Current Derby Field
 

1 Regal Ransom bin Suroor, Saeed -- Garcia, A.
2 Pioneerof the Nile Baffert, Bob -- Gomez
3 I Want Revenge Mullins, Jeff -- Talamo
4 Papa Clem Stute, Gary -- Bejarano
5 Desert Party bin Suroor, Saeed -- Dominguez, R

6 General Quarters McCarthy, Tom -- Leparoux
7 Friesan Fire Jones, J. Larry -- Saez
8 Musket Man Ryan, Derek -- Coa
9 Hold Me Back Mott, Bill -- Desormeaux
10 West Side Bernie Breen, Kelly -- Elliott

11 Chocolate Candy Hollendorfer, Jerry -- Smith
12 Advice Pletcher, Todd -- Douglas, R.
13 Dunkirk Pletcher, Todd -- Prado
14 Mine That Bird Woolley, Bennie -- Borel
15 Flying Private Lukas, D. W. -- Abarado

16 Mr. Hot Stuff Harty, Eoin -- J. Velasquez
17 Summer Bird Ice, Tim -- Rosier
18 Join in the Dance Pletcher, Todd -- Decarlo
19 Atomic Rain Breen, Kelly -- Bravo
20 Nowhere to Hide. Zito, Nick --
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21 Flat Out Dickey, Scooter -- Garcia, J

I thought it was still up in the air who Dominguez & Garcia were riding...did they make that choice today?

No.. Speculative. Should really make both 'Dominguez/Garcia' till there's a decision.

If I was calling their shots Dominguez rides RR as I think one of his abilities is getting a horse to settle, which is what RR is going to need to do if he has a prayer in the race. I would chose someone like Victor E. over Dominguez but if deciding between those two, that's who I use.

I like Ramon better from mid-pack or further off the pace.

I agree and think Desert Party would be good for him, but am assuming they give that one to for Garcia out of appreciation for previous services rendered, so to speak, to the bin Al Maktoum family...

I remember in 2001 having a few hundred dollars on the "over" in a prop bet that was 17.5 for the number of horses to start in that years Derby.

Even though that year was loaded with so many scary good looking horses about seven or so weeks out - I thought it was a total cinch enough bums would be sacraficed up to make it a full field of 20 .. and I basically thought I had a steal.

The race ended up only going with 17 .... D. Wayne Lukas had two allowance horses that year that were both nominated to the Kentucky Derby and had a pulse. He didn't enter either one.

That was just about the most maddening prop bet I've ever lost.

I find it very interesting that little is being said about Friesan Fire so far.

What is there to say?

If this forum is any indication by the lack of talk surrounding him, he may be a forgotten horse Derby day, I'm not counting on it, but if I had the gumption I would track it on a graph/chart. No not really I hate charts...even the FM charts.

Maybe I need some mystery goggles or something, but I just don't see why Desert Party isn't considered one of the top choices this year.

I'm sticking with him.

1. Dubai
2. No Frankie
3. Lost to Regal Ransom (which isn't a huge negative to me)
4. At least five American horses that look better
5. Beaten no one

1. Dubai- A legitimate question mark
2. No Frankie- A blessing in a dirt race
3. Lost to Regal Ransom (which isn't a huge negative to me)- A non-issue given the track
4. At least five American horses that look better- A debatable opinion
5. Beaten no one- A dangerous argument but who has I Want Revenge beaten?

NT

I've bought into the Dubai hype more than once and never was in contention in the Derby that I can remember. It may have been different if Street Cry made it, but he didn't.

Last year if I am remembering correctly there were some big races in Europe on Derby day, so I wouldn't look at Frankie not being here as much as if he were riding here.

The more I look at the Dubai entrants the more I like them given the prices they figure to be.

Phil, I have too many bad memories of Johannesburg to bet the Euro's in this type of race, if it were turf I would consider. It's hard to know what to make of them, I guess at a price you can't go wrong.

Whoever Dominguez ends up on, I'll cover with a win bet. I know it's crazy, but I gotta do it. Then I can make my regular bets and relax.

The 2000 Guineas always seems to be on the same day as the Derby so Frankie usually stays in Newmarket...

I like Desert Party too, even more so if Regal Ransom takes his place in the field..

I just hope he works a bit better than he did in the leadup to the UAE Derby when he seemed to be very quiet / not himself..

My ? mark with him is how much were his victories a product of good trips and suspect competition. And when you toss the layoff and lack of an 8.5f prep, it becomes more difficult to use him when there are more likeable, and valued-filled, options available.