KENTUCKY DERBY 2008 PICKS Ashley Walker's Picks
Last updated May 1, 2008 Rank Horse Trainer Richard Dutrow, 1 Big Brown Jr. 2 Colonel John Eoin Harty 3 Denis of Cork David Carroll 4 Z Fortune Steve Asmussen 5 Gayego Paulo Lobo 6 Pyro Steve Asmussen 7 Cool Coal Man Nick Zito 8 Monba Todd Pletcher 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Comments Tops in looks, speed, and class in my book. Don't see anyone beating him. Should run huge, but I don't see him getting to #1. David Carroll runner should earn a big check here. Ran huge in Arkansas, looking good so far in Louisville. Love this little colt, but don't think this one sets up for him. Not too inspired by this one over the past few days. Worked well last week for Zito, foundation isn't a concern. Has shown an affinity for dirt and looks to be back in form. Couldn't have set up more perfectly for him in the Wood. Too Court Vision Bill Mott slow? Tale Of Ekati Barclay Tagg Gutsy effort in Wood, but ultimately a slow renewal of the race. Big Truck Barclay Tagg Blue Grass is a throwout, can still recover and run big. Puts on the shades for James Kasparoff. Big run in Santa Anita Bob Black Jack James Kasparoff Derby. A fringe player. He has ran well in the past. Closed in the Blue Visionaire Michael Matz Grass for 5th. Worked well at Keeneland on Saturday. Looks like he is rounding Cowboy Cal Todd Pletcher into form. Big work last week. Fondness for Churchill doesn't hurt his Anak Nakal Nick Zito chances. Adriano Graham Motion Worried about this one's temperament. Z Humor Bill Mott Keeps plugging away. Not too high on chances in big one. Smooth Air Bennie Stutts Jr. Health questions arise after fever scare over the weekend. Eight Belles Larry Jones I'm not a believer. But even Danica Patrick won a race finally... Louie J. Roussel Recapturetheglory Not a huge fan of his. Looking for a pop and stop effort. III
Jill Byrne's Picks
Last updated April 27, 2008 Rank Horse Trainer Comments 1 Pyro Steve Asmussen Draw a line through the Bluegrass and he still remains on top. Richard Dutrow, Doing all his Derby prep work out of town and will be the fresh 2 Big Brown Jr. horse. . Impressive in Churchill workout and looks to be peaking at the 3 Colonel John Eoin Harty right time. 4 Gayego Paulo Lobo I am a believer after his Churchill work and seeing him in person. Blinkers on has given him a better turn of foot and the chance at an 5 Court Vision Bill Mott upset. Bluegrass win and a win over the Churchill track moves him up the 6 Monba Todd Pletcher list. 7 Eight Belles Larry Jones Filly has the speed , stamina, class and size to handle these boys. He had a gut wrencher in the Wood but should have had time to 8 Tale Of Ekati Barclay Tagg recover. 9 Z Fortune Steve Asmussen Wide trip in Arkansas may have cost him. He can improve off that. 10 Adriano Graham Motion He is improving physically and mentally at just the right time. 11 Visionaire Michael Matz He is talented no doubt but may be hindered by his running style. He has the pedigree to love Churchill if he can repeat his Bluegrass 12 Cowboy Cal Todd Pletcher effort. 13 Denis of Cork David Carroll Training well at the Downs and may surprise if he can get in. He is working well and has won over the Churchill track but must 14 Cool Coal Man Nick Zito improve. Louie J. Roussel 15 Recapturetheglory Illinois Derby winner may not get to be alone on the front here. III Questionable to go with recent fever. Questionable to be at best 16 Smooth Air Bennie Stutts Jr. anyway. His biggest win came in the KJC at Churchill but he needs to 17 Anak Nakal Nick Zito improve. 18 Bob Black Jack James Kasparoff Can't deny that this one has outrun his pedigree. Now must get in. 19 Z Humor Bill Mott Delta jackpot winner would be a big surprise off his recent form. 20 El Gato Malo Craig Dollase On the outside looking in with limited graded earnings.
