The 2015 class to thoroughbred racing's Hall of Fame!

This past Monday afternoon it was announced by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame the four inductees in class of 2015. In a ceremony to be held on Friday, August 7th at the Fasig-Tipton pavilion in Saratoga Springs, two human and two equine finalists will be enshrined. The late jockey Chris Antley, along with trainer King Leatherbury and horses; Lava Man and Xtra Heat will take their place in the Hall of Fame. It's a long awaited induction for one of the all time leading trainers in North America, a shining moment for one of my all time favorite jockeys and plaques in the Hall of Champions for two thoroughbreds who just liked to win.

I've written about in the past, how much I liked Chris Antley as a jockey. His career started in the mid 80's around the same time I got involved in the sport. He was one of the finest jockeys on the New York circuit winning nearly 3,500 races and 127 graded stakes including two Kentucky Derby victories. In 1987, he won 9 races in a single day at two different tracks and in 1989 won at least one race a day for 64 days straight. His star-crossed career had many up and down moments, but he'll always be remembered for what he did during the running of the 1999 Belmont Stakes. In mid stretch, his mount Charismatic (who was going for the Triple Crown) injured himself and was pulled up shortly after the finish line. That's where Antley got off his mount and held Charismatic's injured leg keeping him from having any more damage done to it, this saved his life. Unfortunately a year and a half later, his demons got the best of him and Chris was gone from a drug overdose. Nevertheless tho, the memories of his great race riding will be remembered this summer.

At age 82, it's been a long wait for one of the greatest trainers on the Maryland - Mid Atlantic circuit to have his place in racing's Hall of Fame. King Leatherbury has nearly 6,500 victories, placing his fourth on the all-time career list of trainers in North America. A fixture in Maryland, he has won 52 training titles there and two in Delaware in his fifty six year career. He was also leading North American trainer twice in the late seventies. This has been a honor, long time coming for this legend.

The other "gutsy" gelding beside Funny Cide, of the last decade came from California. That's where he did a lot of winning on the west coast during the 2000's. Lava Man wasn't much early in his career, but all that changed when he was claimed for 40,000 by trainer Doug O'Neil. He went on to win seven grade I races and is third all time list behind Best Pal and Tiznow as California bred horses. Lava Man was the first horse in a generation to win a grade I race on dirt and turf in the same year and is the only horse to win a North American grade I race on dirt, turf, and an artificial racing surface. He is the all-time leading earner among claimers and possibly the greatest claim in racing history.

One of the hardest hitting filly sprinters that I can remember, gets her place in racing mortality. Xtra Heat who won 26 of 35 career starts all racing less than a mile. She was no worst than second versus her own sex in 31 career starts with only one off the board race and that was going a route distance in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies. She too was Mid Atlantic based and speed was her best asset giving her two separate six race winning streaks early in her career. Xtra Heat was definitely one of the best filly and mare sprinters the last fifteen years and paved the way for the creation of the Filly and Mare Breeder's Cup Sprint race which is part of the championship race events.

It's a nice quartet of new members to the Hall of Fame and I'll be looking forward to attending this year's induction to celebrate these great horseman and thoroughbred runners.

A look at Derby longshot runners

Last week we discuss the top Kentucky Derby contenders and their consistency in winning major derby prep races since the beginning of the year. American Pharoah and Far Right continued that trend with a one / two finish in the Arkansas Derby last weekend. That solid group of runners will be between 5-2 and 15-1 in odds come the first Saturday in May. This week, we'll look at the other half of the group. These horses will be anywhere between 15-1 and 30+ to 1. Longshots in the wagering that will spice up the exotic plays. With eighteen runners solidly in the field of twenty runners, this group should make up the remainder of the field.

First up is Firing Line, west coast runner trained by Simon Callaghan who won the Sunland Derby by 14 lengths in his last start. Runner-up behind Dortmund in his two previous starts, this pace-presser looks to be a solid longshot play who should be double digits in the wagering. Irish bred invader, Mubtaahij won the UAE Derby by eight lengths and has won four out of five dirt races all at Meydan Racetrack in Dubai. Trained by Michael de Kock, his most recent victory gained him 8-1 closing odds in the final Kentucky Derby Futures pool. An unknown factor stateside, he'll pay around a $40 mutual if he's successful at Churchill Downs. The third Todd Pletcher runner in which I forgot to mention last week is Itsaknockout , who was placed first in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. In his last start in the Florida Derby, he was a no factor fourth beaten 21 lengths. Horses usually don't rebound well off efforts like that in the Derby and look for him to be a rank outsider with a $50 win payout in odds.

