2003 Kentucky Derby Entries

RESULTS HERE

A field of 17 was entered for the 129th Kentucky Derby with Empire Maker, breaking from the 12 post, set as the solid favorite at 6-5. Ten Most Wanted in the 16 hole is the second favorite at 6-1 with Peace Rules (post 5) and Buddy Gil (post 8) tied at 8-1.

Bobby Frankel, trainer of favorite Empire Maker said, "I called Jerry (Bailey) and asked him what he'd like. We talked and figured that the posts between 6 and 11 would be taken by the time we got to go. So he said either 12 or 5, and he'd prefer 12. So I gave him 12 for his horse and took 5 for the other horse. Asked about the injury reported on Tuesday, "(Empire Maker) is doing fine. He'll be fine on Saturday." He also trains co-third choice at 8-1 Peace Rules out of post 5. "If they go (the speed horses) we'll pick our spot. If they don't go, we'll take the lead. You can do that with this horse."

Trainer Wally Dollase of 6-1 second choice Ten Most Wanted who picked post 14, said, "It's fine. The speed is inside us, so that's good. That's going to allow us to drop over and get a good spot mid-pack. And my horse gets a little anxious (at the gate), so the late load will be good for him. Pat (jockey Pat Day) is fine with it. We didn't get the best of chances to select, but it worked out fine."

Tom Amoss, trainer of 50-1 longshot Lone Star Sky, took a less scientific approach to his selection. "I picked the 10 because it is my youngest daughter's age and my oldest daughter's softball number. It was also the number of my all-time favorite horse, Secretariat, broke from. He wore the 1A, but he broke from 10."

Post time for the Derby is 6:05pm EDT Saturday and TV coverage will be all day long via a combination of ESPN, ESPN2, and NBC. Be sure to check the TV schedule so you don't miss anything. Past performances are available for free from DRF and Equibase. Free selections from Glenners are available now for the entire Derby card.

Below are the horses in post position order with trainer, jockey, and morning line odds. As usual, all horses carry 126 lbs. and they are all separate betting interests. Be sure to click the link on each horse's name to view full info, stats, and a photo where available. It is interesting to note that there are no dual qualifiers entered this year. Update: Sir Cherokee is now scratched due to an injury. Bernie Hettel, Chief Steward and Executive Director of the Kentucky Racing Commission, said that the inside two horses (Supah Blitz and Brancusi) would move out one slot in the starting gate, leaving the inside position vacant.

Triple Crown quick links:

• 2003 Preakness Contenders - it is on to Pimlico now as we take a look at the horses currently pointed to the Preakness. Photos, profiles, and more for each possible entrant. NEW!
• Kentucky Derby Results - New York bred gelding Funny Cide upsets while Frankel's Empire Maker and Peace Rules run second and third. Results, charts, and photos for all the Derby day stakes here. NEW!
• 2003 Kentucky Oaks Results - Longshot Bird Town runs away with the Oaks over Santa Catarina and Yell while Elloluv and Lady Tak disappoint. Results, charts, and photos here. NEW!
• Analyzing the Top Kentucky Derby Contenders - trying to select the winner based on statistics and historical trends to see who most closely matches the profile of a Derby winner. NEW!
• Graded Stakes Earnings - list of all contenders ranked in descending order by graded stakes earnings. This is what determines who gets in if more than 20 horses are entered.
• NTRA Three Year Old Poll
• Free Past Performances from DRF (updated 4/25)
• Free Past Performances from BRIS and Blood Horse
• Kentucky Derby $5 Million Pay Day - a free contest from Churchill Downs where you pick the exact order of finish for the full field in the Derby to win. You can make your picks starting April 30th and if you already registered for the Road to the Roses contest, you are registered for this too. NEW!
• Triple Crown Trivia Quiz - test your knowledge of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont and compete with others.
• Kentucky Derby Future Wager - Pool Three, which included a separate pool for the Oaks, closed on April 6th. Get the final odds for all 3 pools plus the Oaks here.
• Triple Crown Late Nominees - 8 additional horses were nominated in the late period
• Triple Crown Nominees - all 446 horses from the early nominations
• 2002 Experimental Free Handicap - ranks the top 2-year-olds of 2002 and determines who can be a dual qualifier
• Triple Crown Trail prep race schedule with results updated weekly
• Injury Report - who is off the trail
• Derby Tickets and Seats - how to get them
• Louisville Courier Journal coverage - one of your best news sources for the Derby
• Blood Horse Triple Crown Mania
• Daily Racing Form Triple Crown Special
• Thoroughbred Times Triple Crown special
• Derby News from Churchill Downs
• Triple Crown Index - the master list with even more info
• Updated Derby Odds in partnership with Vegas Insider

2003 NTRA Three Year Old Poll - 04/28/03

     HORSE                 A-S  STS-1-2-3  PTS  PVS  PROBABLE NEXT START    
 1.  Empire Maker (16)     3-C    3-2-1-0  168   1   5/3 Kentucky Derby    
 2.  Peace Rules           3-C    2-2-0-0  126   2   5/3 Kentucky Derby    
 3.  Buddy Gil             3-G    4-3-0-0  116   3   5/3 Kentucky Derby    
 4.  Ten Most Wanted (1)   3-C    4-2-0-1  113   4   5/3 Kentucky Derby    
 5.  Atswhatimtalknbout    3-C    5-2-1-1   61   7   5/3 Kentucky Derby    
 6.  Funny Cide            3-G    3-0-2-0   56   5   5/3 Kentucky Derby    
 7.  Kafwain               3-C    3-1-0-1   51   6   5/3 Kentucky Derby    
 8.  Indian Express        3-C    2-0-1-0   45   9   5/3 Kentucky Derby    
 9.  Brancusi              3-C    3-1-1-1   37   8   5/3 Kentucky Derby    
10.  Scrimshaw             3-C    3-1-0-1   36   -   5/3 Kentucky Derby    

A-S: Age-Sex, Sex: C-colt, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare 

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