Derby Jockeys and Other Hopeful Riders

[Merlinsky]

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=38473

I was just smoking over who would ride who, realizing that there's a certain amount of general gossip in my head about jockeys. I know of opinions that may or may not be valid by others on various boards, e.g. deserved/undeserved blame for a race result, and thought it might be good to concentrate some discussion.

I'd appreciate some critiques of the jockeys with confirmed mounts and those putting out 'hello? anybody there?' calls for Derby rides. Who among the ones still looking do you go 'good, I don't want him in the race. Talk about lousy.' and who got one that you go 'oh crap, he might screw it up for a horse I actually like.' Underrated, overrated, who's just as awful as a bad post position draw, just whatever insights. I'm sure there are plenty who love/hate the same jockey and it's a great learning opportunity to see who's assumed to be good but maybe has some quirk or flaw. I don't think Street Sense has to be on the rail but I've heard Calvin admit with a smile that the nickname 'Calvin Bo-rail" isn't unearned. This is less broad than just asking about jockeys in general to look at these in particular.

[DerbyCat]

Well, here's what the Bloodhorse article says:

Horse -- Trainer -- Jockey
1 Street Sense -- Carl Nafzger -- Calvin Borel
2 Scat Daddy -- Todd Pletcher -- Edgar Prado
3 Circular Quay -- Todd Pletcher -- John Velazquez
4 Curlin -- Steve Asmussen -- Robby Albarado
5 Nobiz Like Shobiz -- Barclay Tagg -- Cornelio Velasquez
6 Great Hunter -- Doug O'Neill -- Corey Nakatani
7 Stormello -- William Currin -- Kent Desormeaux#
8 Dominican -- Darrin Miller -- Rafael Bejarano
9 Tiago -- John Shirreffs -- Mike Smith
10 Cowtown Cat --Todd Pletcher -- Fernando Jara
11 Hard Spun -- Larry Jones -- Mario Pino*
12 Storm in May -- William Kaplan -- Juan Leyva*
13 Zanjero -- Steve Asmussen -- Shaun Bridgmohan or Julien Leparoux#
14 Xchanger -- Mark Shuman -- ???
15 Any Given Saturday -- Todd Pletcher -- Garrett Gomez
16 Liquidity --Doug O'Neill -- David Flores
17 Cobalt Blue -- Doug O'Neill -- Victor Espinoza
18 Sam P. -- Todd Pletcher -- Ramon Dominguez
19 Sedgefield -- Darrin Miller -- ???
20 Teuflesberg -- Jamie Sanders -- Stewart Elliott
21 Chelokee -- Michael Matz -- ???
22 Reporting for Duty -- Steve Asmussen – ???

* First Derby ride
# Not confirmed
??? No jockey


Anyone want to fill in the ???'s ?

[whorstman]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

I don't think Street Sense has to be on the rail but I've heard Calvin admit with a smile that the nickname 'Calvin Bo-rail" isn't unearned. This is less broad than just asking about jockeys in general to look at these in particular.

I'll say, having seen Calvin ride many a time at CD, he can hit that rail like no other. I dunno with this many horses if the opp will present itself, but if it does, he will be on it. I really like Calvin, so I think I will be betting on him. PP will proly have a say in it. If Street Sense gets a good PP, I will be on it.

[robfla]

storm in may is juan leyva

[jpops757]

Borel is very good getting the rai either with front runners or closers. The thing we sometimes mis is his ability to take the inside hole when closing and not be limited to going around like Albarado. Albarado wins when he has the best horse and not because of his ride. Albarado is more likely to lose a race than win one because of his riding.

[jpops757]

Originally Posted by jpops757

Borel is very good getting the rai either with front runners or closers. The thing we sometimes mis is his ability to take the inside hole when closing and not be limited to going around like Albarado. Albarado wins when he has the best horse and not because of his ride. Albarado is more likely to lose a race than win one because of his riding.

Post will have no baring on Borel getting the rail out of the gate. He want be gunning to get position but taking back. Now comming home could be different and the inside might be blocked and he will need to make the right decision as far as where the hole will be or ifhe needs to get outside. SS seems to have the trait when presured from the outside he does his best running.Most horses dont like to be pinned on the rail comming down the stretch but SS finds another gear. This might just be a result of the way his races have unfolded. He has shown that he has the heart to win where some of the others have shown talent but none the heart that SS has shown when he faces the chalange.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by robfla

storm in may is juan leyva

Also Leyva's first Derby.

[disappearingdan_akaplaya]

i think guidry would fit zanjero great!

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by disappearingdan_akaplaya

i think guidry would fit zanjero great!

I'd love to see Guidry aboard one of the contenders for what would be his last derby.