{"id":10166,"date":"2012-05-03T22:19:51","date_gmt":"2012-05-03T22:19:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=10166"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_99","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=10166","title":{"rendered":"Bluegrass Derby: A Cool Look At The History"},"content":{"rendered":"

There were some very interesting stories on the main board forum about past Bluegrass Derby runners and winners. <\/P>

And, more interesting, there were also some stories about horses who never ran in the big race at Kentucky Race Course, the mecca of three year old thoroughbred racing that hosts the most famous and prestigious of all American three-year old races–the Bluegrass Derby.<\/P>

Some of the stories were about horses who never entered the big race, yet still managed to shape Bluegrass Derby history, when their non-entry paved the way for horses to make the field and go on to win the Bluegrass Derby. <\/P>

Probably the most famous non-entry of all, according to Topicount, was a horse named Crafty Assault in 2003, the year I Seek U won not only the Bluegrass Derby but went on to be Derbyfever\u2019s only Triple Crown winner.<\/P>

\u201cI Seek U wouldn\u2019t have had the chance to be the first (and only) Triple Crown winner, if it wasn\u2019t for (trainer) kbsweet and Crafty Assault,\u201d said Topicount, who joined Derbyfever in 2001. \u201cIf I remember correctly, they were ahead of I Seek You in terms of points, but she held Crafty Assault out, and so I Seek U drew in, and history was made.\u201d<\/P>

There was another non-entry who paved the way for our only Triple Crown winner, I Seek U. Platero had an interesting story to share about his 2003 Bluegrass Derby non-entry, Atakachaw.<\/P>

You see, Platero also helped shape Derby history, when he decided not to run sprint specialist Atakachaw in the big race that our only Triple Crown winner I Seek U won that year. <\/P>

\u201cMy horse would have thrown I Seek U out of the field, too,\u201d said Platero, who joined the game after hearing two friends debating their Derbyfever horses on a German real life racing forum. \u201cI sat the whole Wednesday evening at my computer, contemplating whether I should take that chance to have a Derby entry or not. I refused to, because it was obvious that my horse would have no chance.\u201d<\/P>

Good karma would pay off for Platero the following year, when his horse Mount Ghostly was sitting on the bubble at number 21 on the list of Derby entrants. \u201cThe following year (2004), I went to sleep as the horse I shared with joe333, Mount Ghostly, was sitting at number 21. Imagine our surprise the next morning when we woke up to find we were in. One very nice and adorable guy scratched his horse, because he thought our horse would have a better chance in the race than his own. I think this guy is still around. His name is Rich, if I remember correctly, though I\u2019m not sure whether it\u2019s richgins or lilbitfarm. Ahh, those sleepless pre-Derby nights!\u201d<\/P>

Platero\u2019s horse, Mount Ghostly, would finish seventh in that 2004 Bluegrass Derby, but his horse did get his chance to run, thanks to another gracious owner\u2019s non-entry\u00a0gesture, and sometimes that in itself is just a big thrill–the chance to know you do indeed have the chance to grab the brass ring on Bluegrass Derby day. Thanks, Platero, for sharing that story! <\/P>

Another interesting non-entry who shaped Derby history was trainer mtk76\u2019s Making Bank, who did not run in the 2010 Bluegrass Derby, the year Lucky Howie won the big race. <\/P>

\u201cI changed Derby history by not entering (Making Bank) in,\u201d said mtk76. \u201cI could have prevented that Derby winner in 2010. Making Bank had enough entry points off his two-year-old races two seconds in two grade 1\u2019s, including a heartbreaking finish in the (2009) Breeders\u2019 Bowl Juvenile. Then, in 2010, his two races, including the Indian Wood, were brutal, so I passed. I nearly ran him, and I should have, but I passed, allowing bubble horse Lucky Howie in.\u201d<\/P>

And again, Derby history was made by a trainer who decided to not run his horse, because Lucky Howie went on to become the longest shot to ever win the Bluegrass Derby at odds of 20.90 \/ 1. Thanks for sharing that, mtk! Very sporting gesture of you not to run your horse, and, in the process, you helped shaped Derby history by giving us our longest shot to ever win the big race.<\/P>

