Dubai: This is it. Today Godolphin will bid to break their Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) jinx and finally win America's most famous race with the help of a change in strategy and a gutsy horse called Alpha.
The Dubai-owned stable have made seven attempts in the past to win the $2.2 million (Dh8 million) Churchill Downs showpiece with a sixth place finish by China Visit in 2000 being their best result.
However, in Alpha, a Darley-bred son of Preakness winner Bernadini, they appear to have their best chance yet.
Alpha's preparation for America's annual "Run for the Roses" represents a major change in policy as he did not travel to Dubai during the winter and instead stayed with New York-based Kiaran McLaughlin.
The plan appears to have worked as the colt as made encouraging progress this year and announced his Classic claims with an emphatic second place effort in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 7, his final prep race for the Derby.
"We're all set. He's doing great," said McLaughlin, who was previously based in Dubai for ten years.
The American handler's only cause for concern is the fact that Alpha will have to spend several crucial minutes in the starting stalls prior to the start,
"We are first in the gate, but he's been great. It's just going to make me more nervous and I will be until they spring the latch," he said.
"Eleven is a good position in the gate. It's just that he has to load first. We didn't really want that but we can't do anything about it."
The trainer wanted a middle draw but had been hoping to be drawn next door in 10, as the horse in that stall is loaded last.
Chance
Ever since Alpha finished 11th in his only previous start at Churchill Downs in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year, McLaughlin has devoted a lot of time schooling the Bernardini colt, because he doesn't want to leave anything to chance.
The handler, who was a three-time champion when based in the UAE, is no stranger to the demands of training a Kentucky Derby contender, having sent out Closing Argument to finish second in 2005. The following year Jazil dead-heated for fourth and McLaughlin was 11th with Soldat last year.
Godolphin's seven Derby runners were Worldly Manner, who was seventh in 1999, China Visit sixth and Curule seventh in 2000, Express Tour eighth in 2001, Essence of Dubai ninth in 2002, Regal Ransom eighth and Desert Party 14th in 2009.
The Kentucky Derby, being run for the 138th time, takes place over 10 furlongs on dirt and Rajiv Maragh takes the ride on Alpha. Meanwhile, three time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert has described this year's race as one of the "toughest" in recent years with several of today's $2.2 million Kentucky Derby looming as one of the most open in its 138 years with at least 12 of the 20 entrants having a genuine shot at winning.
Competitive
"This is one of the toughest Derbies I've been in probably the last 10 years," said Bob Baffert, the trainer of the 4-1 race favourite Bodemeister. "It's a really competitive field."
"I've brought some really good horses here, and they were the best horse, but they got beat so I don't want to get myself too pumped up," added Baffert, who is recovering from a heart attack he suffered last month prior to the Dubai World Cup (G1).
The Michael Matz-trained Union Rags is the 9-2 second favourite despite having been beaten in the Florida Derby (G1).
Matz won the 2006 Derby with the ill-fated Barbaro, but would not draw comparisons between the two horses.
"Barbaro was undefeated, Union Rags has lost two races by a total of a length and a half," Matz said. "They're both big, good-looking, fast and athletic [but Union Rags] still has to live up to what Barbaro did."
Take Charge Indy, the surprise winner of the Florida Derby, looks to have a live chance and will be ridden by Calvin Borel, who won the race three times between 2007 and 2010.
"Nobody has really looked at us," said Chuck Sandford, the horse's owner. "He's been under the radar. We win a Grade I and we're still under the radar. He's like the Rodney Dangerfield of horses, absolutely getting no respect."
