The Coltons Point Times: Kentucky Derby Countdown

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Kentucky Derby Countdown - 24 days 9 hours 42 minutes

In less than three weeks the week long Kentucky Derby festival, the pride of Southern hospitality, takes over the Blue Grass horse country of Kentucky.

But first there is the final Derby prep race this weekend in Lexington, the Blue Grass stakes to help whittle down the final Derby field to 20 horses.

As of today here are the money winnings of the top 25 Derby nominated horses.

.	1	Hansen	$1,400,000
.	2	Daddy Long Legs	$1,294,030
.	3	Union Rags	$1,170,000
.	4	Creative Cause	$836,000
.	5	Wrote (IRE)	$756,630
.	6	Gemologist	$703,855
.	7	Take Charge Indy	$698,400
.	8	Hero Of Order*	$615,500
.	9	Sabercat	$601,429
.	10	I'll Have Another	$601,000
.	11	Daddy Nose Best	$545,558
.	12	Secret Circle	$470,000
.	13	Yang Tse Kiang (FR)	$422,211
.	14	Dullahan	$405,000
.	15	Liaison	$393,000
.	16	Alpha	$380,000
.	17	Prospective	$365,452
.	18	Trinniberg	$324,500
.	19	Done Talking	$310,000
.	20	Drill	$300,000
.	21	Went The Day Well	$282,000
.	22	Rousing Sermon	$269,000
.	23	Mark Valeski	$260,000
.	24	El Padrino	$250,000
.	25	Excaper	$240,736

Three thoroughbreds are already millionaires and we haven't started the triple crown races.

Hansen - $1,400,000

Daddy Long Legs - $1,294,000

Union Rags - $1,170,000

Finally, here are the horses nominated for this weekends final Derby tune up, the Blue Grass stakes.

Headed by champion Hansen and Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) winner Prospective, there are 11 probable starters for the April 14 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland, according to racing secretary Ben Huffman April 2.

The Blue Grass will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the Polytrack surface at Keeneland.

Dr. Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing’s Hansen, who has won four of five career starts, would become the first reigning champion 2-year-old male to contest the Blue Grass since Street Sense used the race as his final prep for victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Among the 10 that could face Hansen is John Oxley’s Prospective, who worked five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 on a fast track April 2 at Churchill Downs.

Another graded-stakes winner being pointed toward the Blue Grass is Donegal Racing’s Dullahan, winner of the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) as a 2-year-old in 2011 and a half brother to 2009 Derby winner Mine That Bird. Dullahan will be seeking to join Round Table (1956-57) as the only horse to complete a Breeders’ Futurity-Blue Grass double.

Also under consideration for the Toyota Blue Grass are Adirondack King, Drill, Ever So Lucky, Gung Ho, Holy Candy, Howe Great, Politicallycorrect, and Raconteur.

Derby Prep - Blue Grass Stakes - April 14 - Lexington

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