At this point, Eskendereya (Egyptian for a type of belly dance) is the favorite for the Derby and it is going to take some kind of miracle performance by another contender this weekend to move him out of that position. His impressive victory in the Wood Memorial last weekend clinched his current status, regardless of whether that bodes well for the running of the roses.
It may indeed be a curse rather than a blessing to be pegged as the Kentucky Derby favorite but I don't think anyone is going to take that title away from the Todd Pletcher trained colt. Could this indeed be his year to break that awful record of 0 for 24? Apparently, even he is beginning to believe in his chances.
"We've never had a horse we knew could handle the mile-and-a-quarter and we've never had one put together a couple of preps like this one," Pletcher admitted.
At this point serious contenders include Lookin at Lucky, who runs on Saturday in the Rebel, Sidney's Candy (Jenny Craig's horse) who won the Santa Anita Derby and Ice Box (winner of the Florida Derby). Keep your eye on Odysseus who runs this weekend at Keeneland (on synthetic) in the Blue Grass and don't rule out Dublin who will run in the Arkansas Derby on dirt.
We're getting close to that magical day when one horse will achieve what every owner dreams about (and pays the bills toward): winning the Kentucky Derby. Do you have your Derby horse yet?
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