Bob Baffert may have the first two betting interests in this year's Derby, but will also have this interesting longshot. One Lucky Dane, was runner-up behind his stablemate last start in the Santa Anita Derby and makes his third start off a layoff. Only one bad race in his career, he looks to be a solid price who will have to improve versus a large field on derby day. Along with aforementioned last horse, the next three horses were runner-up finishers in their final prep races for the derby. Danzig Moon, Tencendur and Stanford all got the place spot in their most recent starts. Two of the three runners (Stanford & Tencendur) held the lead in the stretch, only to be over taken late. Stanford, from the Pletcher quartet has flashed speed in both his two-turn route races. He'll add speed to the mix along with the N.Y. bred runner; Tencendur who was behind Frosted in the Wood Memorial at 21-1.Danzig Moon has the look of a stalking runner and was 15-1 behind Carpe Diem in the Bluegrass Stakes. All three of these runners will be near 30-1 in the odds and were no match for the horses who finished in front of them last out.

We round out the probable field of twenty runners with the rank outsiders in the field who undoubtly will be between 30-1 and 50-1 in the morning line odds. War Story, Mr.Z, Ocho Ocho Ocho, Bolo and Keen Ice haven't impacted any of the recent prep races. War Story couldn't get close enough to International Star in any of the Louisiana prep races and that winner may be 10-1 or better in the Derby. Mr. Z adds speed to the Derby with only a maiden victory to his credit, plus when he tires likes to bare out in the stretch. Keen Ice is another runner with only a maiden win and no early foot. Both Bolo and Ocho Ocho Ocho are still on the fence whether they run, but neither has made a real impact in their prep races.

It comes down to a separation point in the Derby group of twenty runners. The 6 to 12 runners with a legitimate chance to finish in the top three and eight to ten other runners that would like to hit the board at double digit odds. Any way you cut it, the payouts in this year's Derby will have value even if the upper crust runners finish in the exotics.

The final piece ....... of a good looking group of Kentucky Derby contenders

The final piece of the 2015 Kentucky Derby prep trail concludes today with the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. It features American Pharoah, last year's two year old Eclipse award winning thoroughbred trained by Bob Baffert. He has been one of the leading runners since last summer as a juvenile and makes his second start this year as a three year old looking to further his favoritism ranking for the First Saturday in May. He along with last weekend's prep winners; Carpe Diem in the Bluegrass Stakes and Dortmund in the Santa Anita Derby they are the likely top three colts in the betting for this year's Derby. It's been a path of likely winners this year on the Road to the Kentucky with the 23 prep races since January.

Six runners reached the winner's circle multiple times (Dortmund, Carpe Diem, International Star, El Kabeir, Far Right and Upstart). Although, Upstart was placed second after winning the Fountain of Youth for interference with Itsaknockout in the stretch run. Eight of the prep race winners were odds-on at post time, with only four paying double digits and just one (International Star) with a mutual over twenty dollars. The winning payout has been $6.40 making this one of the most formful road of derby prep races in recent years. Unlike the previous when there was a standout Derby favorite or a group of runners that was undistinguishable making a high price favorite, this year's group is a solid bunch of horses that have accomplished a lot so far this year.

The above six mention horses make up the top contenders along with American Pharoah, Frosted, Far Right and Materiality. That's half the Kentucky Derby field with a legitimate shot of winning it all. With a American Pharoah victory today, he could possibly be the post time favorite in three weeks. But, it will be tough to deny Dortmund that status because of his undefeated five race winning streak to begin his career. These two Baffert runners harkens back to 1998 when he had the Derby favorite; Indian Charlie and eventually winner; Real Quiet. So, it 's most likely that he will have the top two horses vying for favoritism once again.

Todd Pletcher may have the most runners entered, but not likely the post time favorite. Carpe Diem and Materiality are his two leading runners with longshots Stanford and possibly another runner from today's Arkansas Derby; Madefromlucky. There are other consistent sorts who have won multiple prep races and may be overlooked. International Star has sweep all three preps at the Fairgrounds and Far Right will try to win his third stake at Oaklawn Park today. Upstart, El Kabeir and Frosted also have danced every dance this winter and spring and can't be discounted. This makes a group of three year old that have been consistent and with an equal shot in many ways, at a variety of prices.

