Railbird > 2006 Derby Watch: A daily digest of Derby news and commentary, prep race results, and workouts

Barbaro wins the Kentucky Derby by 6 1/2 lengths, with Bluegrass Cat finishing second and Steppenwolfer third. Jazil and Brother Derek finished in a dead heat for fourth. Barbaro's margin of victory was the widest since Assault, who won the 1946 Derby by eight lengths and went on to win the Triple Crown.

More on this year's Derby results >

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The complete order of finish: Barbaro, Bluegrass Cat, Steppenwolfer, Jazil, Brother Derek, Showing Up, Sweetnorthernsaint, Deputy Glitters, Point Determined, Seaside Retreat, Storm Treasure, Lawyer Ron, Cause to Believe, Flashy Bull, Private Vow, Sinister Minister, Bob and John, A.P. Warrior, Sharp Humor, Keyed Entry.

Final time: 2:01.36. View the complete chart on Equibase. Watch the Kentucky Derby on Churchill's official site.

Gossip about the 20 Derby starters is rampant on the Churchill backstretch, and one of the hottest topics is Sinister Minister's feet. Sinister Minister will probably wear a three-quarter shoe in the Derby, just as he did in the Blue Grass, because of a foot bruise. Rumor is that the foot injury was recently caused by gravel, but trainer Bob Baffert denied that. "He had an old bruise, and we worked on it," said Baffert, who wouldn't reveal which foot is the bruised one.

Never mind: It wasn't an old bruise, the colt popped an abcess last Tuesday. "I think that thing might have been trying to come out for that Keeneland race," said Baffert today. "But everything's OK now. He's back on it now. Man, is he back on it."

Sweetnorthernsaint's recent morning gallops have also been the subject of speculation, with some observers saying the colt looked particularly bad on the track on Thursday. Trainer Michael Trombetta, in a diary for the New York Post, explained what happened yesterday: "When we sent him out around 7 o'clock, the track was very chopped up and it had rained. When that track is flipped over and it's wet and moist like that, it kicks up and doesn't smooth back down. It's a rough surface. Sweetnorthernsaint trained OK on it. I don't think he was particularly enthused by it, but he got around there, did his job and came back home uneventfully."

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Showing Up arrived at Churchill Downs on Thursday afternoon.

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The Lexington Herald-Leader has a great Derby week photo gallery up.

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After the Derby: Winning the Kentucky Derby boosts a stallion's value considerably -- at least for his first few crops -- but Derby winners don't necessarily make the best sires.

Tampa Bay Derby winner Deputy Glitters took to the Churchill track this morning, working five furlongs in 1:03.2. Trainer Tom Albertrani said he hoped to work the colt on Tuesday, but rain turned the track to slop, delaying Deputy Glitter's final prep. There's been some speculation that Deputy Glitters would be scratched on Saturday if the track comes up wet that day -- with sixth-place finishes in the two races he's run on offtracks, Deputy Glitters has shown a marked dislike for mud -- but Albertrani said the colt would start regardless. "Whether it comes up sloppy or not, at this point we are going to go," the trainer said. "There is only chance to run in the Derby so I think at this point we will have to go."

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There are reports out today that Lawyer Ron could be sold before the Derby: "Sources, including one prominent member of the bloodstock industry, said that the negotiations were close to being concluded. These sources, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said that the new owner would buy a majority interest before the Derby but that Lawyer Ron would race on Saturday in the Hines family's blue-and-white silks. For races thereafter, the colt would carry the silks of his new owner."

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It's hard not to feel a little bad for trainer Nick Zito this spring. Last year, he was king of the Churchill backstretch, with five Derby starters in his barn. This year, he's got nothing, a situation that's getting the Hall of Fame trainer down: "I was walking a couple of days ago and I got a little bit of a headache," Zito said. "It was Saturday morning and I didn't have anything going on and all of the Derby horses were breezing. It was a kind of scary feeling, a kind of empty feeling, a weird feeling. It was a little bit of anxiety. An obstacle keeps you grounded. An obstacle keeps you humble. Now I have an obstacle to overcome. I have to try to get there again."

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Derby history: Steven Crist traces the evolution of Kentucky Derby past performances, starting in 1906.

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More Derby news >

Mike Watchmaker applies historical criteria to this year's Derby candidates, narrowing the field to eight serious contenders:

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Trainer Steve Asmussen has named jockeys for his two Derby candidates: David Flores will ride Storm Treasure, Shaun Bridgmohan Private Vow. In other news: Flashy Bull, 21st on the graded earnings list, is in the Derby because Mister Triester, 20th on the list, is no longer under consideration for the race following his third place finish in last Saturday's Derby Trial.

Even with Mister Triester's defection, the Derby field remains oversubscribed with at least 22 candidates hoping to get into the gate. It seems likely at this point that Sunriver and Sacred Light (22nd and 23rd on the graded earnings list) will be shut out.

The top 20 candidates, with jockeys:

1. Brother Derek (Alex Solis)
2. Lawyer Ron (John McKee)
3. Barbaro (Edgar Prado)
4. Bob and John (Garrett Gomez)
5. Sinister Minister (Victor Espinoza)
6. Private Vow (Shaun Bridgmohan)
7. A.P. Warrior (Corey Nakatani)
8. Sweetnorthernsaint (Kent Desormeaux)
9. Sharp Humor (Mark Guidry)
10. Bluegrass Cat (Ramon Dominguez)
11. Steppenwolfer (Robby Albarado)
12. Keyed Entry (Patrick Valenzuela)
13. Showing Up (Cornelio Velasquez)
14. Point Determined (Rafael Bejarano)
15. Cause to Believe (Russell Baze)
16. Deputy Glitters (Jose Lezcano)
17. Storm Treasure (David Flores)
18. Jazil (Fernando Jara)
19. Seaside Retreat (Patrick Husbands)
20. Flashy Bull (Mike Smith)

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Bob and John, Point Determined, and A.P. Warrior arrived at Churchill this afternoon. With their arrivals, all but one Derby candidate (Showing Up) is now stabled at the track.