Trainers cadet and atthewire had an interesting story to share. Two of the long-time players of the game, cadet and atthewire joined Derbyfever in late 1999. Both talked about the first Bluegrass Derby winner, Pharrun Prospect, who won the inaugural Bluegrass Derby in 1999. <\/P>

Pharrun Prospect was listed as a CPU horse on his past performance charts for his first seven races, a curious designation for a Bluegrass Derby winner. Pharrun Prospect ended up in the barn of trainer mpm12, right after Pharrun Prospect won a grade 2 stakes–under the ownership of the CPU.<\/P>

So how did he end up in the barn of mpm12?\u00a0 Trainers cadet and atthewire offered a little insight. <\/P>

\u201cBack then you could find monsters in claiming races for cheap,\u201d said Cadet. \u201cAll horses were created by the computer, including the starting pool. I also think the computer had a lot of nice horses when converting from the private game Mike (the owner of Derbyfever) started out with to the public game he opened. I remember seeing some very good horses who had raced a few times in the old game.\u201d<\/P>

Atthewire said Cadet was right. \u201cThey were all CPU horses back then, and the horse pool was full of good stuff. For the first year or two, before breeding was implemented, we had a two-year-old draft. Anyway, Pharrun Prospect\u2019s Derby run itself was a few months before I joined, but he was indeed the first winner of the Bluegrass Derby.\u201d<\/P>

So, apparently our inaugural Bluegrass Derby winner\u00a0came from that draft of pool horses. Pretty interesting stuff there. Thanks, guys, for shedding the light on that interesting scenario of our first Bluegrass Derby winner!<\/P>

If you\u2019ve ever worried that your horse might not be up to par for a race, for instance, if he is only \u201cready to go,\u201d think again. The runner up in that 1999 Bluegrass Derby, a horse called Gatling Prospect, ran at the training condition of \u201ca little groggy\u201d the week of the Bluegrass Derby, according to long-time veteran trainer roys. <\/P>

Billg51 owned Gatling Prospect. \u201cBillg was in the old white-out chat with several of us, Mike, too,\u201d said roys. \u201cAnd the condition was discussed endlessly–to run or not to run. Mike said, paraphrasing, the condition was only a guideline, that the horse might not give his best effort, or the horse might be a bit tired, or he might be fine.\u201d<\/P>

Apparently, billg listened to Mike, and he ran Gatling Prospect in that inaugural Bluegrass Derby, and he came up just a length shy of winning the whole ball of wax in 1999. Again, interesting stuff to know, Roys, and thanks!<\/P>

Bill of Nextbonus had a pretty interesting story about the 2008 Bluegrass Derby, but it wasn\u2019t exactly about a non-entry. It was more about a near miss of getting in the field in 2008.<\/P>

\u201cMy \u2018never ran\u2019 story involves my horse Listening,\u201d said Bill. \u201cHe was a true 10-furlong graded threat in his prime. He came up just shy of Lock City in the Florida Derby, so his Bluegrass Derby chances rested on points–124 if I remembered correctly. There were four horses with 124 points that year. After all was said and done, Kissin Street Cry (124.xy points) ended up being number 20. Kissin Street Cry came up 1-2-1 in the Triple Crown, just missing the sweep, and Listening became just another good story.\u201d <\/P>

\u201cThere are a million of them in the Naked City,\u201d laughed Bill.<\/P>

Bill had a very\u00a0good year in 2010, though. You see, Bill also happens to own the only filly to have almost won the Bluegrass Derby, when his monster super filly, You See LA, finished second behind the longest shot to ever win the Derby, Lucky Howie.\u00a0Thanks, Bill! Great story there!<\/P>

Trainer davarto talked about another near-miss Triple Crown winner, a horse called Down The Jazz, who nearly became the first horse to sweep the Triple Crown in the year 2000. Down The Jazz won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but he went down in flames when he finished fourth in the New Yorker, the third leg of the Triple Crown.<\/P>

\u201cI remember,\u201d said Davarto, \u201cthere was that one guy that missed back in the early days, too. The owner of Down The Jazz. He was pretty shattered when it lost, if memory serves. I think he\u2019s been drowning his sorrows in a bar the last 11 or 12 years, along with the owner of Saddle Delicate. Those were the days–happy, happy times.\u201d<\/P>

Thanks, davarto! Cool story!<\/P>

Thanks, again, for everyone who contributed to this story! Great, great stuff, guys and gals! Very much appreciated, all your insight and terrific memories gave us all some great behind-the-scenes stories!<\/P>