I'm looking at between 5-2 to 3-1 for the post time favorite and possibly a half dozen other runners who will be under 10-1. The longshots for this year's Derby may all be grouped from 15-1 to 30-1. It's doubtful we'll see anything near the 50-1 range in this years field. Like always, the exotic payouts will be good even if those top six runners show up in the final finish. But, one thing is for sure and that is the 2015 Kentucky Derby will showcase the most accomplished group of thoroughbred three year old runners in quite sometime. They're races this year up to this point have bee that indicated and hopefully this group will stay together after the Derby and Triple Crown races. This is a plus for the sport, especially the future. Exciting times are ahead the next few weeks!

The big three preps showcase possible 2015 Kentucky Derby favorite

We have the second round of final three year old prep races today for this year's Kentucky Derby. Last weekend, the winners were among the top betting choices and proving that this year's road to Louisville will have a solid group of contenders without just one or two runners head and shoulders above the others. International Star swept all three stake race preps at the Fairgrounds this winter. A horse who started his career on dirt, he blossomed on the dirt surface in Louisiana under his jockey Miguel Mena. Even with these winning efforts, he'll have to show whether he'll adapt to other dirt surfaces like he had there. His dirt effort at Churchill as a two year old was a no factor even fourth. Also, this runner is a N.Y. bred, trying to follow in the footsteps of the "gutsy gelding" Funny Cide from a decade ago.

The Florida preps wrapped up with the usual group of same suspects and the result mirror the most recent running of the Florida Derby a year ago. The Todd Pletcher armada had a lightly raced three year old in 2014 that did not make his debut until his three year old season. That horse was Constitution, and was the new face upsetting the apple cart one year ago. Unfortunately, he got hurt before the Kentucky Derby and did not race, although has returned as a four year old. This year he has Materiality, who just like Constitution had not raced as a juvenile. And just like last year's Florida Derby, Pletcher had another winner and top Derby contender. This son of Afleet Alex was making his third career start and is now a perfect three for three. With his victory, the Todd Pletcher group of derby contender now stands at five, down one from six when Far From Over, one of the favorites for today's Wood Memorial came up with an injury and is now off the derby trail.

The first of the prep races we'll look at today is the Wood Memorial (10th) at Aqueduct. The mile and an eighth final derby prep in New York has assembled seven evenly matched runners with one proven commodity this winter in New York. El Kabeir (#5) makes his fourth start this year with two victories and a second place finish. The reliable son of Scat Daddy is making his ninth lifetime start overall and does have a win over the Churchill strip last Fall as a two year old. His main danger is the Pletcher runner; Daredevil (#6) shipping up from Gulfstream Park. Two for two on off tracks in his career, he makes his second start of the season after running second in his seasonal debut sprinting in the seven furlong Swale Stakes in Florida. My top selection though, will be a horse who ran good here as a two year old last Fall going this same distance. The Kiaran McLaughlin trained; Frosted (#4) was a sharp second in the Remsen Stakes from the far outside 13 post in that race and also broke his maiden over the strip going a flat mile. Wood Memorial selections : 4-5-6-1.

Eight are entered in the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes (10th) at Keeneland going the same distance also. Today marks the race return to natural dirt for the first time since the polytrack was removed last summer. There is a prohibited favorite here though in Carpe Diem (#5) who won here last Fall in the Breeder's Futurity and has only been beaten once in his career. That was with a wide trip in last year's Breeder's Cup Juvenile behind Texas Red. He's my top Kentucky Derby horse and my top pick here. For second, Classy Class (#7) ships in from Aqueduct after two third place finishes in stake races there, fits well here. I'll round out my triples and superfectas with both Frammento (#6) and Unrivaled (#4) as longshots.

The final major prep we shift to the west coast and Santa Anita Park for their derby (8th) , once again going the same distance on dirt. Here only six are going, with one huge standout in many ways than one. Dortmund (#1) is undefeated in five career starts and shows a special gameness in his victories fighting back when headed by other horses. This son of Big Brown is a rather large imposing horse and could be the favorite at Churchill in a few weeks with a victory today. The two runners who will try to derail him are closer Prospect Park (#5) and Bolo (#4) who will most likely stalk him. I see it a very 1-5-4 chalky finish.

Spanning the globe today for non-stop racing

Last week we had "wall to wall" NCAA Men's basketball games from noontime to midnight. Today we have non-stop thoroughbred action, from the desert in Dubai starting at 8:40 am this morning, until this evening with the Florida Derby at 6:48pm. We'll cover two continents, three major racetracks with a ton of graded stakes races to handicap. It's a smorgasbord of betting opportunities which can yield a cornucopia of results!