On Sunday: A.P. Warrior worked six furlongs handily in 1:13.8 at Hollywood Park. The John Shirreffs-trained colt will ship to Churchill Downs on Tuesday. Over at Santa Anita, Bob and John worked six furlongs handily in 1:11.4 for trainer Bob Baffert. Point Determined worked five furlongs handily in :59.8.

On Monday: Trainer Dan Hendricks sent out Brother Derek, who breezed four furlongs in :49.2 over a chewed-up, muddy track at Churchill. Trainer Steve Asmussen also worked his two Derby candidates this morning. Private Vow breezed five furlongs in a flat 1:00; Storm Treasure worked the same distance in 1:00.2. Showing Up breezed four furlongs in :49.6 at Belmont. According to Blood Horse, trainer Barclay Tagg will wait until Wednesday to decide whether to enter the Lexington winner in the Derby, but the Daily Racing Form reports that Tagg is still planning to ship the colt to Churchill on Thursday.

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Ramon Dominquez will ride Bluegrass Cat in the Derby, said trainer Todd Pletcher on Monday.

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What you need to know about the top 20.

At Churchill this morning, Barbaro breezed four furlongs in an even :46, and was clocked galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.14. "He was only supposed go a half, but I don't mind the time as well as he did it well enough," said trainer Michael Matz. Sweetnorthernsaint breezed six furlongs in 1:11.6 at the track. Steppenwolfer worked six furlongs in 1:13 flat. Bluegrass Cat breezed four furlongs in :50.8 for trainer Todd Pletcher, who also sent out Sunriver (22nd on the graded earnings list) to work seven furlongs in 1:26.38 and Keyed Entry ("very rank"), who worked six furlongs in 1:12.8. Cause to Believe breezed five furlongs in 1:00.8. Flashy Bull, another bubble horse, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.4, finishing half a length behind stablemate Jazil, who also worked five furlongs. Lawyer Ron worked well over the Churchill surface, breezing five furlongs in :58.8. Sharp Humor was also out, breezing five furlongs in :59 this morning. Sinister Minister worked five furlongs in 1:00.2.

The Churchill work tab will be crowded with Derby starters this weekend as the 15 stabled at the track turn in their final preps. Barbaro, Lawyer Ron, Sharp Humor, Steppenwolfer, Sweetnorthernsaint, and Cause to Believe are scheduled to work on Saturday; Bluegrass Cat, Keyed Entry, Sunriver, Jazil, and Flashy Bull on Sunday; and Brother Derek, Private Vow, Storm Treasure on Monday. Rain forecast for early Sunday could play havoc with the Sunday schedule, forcing trainers to work those horses on either Saturday or Monday.

With less than two weeks to go before the run for the roses, only 12 possible Derby starters are stabled on the Churchill backstretch so far. Cause to Believe arrived on Tuesday, joining Bluegrass Cat, Keyed Entry, Lawyer Ron, Private Vow, Seaside Retreat, Sharp Humor, Steppenwolfer, Storm Treasurer, and Sunriver. Sweetnorthernsaint arrived arrive late Tuesday night, while likely Derby favorite Brother Derek and Barbaro are set to arrive on Thursday afternoon.

Not many works to report either: Deputy Glitters breezed five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Belmont on Wednesday morning. Sacred Light, 23rd on the graded earnings list, worked seven furlongs handily in 1:28 at Hollywood Park.

Lexington winner Showing Up came out of the race with a puncture wound in his right foreleg, said trainer Barclay Tagg:

Tagg said he would wait five days before making a decision as to whether Showing Up would start in the Derby.

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Brother Derek worked seven furlongs handily in 1:28.4 at Santa Anita. He'll be shipped to Churchill Downs on Thursday. Also at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert sent out Bob and John, who worked seven furlongs handily in 1:25, and Point Determined, who worked seven furlongs handily in 1:24.8 this morning. A.P. Warrior worked seven furlongs handily in 1:27.4 at Hollywood Park. At Churchill Downs, Private Vow breezed five furlongs in 1:00.2 in the company of stablemate Storm Treasure. Both colts were timed galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.4. "They are both moving in the right direction," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "They both galloped out real well."

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Steve Haskin has all the details on when everyone is shipping into Churchill Downs in his latest column.

It was only his third start and his first stakes race, but Showing Up "won like a good horse in the final major Derby prep," finishing 1 1/4 length ahead of Like Now in the Lexington. Bear Character was third. The final time of the race was 1:46.4, for which Showing Up earned a 99 Beyer speed figure. Trainer Barclay Tagg said after that he would ship Showing Up back to New York and wait for a few days before making a decision on whether or not the colt would run in the Derby:

If Showing Up goes into the Derby, it'll be the first time two unbeaten horses with the same owners have been entered. Roy and Gretchen Jackson, who race under the name Lael Stables, also own undefeated Barbaro. "It's a freak, isn't it," said Gretchen Jackson.