2008 Kentucky Derby Top Contenders

by Bodog Sportsbook | Apr 23 2008

Before you eat your bowl of burgoo, mix your mint juleps and listen to the Louisville marching band pump out “My Old Kentucky Home,” remember to pick your Kentucky Derby winner at Bodog Sportsbook. Like any sport, before you can play the game you need to know the players.


Running For The Roses
So, here in no particular order (because we don’t want to promote favoritism for any horse no matter who your grandsire was…Yeah we’re talking about you, Adriano), a look at some of the popular choices to win the first leg of this year’s Triple Crown. Get ready for the most entertaining two minutes in sports…

Kentucky Derby Contenders

Cowboy Cal
Record: 6-3-2-0
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Cowboy Cal has had a strong start to this year, finishing first in the Tropical Park Derby, second in the Hallandale Beach Stakes and second at the Toyota Blue Grass. Cowboy Cal has a pedigree known for dirt and stamina influences and should be well suited to handle the testing of the Kentucky Derby.

Adriano
Record: 7-3-1-0
Trainer: Graham Motion
Adriano has looked in good form as of late, with a first place showing in the Lane’s End Stakes at Turfway Park. Sired by two-time leading sire A.P. Indy, Adriano is among the heavy favorites to compete for the Triple Crown.

Tomcito
Record: 6-4-1-1
Trainer: Dante Zanelli
Finishing third in the Florida Derby, this intriguing 3-year-old will have a shot as the field is wide open.

Cool Coal Man
Record: 8-4-1-0
Trainer: Nick Zito
After a disappointing ninth place finish at the Toyota Blue Grass in a race where fatigue seemed to set in entering the stretch, Cool Coal Man will be looking to rebound with a strong performance at the Kentucky Derby.

Colonel John
Record: 6-4-2-0
Trainer: Eoin Harty
With Colonel John’s first place finish at the Santa Anita Derby and Sham Stakes, Eoin Harty must feel optimistic about the Colonel heading into the Kentucky Derby. This horse has a strong pedigree for 1 ¼ miles; his sire, Tiznow, scored all of his biggest and most noteworthy victories at that distance.

Denis of Cork
Record: 4-3-0-0
Trainer: David Carroll
After winning his first three races, this horse didn’t show anything at the Illinois Derby. He’ll be looking to regain his winning form during the fastest two minutes in sports.

Big Truck
Record: 8-3-1-1
Trainer: Barclay Tagg
Big Truck is battling inconsistency, having finished eleventh at the Toyota Blue Grass and first at the Tampa Bay Derby. Barclay Tagg will be hoping the impressive side of Big Truck will show for the Kentucky Derby.

Big Brown
Record: 3-3-0
Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.
This sprinting specimen by Boundary has finished first in both an allowance race and the Florida Derby, looking impressive in both races. Big Brown will be expected to show the same form in the Kentucky Derby.

Atoned
Record: 9-2-5-0
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Atoned finished fourth at the Illinois Derby and second at the Tampa Bay Derby. With a pedigree for both speed and stamina, Atoned will be looked upon for a top performance in the Kentucky Derby.

Smooth Air
Record: 7-3-2-2
Trainer: Bennie Stutts Jr.
This colt was the Florida Derby runner-up and has finished in the money in all seven of his career starts.



Court Vision
Record: 6-3-1-2
Trainer: Bill Mott
With Court Vision’s two consecutive third place finishes at the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will be looking for a career performance from his horse at the Derby.

Gayego
Record: 5-3-2-0
Trainer: Paulo Lobo
Many Triple Crown race winners also won the Arkansas Derby, including Smarty Jones and Gayego’s own jockey Mike E. Smith. Gayego looks to run with some elite company on the first Saturday in May.

Tale of Ekati
Record: 6-3-1-0
Trainer: Barclay Tagg
This beautifully bred specimen ran past War Pass to a Wood Memorial win by putting in a grinding effort to get up.

Anak Nakal
Record: 6-2-1-0
Trainer: Nick Zito
Anak Nakal has sputtered as of late, finishing fifth at the Wood Memorial and seventh and eighth at the Rebel Stakes and Fountain of Youth respectively. Anak Nakal does have a pedigree suited for the classic distance and will hope to duplicate the success of his sire, Victory Gallop, who finished second in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before taking first in the Belmont during an impressive Triple Crown showing.

Pyro
Record: 7-3-2-1
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Disappeared back to 10th place in the Toyota Blue Grass, but this horse has a history of rallying late and finishing strong.

Z Fortune
Record: 6-3-2-0
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Z Fortune ran a solid race in the Arkansas Derby, almost catching Gayego down the stretch.

El Gato Malo
Record: 4-3-1-0
Trainer: Craig Dollase
This racehorse looked strong early at the Santa Anita Derby but flattened out due to fatigue. El Gato Malo will have to outrun his pedigree if he wants to compete at the Kentucky Derby.

Blackberry Road
Record: 10-1-2-2
Trainer: David Carroll
After disappointing seventh and fourth place finishes at the Arkansas and Louisiana Derby respectively this April, David Carroll must be hoping May will be much more forgiving. Blackberry Road will look to get back on track with a strong finish this year at the Kentucky Derby.

Recapturetheglory
Record: 6-2-1-2
Trainer: Louis Roussel III
This Kentucky-bred colt pulled off an upset, winning the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Park.

Monba
Record: 5-3-0-0
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
This horse has won three of his career starts including an upset at the Toyota Blue Grass by winning a stretch-long duel for first place.

Don't miss any of this year’s horse racing history in the making. With all of these contenders, this year’s wide-open Kentucky Derby field promises to make this one of the most exciting races in recent memory. Check out the Kentucky Derby power rankings and be sure to visit the Bodog Racebook to bet on the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown action.