Kentucky Derby 135 Pick And Preview Coming Tomorrow
Quality Road’s Quarter Crack Ends Kentucky Derby Dream Run
Sometimes when a horse falls off the Derby trail with an injury, you always feel a little bad for the horse and the connections, but shrug it off and say, “Oh well, that’s the way it goes”. Horses are not machines. They can and do get hurt. This one however really hits home for me. He was the fastest, most— talented, 3-year-old of this group. I liked this horse a lot.
I watched Quality Road roll home to victory in a dominating maiden win at Aqueduct in November, and knew instantly he was a gifted, talented, and incredibly fast, with a future that had nothing but good things in store. In fact I even bet him in his first race—seeing works like that told me this guy was not normal. He was a monster.
He debuted on the very first ThoroughbredZone Kentucky Derby 12 off just a maiden win, and I stayed with him, with no doubts after his 2nd-place run in his 2nd career start. Some people even neglected to put him on after his explosive and dominating effort in the Fountain of Youth. What were they watching?
As Friday approaches, the Kentucky Derby pick loomed. With confidence, and assurance that Quality Road was not only going to be the top pick, but was a solid top choice for me in a field of horses with solid credentials. Thee horse to run down with 200-yards to go, coming, coming, coming, but in vain as the large striding, powerful kick of Quality Road gets to the wire first. Played that over and over in my head. He was the winner.
In life many things happen in which one has absolutely to control over. I think most everyone knew, especially trainer Jimmy Jerkens that the Derby dream in all probability was over after detecting blood after the Sunday gallop. I knew it was a bad thing. Everyone knew. Waiting for the news that he was not going to run, was inevitable. Edward Evans, Jimmy Jerkens, and everyone connected to the horse—whether one was a groom, owner, fan or appreciates talent when they see it—feels a little down today. Some of course will take it a little harder than others. Obviously, of all the horses in this group he was my favorite, much like Smarty Jones was in 2004. Special horses stick out.
I anticipated this Derby with such eagerness and excitement, with a horse I saw from the very beginning, entering the gate with the best chance to win the Roses.
Smarty Jones was the only other horse that I had been enamored with from day one, and slated immediately as the fastest 3-year-old in the country by a mile. As he went on through his spring campaign it had become ever—apparent he was in fact thee horse to beat. No doubt about it. I watched that Derby with the ut-most confidence Smarty Jones would deliver a KO to that field. He did.
I had the same feeling about Quality Road. A KO was coming. He had the total package. As a son of Elusive Quality—sire of Smarty Jones—there was certainly an attachment to this thoroughbred that I shared with him.
No Derby. No Roses. That dream ends, but a new one begins. Quality Road is on another road now, the road to recovery. In time, the foot will recover, and he will once again be fit and sound, one can only hope this is the case. A freshened up and healthy Quality Road will once again get the heart going.
June 6th is the Belmont Stakes. Will Quality Road be ready? I can’t answer that, but to think he could be, and in tip-top shape is something that would get me going, and especially if there is a Triple Crown on the line. A certain roadblock to any would-be triple threat. This horse can run.
Nothing will stop the 135th Run For The Roses this Saturday—Quality Road or no Quality Road. Some horse will win the Derby this Saturday at Churchill Downs. We just know it won’t be Quality Road.
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