Dan Shapiro's Picks
Last updated May 2, 2008 Rank Horse Trainer Comments 1 Eight Belles Larry Jones Fits on numbers, size and talent 2 Big Brown Richard Dutrow, Jr. Could be simply better than these, but the 20 post is scary 3 Colonel John Eoin Harty Should be flying late, but could be a synthetic specialist 4 Court Vision Bill Mott May be peaking now; Gomez will work out a trip 5 Cool Coal Man Nick Zito Likes Churchill; live longshot 6 Z Fortune Steve Asmussen Underrated performance in Arkansas Derby; live 7 Gayego Paulo Lobo Post and pedigree may be too much to overcome 8 Pyro Steve Asmussen Not getting good vibes, but last at Keeneland is a complete toss 9 Adriano Graham Motion Trains like he handles dirt; Prado's pick 10 Monba Todd Pletcher Pletcher's best shot 11 Visionaire Michael Matz May not be good engough, but highly respect Matz 12 Smooth Air Bennie Stutts Jr. Improving at the right time; best of rest in fast Fla Derby 13 Recapturetheglory Louie J. Roussel III Big effort to win Illinois Derby, but may be a cut below 14 Denis of Cork David Carroll Don't liek the way he was managed 15 Tale Of Ekati Barclay Tagg Wood win final time was slow 16 Bob Black Jack James Kasparoff Fuels the pace 17 Cowboy Cal Todd Pletcher Pedigree says dirt shouldn't be a problem 18 Z Humor Bill Mott Disappointing so far this year 19 Anak Nakal Nick Zito Needs to show more 20 Big Truck Barclay Tagg A cut below
John Asher's Picks
Last updated April 21, 2008 Rank Horse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pyro Colonel John Adriano Court Vision Big Brown Eight Belles Monba Tale Of Ekati Gayego Denis of Cork Bob Black Jack Visionaire Smooth Air Z Fortune Trainer Comments Back on top, I'll take it on faith that Monday's foggy work was okay Southern California's best looked great on Monday arrival at CD Not a good work horse, but has handled Churchill surface okay Love the way he's training at Churchill, could win it all for Mott Much history to overcome and figures to face pace duel If there was ever a year to try a filly against colts, this could be it Toyota Blue Grass winner already proven over Churchill dirt Wood winner needs to take big step up to win the Derby Arkansas Derby win showed traditional dirt was no worry Very sharp in wake-up work on Monday at CD, could get in Good runner-up in SA Derby, California horses have run well Matz trainee is better than he looked in Blue Grass, but wasn't everyone? Stutts working on old-time, distance loving schedule Nice rebound effort in Arkansas Derby Roussel hope no Risen Star, but will contibute to the pace Illinois Derby winner figures to be part of Derby pace Zito hope ran best race ever in Kentucky Jockey Club at CD Toyota Blue Grass a complete throwout Would need easy trip up front in Derby -- how often does that happen? Will make the field, but has never shown that he's close to good enough
Steve Asmussen Eoin Harty Graham Motion Bill Mott Richard Dutrow, Jr. Larry Jones Todd Pletcher Barclay Tagg Paulo Lobo David Carroll James Kasparoff Michael Matz
Bennie Stutts Jr. Steve Asmussen Louie J. Roussel Recapturetheglory III Cool Coal Man Nick Zito Anak Nakal Nick Zito Big Truck Barclay Tagg Cowboy Cal Z Humor Todd Pletcher Bill Mott
James Scully's Picks
