Kentucky Derby: The next five contenders

This is our second instalment of the 2007 Kentucky Derby reviews of the contenders which will race for the 133rd.

In our previous publication, we took a look at the top five horses, looking at the odds the betting and horse racing site Bodog published online. It's time to look at the next five horses, and get a little more information, before the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred horseracing, starting May 5th at 6:00pm EST.

Hard Spun (#8): Betting odds 12/1. Born on 05.10.2004 of BayColt and Turkish Tryst, with graded earnings of $360,000, Hard Spun won two of his last three races Lane's End (GII) and Lecomte (GIII), but finished fourth at Southwest. The trainer is a Kentucky local, J. Larry Jones, and Hard Spun is his first ever horse in the Kentucky Derby. The 45-years-old Mario Pino will ride Hard Spun in the Run for the Roses, also his first time at the Derby.

Any Given Saturday (#18): Odds 14/1. Born on 01.29.2004 of Dark bay and Weekend in Indy, Any Given Sunday has netted only a little over $177,000 with race record of 6-3-2-1. In its last three races, Any Given Sunday finished 3rd at Wood Memorial (GI), 2nd at Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) and won at Sam F. Davis. This is one of the five horses the trainer Todd Pletcher has at the 133 Kentucky Derby. Jockey will be Garrett Gomez, native of Arizona, and this will be his fourth time riding at the Derby.

Tiago (#15): Odds 17/1. Born of bayColt and Set Them Free on 03.08.2004, Tiago has earned in graded races $450,000, won two of his last three races, Santa Anita Derby (GI) and Maiden @ Santa Anita, but finished 7th on March 3rd at Robert B. Lewis (GII). On Saturday the reins will be held by Mike Smith with trainer John Shirreffs making his third appearance at the Kentucky Derby.

Dominican (#19): Betting odds 19/1. Born on 05.04.2004 of Chestnutgelding and First Violin, Dominican's race record stands at 7-3-0-2, pursing almost $500,000 at graded races. Last two races (Blue Grass (GI) and Rushaway) were won, but in the previous one at Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) Dominican finished second evenly. Trained by Darrin Miller, Dominican will be the first horse for him to enter the Kentucky Derby, but second time for the jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Great Hunter (#20): Odds 20/1. Born on 03.31.2004 of Dark bay and Zenith, Great Hunter's race record is 9-3-4-1 with graded earnings a little over $752,000. In the last three races, Great Hunter finished 5th at Toyota Blue Grass (GI), won the Robert B. Lewis (GII), and 3rd at Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) last year. Doug O'Neill, native of Michigan, is training the horse for his first Kentucky Derby, but the experienced Corey Nakatani will make his 12th run at the Derby.

Click here to see the top five contender

05/03/2007