Last January, long before Barbaro won the derby, trainer Michael Matz was asked if he knew where the name Barbaro came from, he called to his assistant, Peter Brette. “Hey, Peter, what does the name Barbaro mean?” he asked. Brette didn’t hesitate with his answer: “Kentucky Derby winner.”
This year the question is how do you pronounce Ravel? Is it ravel, the opposite of unravel, or ruh-VELL, like the composer? We will make it easy on everyone and just pronounce it "Kentucky Derby Winner".
Demi O'Byrne answered the question though for us. Ravel, that's his name," bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne confirmed Saturday at Santa Anita, saying it like the composer instead of the opposite of unravel. "We'll have to have a talk with Mr. (Trevor) Denman (the track announcer)."
Ravel is the son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. His broodmare sire is AP Indy. A $950K KEESEPT'05 purchase, he is owned by Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith, and trained by Todd Pletcher.
He is currently 2 for 3 with a win in yesterday's 9f Sham Stakes. He now holds the faster beyer in a route by any 3yr old this year.
What makes this horse scary is that he has only been on the track 3x. His first effort on the dirt was yesterday, and it looks like he is going to be tough to beat on any surface.
Look for him to be one of the top 3 choices in next week's Pool 1 Kentucky Derby futures.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
TCT's Derby Top 15
Well we have finished the first round of preps for the derby, and we learned a few things. Ravel is a very serious racehorse with a derby pedigree, Nobiz Like Shobiz continues to impress but is no sure thing, and horses are coming out of everywhere. Here are the rankings.
1) Ravel- Son of a derby winner, with a triple digit beyer in a 9f race in his third career race, this horse looks like he could be a great one. Not only is he fast, but he is gritty with a stretch dual win over a very good horse. He is the one to beat right now.
2) Hard Spun- He drops a spot, not because of anything more than the emerging monster at the top of the list. Hard Spun got sick too, which doesn't help, and his change of plans might not hurt him, but can't be very happy having a sick horse this time of year.
3) Nobiz Like Shobiz- Another impressive win, but he still green and it is getting late in the game. If the light doesn't go off in his head soon, it might never go off. Still might be the most talented one out there. Is it time to switch to a tier 1 jockey? The Derby isn't run on the grass.
4) Exhale- This horse owns the top beyer with a 104 in an effortless performance. He should stretch out and he looks to be the one everyone is going to have to worry about.
5) Street Sense- Only two preps? If it wasn't with a Kentucky Derby winning trainer we would say toss him, but he has a huge beyer and win over Churchill. Two preps does hurt him though.
6) Any Given Saturday- The real darkhorse. It is possible Tiz Wonderful was just better than everyone on this list and Any Given Saturday was just beaten by a great horse. Another bullet in Pletcher's loaded gun.
7) Liquidity- Ran a huge race against our number 1 horse, but he doesn't like to win.
8) Great Hunter- Not much new to report, a solid horse with a solid chance.
9) Soaring By- Ran a huge race an put up a very nice beyer yesterday in his first race in 8 months. He was 3 wide the entire way and probably needed the race, but his maiden win was no fluke. If he can move forward, watch out.
10) Spin Master - Who is this horse? He had an ideal trip yesterday, but he beat two very good horses and his pedigree looks mighty similar to a recent Kentucky Derby winner still in training. And we aren't talking about Giacomo.
11)Circular Quay
12)Lawrence the Roman
13)Notional
14)Day Pass
15)Birdbirdistheword
1) Ravel- Son of a derby winner, with a triple digit beyer in a 9f race in his third career race, this horse looks like he could be a great one. Not only is he fast, but he is gritty with a stretch dual win over a very good horse. He is the one to beat right now.
2) Hard Spun- He drops a spot, not because of anything more than the emerging monster at the top of the list. Hard Spun got sick too, which doesn't help, and his change of plans might not hurt him, but can't be very happy having a sick horse this time of year.
3) Nobiz Like Shobiz- Another impressive win, but he still green and it is getting late in the game. If the light doesn't go off in his head soon, it might never go off. Still might be the most talented one out there. Is it time to switch to a tier 1 jockey? The Derby isn't run on the grass.
4) Exhale- This horse owns the top beyer with a 104 in an effortless performance. He should stretch out and he looks to be the one everyone is going to have to worry about.
5) Street Sense- Only two preps? If it wasn't with a Kentucky Derby winning trainer we would say toss him, but he has a huge beyer and win over Churchill. Two preps does hurt him though.
6) Any Given Saturday- The real darkhorse. It is possible Tiz Wonderful was just better than everyone on this list and Any Given Saturday was just beaten by a great horse. Another bullet in Pletcher's loaded gun.
7) Liquidity- Ran a huge race against our number 1 horse, but he doesn't like to win.
8) Great Hunter- Not much new to report, a solid horse with a solid chance.
9) Soaring By- Ran a huge race an put up a very nice beyer yesterday in his first race in 8 months. He was 3 wide the entire way and probably needed the race, but his maiden win was no fluke. If he can move forward, watch out.
10) Spin Master - Who is this horse? He had an ideal trip yesterday, but he beat two very good horses and his pedigree looks mighty similar to a recent Kentucky Derby winner still in training. And we aren't talking about Giacomo.
11)Circular Quay
12)Lawrence the Roman
13)Notional
14)Day Pass
15)Birdbirdistheword
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