The Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve is rightfully known as the most exciting two minutes in sports; once the Churchill Downs starting gate springs open anything can (and often does) happen. For the 20 3-year-old Thoroughbreds competing it is one of the most important moments of their lives, racing luck can make or break their Derby run from the start.
Tag: Racing
Albarado: Swiss Skydiver ‘Might Be Better Than Last Year’ Ahead Of Apple Blossom
A lot has changed since jockey Robby Albarado was Oaklawn's leading rider in 1996 and 1997, particularly lately.
Oaklawn, as part of a multi-million expansion, is opening a seven-story, 200-room hotel overlooking the first turn. Albarado, who is back in Hot Springs as the regular rider of champion Swiss Skydiver in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares Saturday at Oaklawn, was a guest of the hotel Wednesday night.
“I stayed in the hotel last night and was trying to think what was here,” Albarado said after galloping Swiss Skydiver Thursday morning at Oaklawn. “What was in this actual spot, where this hotel is? That's where the old gap was. I was trying to envision where the (track) kitchen was exactly. I can remember (trainer James Eckrosh) parking in that one spot and hitting the fence every day. He backed into the fence or hit the fence every day, turning in. But you know what? There's only one thing that's constant in life – change.”
After his career began to nosedive several years ago, Albarado's fortunes began to change when he picked up the mount on the well-traveled Swiss Skydiver for last October's Preakness, which was the third leg of the revamped Triple Crown and a race the jockey won in 2007 with eventual two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. Facing males, notably another future Horse of the Year in Authentic, Swiss Skydiver beat the Kentucky Derby winner by a neck in a stirring stretch duel.
Coupled with earlier victories in the $500,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park, $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita and $400,00 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, Swiss Skydiver was named the country's champion 3-year-old filly.
Swiss Skydiver opened her 2021 campaign with a sharp 2 ¾-length victory in the $300,000 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) March 13 at Santa Anita and now gets a rematch with two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl in the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom. Monomoy Girl won their only meeting – $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland – as Swiss Skydiver finished seventh after stumbling badly at the start. Monomoy Girl was the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 and champion older dirt female of 2020.
“When you get to this point in my career, I live for these kind of races,” Albarado said. “You've got to be tactical, you've got to be ready. I did an interview with a guy from Texas, a reporter. He asked me how I felt. I told him I stayed prepared for these kind of situations. When your named is called, be ready. I was ready for the Preakness. I was prepared for it. I hadn't ridden that level of horse in a couple of years. I didn't think about anything else going on but that race and how tactically I was going to do it. Had three or four scenarios in my mind – if this does that, I'm going to do this. Getting on her all week, like I'm doing here and did in California, she goes around the track a couple of days and figures out where she's at. That's big with her. Like in the Preakness, she knew where she was, the track, the surroundings, the poles. She hooked a Horse of the Year and put him away.”
Swiss Skydiver, who is trained by Kenny McPeek, arrived Wednesday afternoon and galloped over a muddy surface after the second renovation break Thursday morning. Swiss Skydiver has recorded three workouts since the Beholder, including a 5-furlong move in 1:00.40 April 10 at Churchill Downs.
“It's scary,” Albarado said. “She might be better than last year. She's doing so good right now.”
The Apple Blossom headlines Saturday's 12-race card, with probable post time 6:09 p.m. (Central). It goes as the 11th race. First post Saturday is 12:02 p.m.
The projected six-horse Apple Blossom field from the rail out: Another Broad, Ricardo Santana Jr. to ride, 115 pounds, 10-1 on the morning line; Swiss Skydiver, Robby Albarado, 122, 2-1; Letruska, Irad Ortiz Jr., 118, 4-1; Chance to Shine, Ken Tohill, 114, 20-1; Getridofwhatailesu, Francisco Arrieta, 117, 6-1; and Monomoy Girl, Florent Geroux, 124, even money.
Albarado has more than 5,000 victories in his career, with his mounts earning roughly $221 million in purse money. In addition to Curlin and Swiss Skydiver, Albarado was the regular of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Albarado has 272 career victories at Oaklawn.
