California Chrome, the morning line favorite for the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) drew post 5 for the 1 1/4-mile Run for the Roses. The California-bred colt will be ridden by Victor Espinoza and face 19 fellow 3-year-olds in the $2 million Run for the Roses.
Art Sherman trains California Chrome for breeder/owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin. The son of Lucky Pulpit–Love the Charm, by Not For Love has won all three of his starts at 3 by a combined 18 lengths.
Sherman, at 77, would become the oldest trainer to win the Derby, surpassing the legendary Charlie Whittingham who won his second Derby with Sunday Silence in 1989 at age 76.
California Chrome has won six of 10 starts, all in Southern California, and has earned $1,134,850. He will be attempting to become the first Cal-bred of the Derby since Decidedly in 1962. Sherman was an exercise rider for the Mesh Tenney-trained Swaps when that colt won the Derby in 1955. Morvich (1922) is the only other Cal-bred among the 139 winners of the Derby.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Vicar’s in Trouble drew post 1 with the first pill. The Louisiana-bred son of Into Mischief won the March 29 Louisiana Derby (gr. II).
TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) winner Wicked Strong drew the far outside 20 post.
Since 1900, posts 1 and 5 have been the most productive with 12 winners, but no one has won from the rail since Ferdinand in 1986. Posts 4, 8, and 10 have produced 10 winners each. Big Brown won from post 20 in 2008; I’ll Have Another won the Roses in 2012 from post 19.
The draw, which took place between 5-6 p.m., was held in the Secretariat Room at Churchill Downs and shown live on NBC Sports. Twenty-one horses passed the entry box earlier in the day with Pablo Del Monte on the also-eligible list. The draw was conducted by Churchill Downs’ racing secretary Ben Huffman and assistant racing secretary Dan Bork.
(source: Bloodhorse.com)
The full list of runners, riders and draws is listed below:-