We go first to Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates at Dubai for their World Cup card. Starting with the Godolphin Mile (2nd) the selection is American invader; Prayer for Relief (#8) which drops from tougher U.S. stakes competition and turns back in distance to his best effort going a mile two starts back. The Dubai Gold Cup (3rd) is a two mile marathon on the weeds. A field of 14 are entered and the "class" horse draws the far outside, Brown Panther (#14) my top pick. The UAE Derby (4th) may have implications on this year's Kentucky with 100 points on the line for winning this race. It will be tough to go past, Mubtaahij (#1) who won the prep for this race going the same mile and three sixteenths distance is the pick. The Al Quoz Sprint (5th) is a five furlong dash on the weeds that is wide open. I'm with the known quantity here in Casper Netscher (#11) running 3rd losing by a head going this distance here and winner of a turf sprint stake at Woodbine last Fall. The dirt sprint is at six panels, the Dubai Golden Shaheen (6th) a race where American runners often do well, in fact they dominate. The Bob Baffert trained; Secret Circle (#7) looks to break a winless streak dating back to over a year when he won the Breeder's Cup Sprint of 2013, he's my top selection here. The Dubai Turf (7th) is the first of two consecutive races on the weeds. Maybe the widest open event of the day, the Todd Pletcher trained; Mshawish (#3) has won three in a row and gets the call here for me. The Dubai Sheema Classic (8th) is headlined by Horse of the Year finalist and top turf horse in the world currently; Main Sequence (#5) who has been unbeaten since shipping stateside for Graham Motion. With his will to win, I see him tough to beat once again. The feature race of the day is the 10,000,000 guaranteed Dubai World Cup (9th) featuring Horse of the Year ~ California Chrome who draws the far outside post. While he should be the post time favorite, it's the other American runner who I'll be going with. Lea (#5) was gaining late in the grade I - Donn Handicap in his last start and should relish the mile and a quarter race distance.

We also have two major three year old prep races to look at in the southern part of our country. The Louisiana Derby (11th) wraps up the Fairgrounds route to Churchill Downs with a dominate winner of both prep races here in International Star (#9). While he is the "horse to beat", I'll take War Story (#6) to make the third time a charm and turn the tables on him. For second, the afored mentioned favorite and underneath in triples and superfectas; A Day in Paradise (#5) - Keen Ice (#7) - Defondo (#3). Meanwhile, Gulfstream Park showcases their feature race of the meet - the Florida Derby (14th). It's a showdown between Upstart (#9) who was disqualified last start in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and Itsaknockout (#4) who was placed first above him. While either of these two runners can win, I'm going with a new face today, but the same old trainer. Materiality (#7) has had only two career starts and won them both for Todd Pletcher. He's bucking the trend of no Derby winner that was unraced as a two year, but Pletcher had a similar runner last year named Constitution who was also lightly raced and won. The second and third spots I'll go with #9 & #4 plus superfecta adds - My Point Exactly (#6) - Ami's Flatter (#1) - Quimet (#5) in the fourth spot.

A giant legend in our sport ...... The Chief

The thoroughbred racing world lost a legend, a giant in it's sport this past Wednesday evening. H. Allen Jerkens, better known as the "Chief" and also known as the "Giant Killer" past away at the age of 85 in Florida. The youngest inductee to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at age 45 in 1975, he has been a staple in New York racing for decades. This soft spoken, big man trained many great horses throughout the years. His style of training a thoroughbred was a throwback to a long forgotten time. Nowadays, it's hard to appreciate what this man accomplished. Always doing what was best for the animal and achieving the success he did in his career.

I had the pleasure just once to meet the man they called; the "Giant Killer". In 1998 when I started my first year with the Recorder, NYRA brought all the new media people on a special tour of Saratoga Racecourse. That tour included a back stretch trip and on one afternoon when our touring tram stopped by historic Claire Court on Saratoga's barn area, we met the legend. As the tram was making a turn, there was a recognizable figure near the rail who was grazing thoroughbred. That figure was Mr. Allen Jerkens himself, as our tour guide told us over the speaker. Many in our group where younger reporters who weren't that familiar with what this man had achieved in horse racing. But, my keen knowledge of the sport differed from that.

