Post by bobtailnag on Apr 23, 2019 9:26:47 GMT -5
For some who didn't know (like me), The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct has not produced a top three finisher in the Derby since 2003 when Empire Maker and Funny Cide ran 1-2 in that race - 15 years. It'll be up to Tax, Haikal and Tacitus to break the spell - if all make the gate. What are the odds?
"The Kentucky Derby prep season has entered the home stretch with the biggest and best of them serving as the final stops before the calendar turns to the first Saturday in May and the Triple Crown chase begins.
The Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, Spiral and Sunland Derby are in the books, with the Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass and Wood Memorial on tap for Saturday and the Arkansas Derby bringing down the curtain on the major preps on April 15. After that, attention will shift to Churchill Downs with 20 horses vying for a victory in a race that will earn one of them a lasting spot in racing history.
But which one?
While the strength and quality of horses from specific regions can change from year to year, history does paint an interesting picture of the preps that attract most successful Kentucky Derby runners.
Looking at the top three finishers in each of the last 10 editions of the Kentucky Derby, those 30 horses have exited seven of the aforementioned preps. Conspicuous by its absence is the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, which has not produced a top three finisher since 2003 when Empire Maker and Funny Cide ran 1-2 in the Wood but Funny Cide posted a 1 ¾-length victory over Empire Maker in the run for the roses.
Which prep tops the list with the most winners?
It’s the Florida Derby with three. Right behind are the Santa Anita Derby and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park with two. After that, the Blue Grass, Spiral and Sunland Derby, each have one."
