Paths to the Derby 2002-2007

[Uncle Buck]

Here\'s a little random stat some of you guys might find interesting. The last five Derby winners have all had their final prep race at five different tracks:

2002 - War Emblem - Sportsman\'s/Illinois Derby - finished 1st
2003 - Funny Cide - Aqueduct/Wood Memorial - finished 2nd
2004 - Smarty Jones - Oaklawn/Ark Derby - finished 1st
2005 - Giacomo - Santa Anita Derby - finished 4th
2006 - Barbaro - Gulstream/Florida Derby - finished 1st
2007 Street Sense - Keeneland/Bluegrass - Finished 2nd

Interesting how the winner has come from all corners. Almost like it was planned that way...

[DaveDuggan]

I like the Funny Cide 2nd in the wood to derby win. I think War Pass is coming back, and now that Georgie Boy is sidelined I can\'t really fancy that one anymore, so it looks like War Pass might be my pick, if he runs. From what I read around he even might be double figures, a gift. I know many people say he won\'t stay etc. Well, my answer, on his lifetime top he would have stayed the distance with ease. His performance in the wood was very decent, setting a really fast pace and just weaken enough to get overturned by the very promising Tale of Ekati. Big Brown will certainly be way to short up against what he have done, and I don\'t fear that Big Brown in some way will \"kill\" War Pass in a duel. If anything it could be the other way around, War Pass is so strong and such a monster, that I really don\'t think a duel will affect him. War Pass will run his race, and I start to think that his race might be enough to win this years Kentucky Derby. Just one guys opinion anyway.

[P-Dub]

Dave,
His lifetime top was on a sloppy track. I find these numbers to be unreliable, generally speaking.  Take that number away and he\'s not better than many contenders.  Of course, at double digit odds, its worth the risk.  Good luck.

[hossgnat]

Interesting, didn\'t realize that. I think War Emblem\'s Ill Derby was the last one at Sportsman\'s though. And if the \"sharing the wealth\" trend continues, whose turn is next -- Turfway?  Adriano, anyone?

I remember thinking last year that the Blue Grass was long overdue to produce a winner in Louisville.  Street Sense came through of course.  Don\'t know if the Blue Grass has ever produced back-to-back Derby winners though -- trivia which may interest Pyro backers.