Kentucky Derby hopeful Teuflesberg is washed down after an early morning gallop on the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby will be held tomorrow. - Reuters CURLIN has been installed favourite for the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Chruchill Downs, tomorrow, following the draw for starting positions.
Robby Albarado's Steve Asmussen-trained mount has been priced at 7-2 after being placing in stall number two for the one-and-a-quarter mile showpiece.
According to an article on the Sporting Life website, CURLIN goes into the race on the back of a record 10-and-a half length win in the Arkansas Derby on April 14 and has won all three of his starts.
Yet having not raced as a two-year-old, CURLIN has more than a century of history to overturn as no horse to make such a late start to its career has won the Derby since APOLLO in 1882.
Second favourite at 4-1 is Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion STREET SENSE, who also has history working against him. No juvenile winner in 23 previous runnings has gone on to capture the Derby.
Carl Nafzger-trained STREET SENSE will leave from the seventh post with Calvin Borel aboard.
Todd Peltcher, who is yet to win in 14 attempts in the first leg of the Triple Crown, has tied a Derby record with five entries.
The Eclipse award-winning trainer's challenge will be spearheaded by 8-1 shot CIRCULAR QUAY, to be ridden by John Velazquez, from post number 16.
Pletcher's other entries are Florida Derby winner SCAT DADDY (10-1), ANY GIVEN SATURDAY (12-1), COWTOWN CAT (20-1) and SAM P (20-1).
Also at 8-1 is NOBIZ LIKE SHOWBIZ, who drew the 12th post for trainer Barclay Tagg. Cornelio Velasquez will be in the saddle.
Others entered are Hard Spun (15-1), Tiago (15-1), Great Hunter (15-1), Stormello (30-1), Dominican (20-1) Tueflesberg (30-1), Liquidity (30-1), Zanjero (30-1), Storm in May (30-1), Sedgefield (50-1), Imawildandcrazyguy (50-1) and Bwana Bull (50-1).
CURLIN has been impressive in all his wins. He has won all three by wide margins but the only question mark would be that he has never had a race as a two-year-old and so is catching up late. Trainer Steve Asmussen is teaching him everything he can and CURLIN will only go down fighting. CIRCULAR QUAY is a very nice horse, noted Steve Cauthen, and beat SCAT DADDY as a two-year-old in the Hopeful Stakes and won some of his races impressively.
"He comes from off the pace and I think that could be a good thing to do this year as there is certain to be a hot pace and crazy up front. The race could fall apart inside the last furlong or two so it could be set up perfectly for him - he's a very talented horse," said the now-retired legendary rider.
Highly fancied STREET WISE, winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs last October, could start favourite at post time, has some class and is sure to run well. So too SCAT DADDY, a decisive winner of the Florida Derby, at Gulfstream, in March.
Xnews, HOT 102 top tipsters
XNEWS (Keith Anderson) and HOT 102 (Chester Rodney) have won bi-monthly prizes of $20,000 each in the CTL/Markham/Champion tipsters' competition which marked the end of its second bi-monthly period last Saturday.
XNews spotted most winners (55) for he two-month period, three clear of overall leader UItraquest (Donovan 'The Clockman' Cunningham) on 53, followed by Jamaica Observer 48, Compuform and The Star 47, Klas 46 and the Gleaner 44.
Hot 102 won the in-the-money category with plus $563.50. He along with XNews (+$159.50) were the only tipsters to finish with a plus quantity for the two months.
Meanwhile, defending cham-pion Ultraquest leads the overall standings with 92 winners, closely followed by Jimmie of The Star on 91, XNews 89, Jamaica Observer 88, The Gleaner and The News 87 each.
The competition offers total prize money of $500,000.
