The 140th run for the roses is takes place this Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby official start time is 6:24 pm ET. There are several Longshots in the event, including Medal Count, who has been installed as 20/1 Odds to win the Derby.
Medal Count's Record: 3-1-0 in 7 Races. Trainer: Dale Romans. Jockey: Robby Albarado Sire: Dynaformer Dam: Brisquette Best Beyer Speed: 94
Here is a horse that seams to be peaking a bit. Following a lackluster fifth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream in March he went to Keeneland in early April and won the off-the-turf Transylvania Stakes in fast time before running eight days later in the Blue Grass and finishing a wide second. Still his best two races came at Keeneland on Polytrack, not dirt, which is the surface for the Derby. He did win a dirt race last summer, but in an off-the-turf maiden race at Ellis Park, and he posted a Beyer Speed of just 58 in that race.
Medal Count is by Dynaformer, who is also the sire of 2006 Kentucky Derby legend Barbaro. Dynaformer was a perennial leading sire prior to his death in 2012. As a 3-year-old, he had been a dual Grade 2 winner on dirt, at 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 miles, before stretching out and switching surfaces later on to win at 1 1/2 miles on turf. Dynaformer has been represented by 145 stakes winners in 22 crops. Brisquette is a Grade 3-placed Unbridled’s Song mare who raced just once at a mile or beyond, finishing off the board.
Riding Medal Count will be Robby Allardo, who has 59 wins on the year, but is just 19th on the Jockey money list for 2014, at $2.55 million. Robby has won He has won nearly 4,616 races in his career and was the regular rider of Horse of the Year Curlin, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby before going on to win many prestigious races like The Preakness Stakes and Breeders Classic.
The sire's side of this pedigree is solid for the Derby distance, but still there isn't enough on the dam's side to carry hime through the derys long distance.
INFO GATHERED FROM DAILY RACING FORM & Kentuckyderby.com
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Kentucky Derby Preview: Medal Count
What horse racing bettors need to know about betting Medal Count in the Kentucky Derby, which takes place on Saturday (5/03/14)- With insight from Pregame.com's Chuck Edel & host Marco D'Angelo.