\u00a0<\/P>

Here is a list of the winners of our Derbyfever Bluegrass Derby through the years. Horses with the designation (***<\/STRONG>) next to their post-time odds indicates they were the post-time betting\u00a0favorites. <\/P>

********** <\/P>

1999 — PHARRUN PROSPECT<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Post-time Odds<\/STRONG>: 7.70 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Distinctive Pro x Lyphard x In Reality)<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:02 4\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Margin of Victory<\/STRONG>: 1 Length <\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gatling Prospect <\/P>

**********<\/P>

2000 — DOWN THE JAZZ<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Post-time Odds<\/STRONG>: 9.70 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Benny The Dip x Tom Rolfe x Sister\u2019s Prince) <\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:02 4\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 5 \u00be Lengths<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Alykurtz Kat<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2001 — BUDA WITH THE SLEW\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>\u00a0Post-time Odds<\/STRONG>: 8 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Danzig x Seattle Slew x Night Invader)<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:02 2\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 3 \u00bd Lengths<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Buckschott<\/P>

***********<\/P>

2002 — TOWER STORM<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Post-Time Odds<\/STRONG>: 6.30 \/ 1 ***<\/STRONG><\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Storm Cat x Forty Nightmare (Forty Niner x Tower Walk(GB)<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:01\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 3 \u00bd Lengths<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unbridled Fury<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2003 — I SEEK U\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>\u00a0Post-time Odds<\/STRONG>: 11.70 \/1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Gone West x Prospect Dealing (Unfuwain x Mr. Prospector))<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:01 1\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 4 \u00bd Lengths<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0 Silverwore<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2004 — GRANHEE<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Post-time Odds<\/STRONG>: 10 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Sakhee x El Gran Senor x Dixieland Band)<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:01\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 1 Length<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0 \u00a0Tern Of The Wheel<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2005 — ANTICOSTI\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>\u00a0Post-time Odds<\/STRONG>: 9.1 \/ 1 ***<\/STRONG><\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Unbridled\u2019s Song x Your Hill (Danehill x Fappiano))<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:01 1\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 2 Lengths<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Dubai Prospector<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2006 — VIRTUOSO\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>\u00a0Post-time Odds<\/STRONG>: 17.60 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Cryptoclearance x Fight Earn (El Prado x Fit To Fight))<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:01 4\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: \u00bc Length<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0 Ermington Pegasus<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2007\u00a0 — \u00a0ATAUN<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Post-time Odds<\/STRONG>: 14.60 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Gone West x Aguirre (Sadler\u2019s Wells x Blushing Groom))<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:02 1\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Winning Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: Head<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0 Passing Stone<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2008\u00a0 — \u00a0KISSIN STREET CRY\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>\u00a0Post-Time Odds<\/STRONG>: 13.50 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Street Cry x Kissin Cousin II (Sadler\u2019s Wells x Gone West))<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:01 2\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Winning Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 3 Lengths<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sunset Mesa<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2009\u00a0 — \u00a0HOT AND SPICY\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>\u00a0Post-Time Odds<\/STRONG>: 14.90 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Awesome Again x A.P. Superwoman (A.P. Indy x Kingmambo))<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:01\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Winning Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 1 Length<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0 \u00a0E Five<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2010\u00a0 —\u00a0 LUCKY\u2019S HOWIE<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Post-Time Odds<\/STRONG>: 20.90 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Gone West x Lucky\u2019s Megan (Dynaformer x Nijinsky II)<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:01 3\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Winning Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 3 Lengths<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0 You See LA<\/P>

**********<\/P>

2011\u00a0 —\u00a0 INDY STORM CAT<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Post-Time Odds<\/STRONG>: 17.70 \/ 1<\/P>

(Breeding<\/STRONG>: Indy x Catsaway (Forty Niner x Storm Cat))<\/P>

Time<\/STRONG>: 2:00 4\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Winning Margin Of Victory<\/STRONG>: 2 \u00be Lengths<\/P>

Runner Up<\/STRONG>:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Eric\u2019s Fast<\/P>

**********<\/P>

\u00a0<\/P>

\u00a0<\/P><\/SPAN><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Also, Some Never-Rans Who Helped Shape Derby History <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10166"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10166\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}