did Asmussen or ownership hint to this after the Jerome?

Ditto. I'd love to know as I have a pool 2 future wager exacta on Astrology/The Factor/all other 3 yo's (plus win bets on both).

Wow Mike, time to pray!

I think you can safely toss those wagers at this point...

Paul

I'd love to see Animal Kingdom withdrawn. Shackleford is a horse I'd like to see make the cut-off, below him is nothing. I know it would make matters worse for The Factor(IF he goes), but Shack does deserve to be there, IMO:)

At least he qualifies on all the angles I use....improving sort who looks better than half the field for sure.

should The Factor not run

could be the lead in to why Astrology may run. They share the same owner(s). I'd be thrilled to have just one in the starting gate

With Jess Jackson passed away, is George Bolton pushing to undo the announcement of last week regarding Astrology skipping the Derby?

At least all other 3 yo's will be in the starting gate.

It's amazing that jocks such as Santiago-Reyes and Kerwin Clark have mounts yet Gomez, Bejarano, Solis and Borel are on the outside looking in.

Have to think somebody gets the urge to call Gomez for a mount between now and Derby day.

You left Talamo off the no mount list as well. Know he's young and working his way back from an injury, but would like to see him get a shot as well after last year's happenings.

Should be interesting!!

Outside of maybe Gomez, Castellano is clearly the most "amazing" as you term it.

Considering both Kerwin Clark and Christian Santiago Reyes are on longshots, I think it's great the connections are sticking with guys they've used all along.

There's only one guy that has moved horses up in the Derby in the last 10 years and him being on the sidelines will be surprising to me. Gomez, Bejarano, Solis? Oh well, their agents can work on Preakness mounts.

:D

I find it amazing that Nakatani has a mount.

He actually had two and had to pick one.

The question is, would anybody else really want to ride JP's Gusto?

I thought Borel was working Stay Thirsty or something?

Stay Thirsty doesn't have a jock named - it looks more likely to be Borel than Dominguez