This was the man who upset one of the greatest horses of all time; Secretariat with a horse named Onion in the 1973 Whitney Stakes. This victory named him the "Giant Killer" and soon label Saratoga as the "Graveyard of Favorites". But, Allen was well established long before that victory with multiple victories with his runner; Purple Beau over the great Kelso in 1962. He was 33 years old with those feats and along with his achievements in the early 70's set him up well to become the youngest trainer ever to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame of thoroughbred racing. Later in his career he would train such runners like Devil His Due and Sky Beauty to championship races in the 90's. He still trained horses into 2015 and recently won a stake race at Gulfstream Park just a few week's ago they even named a race after him at the Hallandale oval. The thoroughbred world lost a giant in the history of thoroughbred racing, a void that will certainly never be fulfilled again.

Here's a list of my dozen best three year old runners so far this Triple Crown season. Defects have been quiet until this past week when Texas Red declared from the Triple Crown trail due to foot issues. They are listed in order of achievement this calendar year and with their trainer and next schedule stakes start. 1) International Star (Maker - Louisiana Derby) ~ 2) Dortmund (Baffert - Santa Anita Derby) ~ 3) Upstart (Violette - Florida Derby) ~ 3) Itsaknockout (Pletcher - Florida Derby) ~ 5) American Pharaoh (Baffert - Oaklawn Derby) ~ 6) Carpe Diem (Pletcher - Bluegrass Stakes) ~ 7) Far Right (Moquett - Oaklawn Derby) ~ 8) El Kabeir (Terranova - Wood Memorial) ~ 9) War Story (Amoss - Louisiana Derby) ~ 10) Royal Son (Pletcher - Spiral Stakes) ~ 11) Prospect Park (Sise - Santa Anita Derby) ~ 12) Far From Over (Pletcher - Wood Memorial)

When we last spoke..... the return of ATP for a 17th season!

Previously on ATP (At the Post), we looked at the state of the game and recent racetrack closures. The path NYRA has endured in recent years and it's future will place a load of expectation on the Saratoga meet. We summarized that it will be the public support on track and revenue intake that will determine the future of the sport. We also focused on the fall out of this year's Breeder's Cup Classic, the non-disqualification and when the dust settles, who will be the top thoroughbred of 2014. Fast forward to a new year and with my first column of 2015, we move forward for our 17th year discussing the Sport of Kings, it's leaders both on track and behind the scenes with trends of the public and what the future holds ...... at this moment.

We truly had an "old fashioned" winter, one for the record books. It affected all the east coast tracks right down to Florida. The month of February was the snowiest and coldest in at least twenty years, if not longer. The winter of discontent affected the New York circuit and the inner-track at Aqueduct big time. A record amount of race day cancellations plagued NYRA this winter. Even with the shorten live racing schedule, the amount of lost racing dates will effect NYRA's bottom line this year. Lost revenue will have to be made up and I'm sure NYRA will start to look to ways of getting back the monies lost in various ways. Days that NYRA was supposed to be close during the late winter / early spring meet at Aqueduct will most certainly be made up and even more emphasis will be placed on the Belmont summer meet plus the 40 days at Saratoga. It will be an interesting year for New York racing. The soap opera continues, one that has endure for nearly 15 years. Thoroughbred racing vs. the powers to be in N.Y. state government.

Shared Belief was one of the best juvenile runners of 2013, but foot issues held him back for the early part of his three year old season last year. But, he returned with a vengeance at mid season and remained undefeated headed into the Breeder's Cup Classic. But, a very uneventful start hindered his chances and the undefeated streak was snapped. The controversial disqualification decision was the talk of the racing world after his defeat the public outcry for more uniformed steward decisions, especially in major graded stake races was brought to the forefront.

But the outcome did not stop Shared Belief proving that he is the best older horse in the country so far this year. At the top of his game by winning the seven furlong Malibu Stakes the day after Christmas and defeating Horse of the Year - California Chrome in the San Antonio Handicap impressively, this past Saturday he faced 13 other runners in the historic Santa Anita Handicap going the classic distance of a mile and a quarter. As the 3-10 favorite, he proved that he is the BEST main track horse to come along in recent years by destroying the field under a hand ride. This son gelded son of Candy Ride is now 10 for 11 lifetime and will make his next start outside California, in Arkansas at Oaklawn Park. He made me a believer and the sky is the limit with the Dark Bay gelding.

So, as we start a new season on ATP we pick up on the story lines of five months ago and look forward to the excitement with Shared Belief and a bit of apprehension with the state of thoroughbred racing in New York and the battle that NYRA will have the remainder of the year and the "bottom line" with the state. All this with the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown awaits us, along with the 2015 Saratoga season and the next 38 weeks of ATP (At the Post) will be exciting for me and the weekly readers of this column. Come along for the ride, fellow horse racing fans!