Last updated May 2, 2008 Rank Horse Trainer Comments 1 Denis of Cork David Carroll Late runner is training great and loves Churchill; upset pick 2 Z Fortune Steve Asmussen Loved his runner-up in Ark Derby; closer could be a live longshot 3 Colonel John Eoin Harty Appears to be relishing dirt at Churchill; must respect He'll get blinkers and appears to be flourishing at CD; dangerous 4 Court Vision Bill Mott late runner He's bounced back after Blue Grass debacle; no surprise to see him 5 Pyro Steve Asmussen come out on top Richard Dutrow, 6 Big Brown Most talented horse in the field, but doubt he can get distance Jr. 7 Cowboy Cal Todd Pletcher Consistent as they come; tries to shift his talent to the main track. Can't recommend, but would love to see underdog get involved in 8 Smooth Air Bennie Stutts Jr. the stretch 9 Monba Todd Pletcher Blue Grass winner has won at Churchill before 10 Eight Belles Larry Jones Filly doesn't face the deepest field; she's a serious exotics contender 11 Visionaire Michael Matz Isn't bred for 10 furlongs, but figures to be running late for Matz 12 Gayego Paulo Lobo Distance challenged, but would move up on mud 13 Tale Of Ekati Barclay Tagg Owns the right running style, but he might not be fast enough 14 Adriano Graham Motion Nice colt, but believe he's better on turf/synthetic 15 Cool Coal Man Nick Zito He runs well from the rail and has Zito in his corner Louie J. Roussel 16 Recapturetheglory Probably lost all chance with the outside post III 17 Bob Black Jack James Kasparoff He's ultra game, but 10 furlongs looks too far 18 Z Humor Bill Mott Well-bred but will need to improve significantly to challenge 19 Anak Nakal Nick Zito His efforts this year are too disappointing to recommend 20 Big Truck Barclay Tagg He's probably not good enough
Joe Kristufek's Picks
Last updated April 30, 2008 Rank Horse Trainer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Comments He keeps getting better, and has been a dirt monster since arriving at Colonel John Eoin Harty Churchill. Steve I'm willing to toss the Blue Grass. He hasn't done anything spectacular Pyro Asmussen in his recent training, but the real PYRO may show up on Saturday. Dutrow is supremely confident, and believes this colt is simply better Richard Big Brown than these. He's a freak, but mental toughness is a major factor in the Dutrow, Jr. Kentucky Derby equation. Does he have enough experience? Todd Back on track in Blue Grass, and he already owns a win at Churchill. Monba Pletcher Pletcher back in the game. David I'm tossing the Illinois Derby. His recent work at Churchill was Denis of Cork Carroll spectacular, and he does have freshness on his side. Louie J. Can't help but think about War Emblem. Defection of War Pass helps Recapturetheglory Roussel III the cause. Workmanlike performance in his Arkansas Derby win; Derby will be Gayego Paulo Lobo much tougher, and the distance is a concern. Barclay Ran down a tired War Pass in the Wood, but still has room for Tale Of Ekati Tagg improvement. Females should never run against the boys unless they have nothing left Eight Belles Larry Jones to prove in their own division. The way this gal is training, perhaps she's an exception to my self imposed rule. He should have run a lot better in the Wood. That being said, perhaps he Court Vision Bill Mott still has room for improvement. He has trained well this week. Graham Not thrilled with the way he's trained at Churchill this week. Maybe he Adriano Motion is a turf/Polytrack horse. Steve Got back on track in the Arkansas Derby. What you see is what you get, Z Fortune Asmussen and it might be good enough for a spot in the Derby Superfecta. Has been a mystery horse all spring, but he seems to have picked it up in Anak Nakal Nick Zito his recent training. Michael Visionaire Did a little late running in the Blue Grass. High Five? Matz James Bob Black Jack Held his own against California's best. The distance is a BIG ? Kasparoff Todd Cowboy Cal Prefers turf or Polytrack, but you must respect the team. Pletcher Cool Coal Man Nick Zito Not a big fan of the Florida preps. Just don't think he's that good. Bennie Smooth Air Slowed by sickness last week, but he appears to be coming around a bit. Stutts Jr. Barclay Big Truck He's trained well this week, but is he good enough to make a dent? Tagg Z Humor Bill Mott Needs to bounce back in a big way.