Derby has a 'Certain' pick
HOT SPRINGS -- This time around, jockey Kent Desormeaux and trainer Leo Azpurua Jr. are on the same page.
Desormeaux will ride the Azpurua-trained Certain in the $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park Saturday. Certain is the 7-2 third choice among the seven 3-year-olds and he's the only one of the top five that has a familiar rider.
Desormeaux was aboard Certain when he was third, beaten a length, in the Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 20. And, he was the rider when Certain was fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Florida Derby on March 13.
"He rode him two different ways," Azpurua said. "He has his own ideas about the best way to ride the horse and so do I and, thankfully, this time we agree."
In the Fountain of Youth, Certain was slightly off the pace. "he made a big run and I was very pleased," Azpurua said. "In the Florida Derby, that was the game plan ..."
Azpurua and others expected Valid Trefaire to open a big lead. Instead, Valid Trefaire only lasted a half-mile.
"We were going to lay a little bit off them," Azpurua said. "When they went to the three-quarter pole, the only horse that was there was Cat Thief. There was a decision to stay off the pace or go after Cat Thief and we went right after Cat Thief."
They were one-two for a long time and finished three-four. Vicar and Wondertross pursued the leaders and wound up one-two.
Wondertross and Vicar are the morning line favorites in the $750,000 Blue Grass Saturday at Keeneland.
Azpurua said Certain's best races -- the What A Pleasure, for instance -- came when he was a few lengths behind the early leaders.
"I'm going to leave how the race develops to Kent," he said. "It's a game plan but once that gate opens, that's why they're there -- the ability to make the decision."
He likes the fact that Desormeaux and Certain have been together. "It's always good to get a jockey two or three races before the big dance (Kentucky Derby) if you're lucky enough to go," he said.
Certain and the others will try to do enough Saturday to convince their connections that they belong in Louisville on the first Saturday in May.
"It's a wide open event," Azpurua said. "Before it was always West Coast, West Coast, West Coast."
He said Certain was also nominated for the Blue Grass but that the Arkansas Derby was an obvious choice because owners Bush and Jo Williams live in Little Rock.
The lack of major races in California on Saturday freed many riders and they are scattered throughout the Arkansas Derby field. Alex Solis will ride 2-year-old champion Answer Lively, the 2-1 morning line favorite. Pat Day rode Answer Lively in his last two races -- both close seconds in Louisiana.
California-based Gary Stevens will be on Ecton Park, the 5-2 second choice. Shane Sellers was aboard Ecton Park when he won the Risen Star on Feb. 21 and was third by a neck in the Louisiana Derby.