Some of the greatest riders in the game have never won the Kentucky Derby. For John Velazquez (Eskendereya), Robby Albarado (Noble's Promise), Garrett Gomez (Lookin At Lucky) and Corey Nakatani (Dublin) - will this year be the year?
What motivates you to get up in the morning? For guys like Garrett Gomez, Corey Nakatani, Robby Albarado, and John Velazquez it is the hope that this year will be the year that they win the Kentucky Derby. The coveted Holy Grail of horse racing doesn’t come easy. Many have come close only to fall short. Jockeys like Kent Desormeaux have had the good fortune of winning multiple times. It is absurd to suggest that failing to win the Run for the Roses makes a jockey less capable, but it is a feather in the hat that they all want. Let’s take a look at the aforementioned jockeys that haven’t won the big one on the First Saturday in May.
Garrett Gomez - At the age of 38, the native of Arizona has won just about every race you can imagine. Among his best wins is the Pacific Classic (four times), Travers Stakes, Breeders Cup Sprint (twice), Breeders Cup Mile, and Breeders Cup Ladies Classic. Gomez has won a total of 9 Breeders’ Cup races. He has been the leading earner among jockeys every year since 2007.
Gomez fell short in 2009 aboard Pioneerof The Nile when he finished second in the Kentucky Derby behind super long shot Mine That Bird. Gomez had high hopes for Pioneerof The Nile after dominating the competition on the Southern California circuit. He even gave up the mount on the highly regarded Dunkirk to ride Pioneerof The Nile. It appears at this point in the process that he will be aboard Lookin at Lucky in this year’s Kentucky Derby. ‘Lucky was last seen narrowly winning the Rebel Stakes over a leg weary Noble’s Promise. He has lost just once. That defeat came when he finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. This could finally be the year for Gomez.
Corey Nakatani - Love him or hate him, this guy is quite an accomplished rider. He has won the Hollywood Derby (three times), Santa Anita Handicap (three times), Breeders Cup Sprint (four times), Breeders Cup Distaff, and Breeders Cup Mile, among many other races. 2009 wasn’t the year as he rode Square Eddie. It appears in retrospect that the colt was over the hill at that point. He had a live mount for the 2008 Kentucky Derby when he piloted Colonel John. It wasn’t to be as Colonel John finished sixth behind a much the best Big Brown.
If winning the Kentucky Derby is something that Nakatani wants, and it is, then he has hooked up with the right trainer. D Wayne Lukas has taken the Run for the Roses four times. Nakatani has the call for his top prospect this year, a colt named Dublin. The son of Afleet Alex won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes during his two-year-old campaign. His last race resulted in a third place finish in the Rebel Stakes. Lukas has high hopes for the colt. There are very few trainers that Nakatani would be better off working with. Perhaps Dublin’s second Grade 1 will come in the Kentucky Derby with Corey Nakatani in the irons.
Robby Albarado - It’s a shame that Curlin wasn’t quite seasoned enough or this jockey might not be on this list. Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008, Curlin finished third in the Kentucky Derby before narrowly winning the Preakness Stakes next out. Most of Robby’s best wins came aboard Curlin, namely the Breeders Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup. Albarado also came close to winning the Run for the Roses aboard Steppenwolfer in 2006 when he also finished third. His best hope for 2010 appears to be the always game Noble’s Promise. The son of Cuvee won the Grade 1 Dixiana Futurity at Keeneland during his juvenile campaign.
John Velazquez - Last year appeared to be the year for Johnny V who had the mount on Florida Derby winner Quality Road. However, Quality Road wouldn’t make it to the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby due to quarter cracks. He is in an even better position this year with the mounts on Fountain of Youth winner Eskendereya, and Delta Jackpot winner Rule, who finished third in the Florida Derby. He won his first Triple Crown race aboard Rags to Riches in the 2007 Belmont Stakes. Velezquaz has 4,000+ career wins including 7 triumphs in Breeders Cup races. I doubt he will ever have a better chance to win the big one than he does this year with the call on two of the best colts in training.
I have a strange feeling that one of the previously mentioned riders will get to taste victory at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby this year. The win will be a reward for a career of hard work. The ones that don’t get it done have nothing to be ashamed of though. George “The Iceman” Woolf guided Seabiscuit to a victory over War Admiral in the Pimlico Special. He also took Preakness, Metropolitan Mile, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Santa Anita Derby during his career. Woolf never took the Kentucky Derby in nine tries. He remains immortal among jockeys despite that fact.
By Ryan Patterson - GradedStakes.com, Special to Horse Racing Nation.