Gary Stevens: Derby field deepest in years
Apr 18, 2015 15:18:17 GMT -5
Post by racinggal on Apr 18, 2015 15:18:17 GMT -5
I believe he's right. There are a lot of very nice horses.
Gary Stevens: Derby field deepest in years
By Jonathan Lintner
Louisville Courier Journal
Gary Stevens temporarily took off his jockey cap this week and returned to the role of analyst, one he used to perform for TVG and NBC Sports while retired, to discuss this year's Kentucky Derby contenders.
Stevens, 52, is seeking his fourth Derby victory aboard trainer Simon Callaghan's Firing Line. The colt romped last time out in the Sunland Derby and has twice run neck-and-neck with undefeated Dortmund in the stretch of other Derby preps.
Those performances haven't even positioned Firing Line as a discussed favorite -- not with this crop of contenders.
"This is the best group of 3-year-olds as a whole that I can remember, dating back to when I was a little kid," Stevens said. "This will be my 21st of 22nd Derby, but as far as depth goes, it's there, with American Pharoah, Carpe Diem, Dortmund, Firing Line, Frosted -- even Far Right, El Kabeir and the colt that won the Lexington Saturday, Divining Rod.
"It's going to be an interesting Derby, and I'm excited about it, not just for my horse, but to see so many other good ones. It's fun to be a part of it."
All but those Stevens mentioned plan to contest the Derby except Divining Rod. And he'll be at Pimlico awaiting the winner at the Preakness States.
Stevens' Derby victories came in 1988 (Winning Colors), 1995 (Thunder Gulch) and 1997 (Silver Charm). Since returning from his retirement, Stevens has won the 2013 Preakness Stakes aboard Oxbow, the Breeders' Cup Classic on Will Take Charge and came back from a total knee replacement to notch his 5,000th North American win this spring.
Gary Stevens: Derby field deepest in years
By Jonathan Lintner
Louisville Courier Journal
Gary Stevens temporarily took off his jockey cap this week and returned to the role of analyst, one he used to perform for TVG and NBC Sports while retired, to discuss this year's Kentucky Derby contenders.
Stevens, 52, is seeking his fourth Derby victory aboard trainer Simon Callaghan's Firing Line. The colt romped last time out in the Sunland Derby and has twice run neck-and-neck with undefeated Dortmund in the stretch of other Derby preps.
Those performances haven't even positioned Firing Line as a discussed favorite -- not with this crop of contenders.
"This is the best group of 3-year-olds as a whole that I can remember, dating back to when I was a little kid," Stevens said. "This will be my 21st of 22nd Derby, but as far as depth goes, it's there, with American Pharoah, Carpe Diem, Dortmund, Firing Line, Frosted -- even Far Right, El Kabeir and the colt that won the Lexington Saturday, Divining Rod.
"It's going to be an interesting Derby, and I'm excited about it, not just for my horse, but to see so many other good ones. It's fun to be a part of it."
All but those Stevens mentioned plan to contest the Derby except Divining Rod. And he'll be at Pimlico awaiting the winner at the Preakness States.
Stevens' Derby victories came in 1988 (Winning Colors), 1995 (Thunder Gulch) and 1997 (Silver Charm). Since returning from his retirement, Stevens has won the 2013 Preakness Stakes aboard Oxbow, the Breeders' Cup Classic on Will Take Charge and came back from a total knee replacement to notch his 5,000th North American win this spring.