INJURIES CLOUD KENTUCKY DERBY CONTENDER PICTURE:

Posted on | February 3, 2015 | No Comments

The Kentucky Derby is three months away and the prep/qualification races have only just begun.  It’s still too early to get a good grasp on which horses will qualify for the ‘Run for the Roses’, let alone win the race.  That’s why the Wynn Las Vegas Kentucky Derby betting  futures odds have a couple hundred horses listed as betting interests.  The story this year is the same as in every other year—the road to the Triple Crown is brutal, young racehorses are fickle, inconsistent and one misstep away from injury and nothing is certain except ‘uncertainty’.

That doesn’t stop railbirds and horse bettors from trying to speculate about contenders for the Kentucky Derby. A few horses have already caught the eye of handicapping experts as very strong prospects for the race. Other horses that were among the favorites have either been taken off the Derby trail due to injuries or lost some of their support due to a substandard performance.

Here’s a rundown of the recent developments among possible Derby Contenders.:

–INJURED:

LEAVE THE LIGHT ON:  Winner of the Grade II Remsen Stakes as a two year old, Leave The Light On was to make his 3 year old debut in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.  Unfortunately, a fairly minor ankle injury necessitated surgery.  He’s expected to be fine but will be sidelined until late summer/early fall.

CALCULATOR:  Saw his Kentucky Derby futures odds plummet after winning the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita in mid-January.  Yesterday, however, trainer Peter Miller said the colt would be sidelined for six months with an unspecified injury.

–UNKNOWN:

TEXAS RED: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red was an upset loser in the San Vincente Stakes, edged out by a neck at the wire. That isn’t expect to derail his Derby bid or even hurt his support among the horse betting public. Texas Red was entered in the five furlong sprint as a ‘warm up’ to the 1 1/16 mile Risen Star in New Orleans later this month. Other than not winning, Texas Red looked fast and strong.

TAKE CHARGE BRANDI:  The superstar filly was considered a possibility to make a run at the Kentucky Derby.  She won her season debut on Saturday in the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Arkansas’ Oaklawn Park.  After the race, owner Willis Horton effused that Take Charge Brandi could be pointed toward the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby.  D. Wayne Lukas seriously doubts that, however, and suggests that the Kentucky Oaks is still the goal.

And so the Derby prep world continues to turn.  A slew of horses have been proclaimed ‘possible contenders’ but the most realistic favorites at this juncture include Smarty Jones Stakes winner Far Right and Holy Bull winner Upstart.

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