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Fifteen Things to Know About the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby was first held in 1875 and ranks as the longest continuously held major sporting event in the United States.
Laobanonprayer Cuts Back For Sunday’s NYSSS Park Avenue
Laobanonaprayer, owned and trained by Danny Velazquez, will cut back in distance for the $200,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for eligible New York-sired sophomore fillies on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Laoban bay finished fourth last out to undefeated Kentucky Oaks-contender Search Results in the open Busher Invitational traveling a one-turn mile on March 6 at Aqueduct.
Laobanonaprayer worked a bullet half-mile handily in 46.62 Saturday on the Parx main track in preparation for the turnback in distance.
“It was an amazing work. This is the best I've ever seen her,” said Velazquez. “She's coming in really ready. These horses grow with you as they progress. She's a big filly and I'm hoping she's going to get faster and really come around.”
Bred in New York by Christina Deronda, the Laobanonaprayer was purchased for $15,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The filly graduated at third asking in October 2020 in the Maid of the Mist, a one-turn mile for state-bred juveniles at Belmont Park, providing Velazquez his first stakes win.
Laobanonaprayer followed with an eight-length score in the seven-furlong NYSSS Fifth Avenue in December at Aqueduct ahead of a runner-up effort in the Franklin Square in her sophomore debut traveling 6 1/2-furlongs on a muddy Big A strip on January 16.
“She's had a nice, steady progression into the Busher where we ran fourth. She's missed no training after that race and it's been smooth sailing,” said Velazquez.
Velazquez said he will let jockey Kendrick Carmouche determine the best trip for the talented filly, who will exit the inside post.
“I'll let Kendrick take care of that, but I'd envision her close to the pace and making one big run, but she's versatile,” said Velazquez. “He knows her and he's won on her. He won me my first stakes race ever. We're really happy to have him on her.”
Roddy Valente and Darlene Bilinski's Shaker Shack enters from a pair of runner-up efforts in optional-claiming sprints for trainer Patrick Reynolds. The dark bay daughter of Bustin Stones, bred in New York by Valente and Dr. Jerry Bilinski, is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Bustin Out and a half-sibling to multiple stakes winner Oak Bluffs.
Shaker Shack graduated at second asking in a maiden claiming sprint on January 30 at the Big A in her first start for Reynolds before catching a muddy track in her last two starts.
Jose Ortiz will guide Shaker Shack from post 5.
Double B Racing Stables' Bustin Bay was claimed for $25,000 last out from a 16-length score in a seven-furlong maiden claiming tilt for New York-bred fillies on March 26 at the Big A. Bred in the Empire State by Robert Rosenthal, Martin Greenberg, and Peter Rosenthal, the Bustin Stones filly, now trained by Antonio Arriaga, will be guided by returning pilot Trevor McCarthy from post 3.
Laura's Bellamy, a C. Robert Valeri homebred trained by Todd Pletcher, earned a 61 Beyer Speed Figure in her half-length debut win sprinting six furlongs on a sloppy Big A main track on February 27.
The Bellamy Road bay made every post a winning one under Manny Franco, who retains the mount for the filly's second start from post 4.
America's Pastime Stables' Jill's a Hot Mess graduated at ninth asking last out in a maiden claiming sprint on March 12 at the Big A. Trained by John Kimmel, the Laoban bay completed the exacta behind Laobanonaprayer in the Fifth Avenue.
Off as the post-time favorite in her last four starts, Jill's a Hot Mess, bred in the Empire State by Michael J. Galvin, will be guided from post 2 by Junior Alvarado.
Shesadirtydancer, a maiden winner at fifth asking in January at the Big A, exits the same pair of optional-claiming sprints as Shaker Shack. Trained and co-owned by Rudy Rodriguez with Michael Imperio, the War Dancer bay, bred in New York by Bill Frothinger, will be guided by Irad Ortiz, Jr. from post 6.
The NYSSS Park Avenue is slated as Race 7 on Sunday's nine-race card, which closes out the 11-day Aqueduct spring meet. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.
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