Trainer Paulo Lobo: Big Hopes for Kentucky Derby Prize

Trainer Paulo Lobo will be starting Gayego in the Kentucky Derby. (AP Images)

Several prominent trainers are taking more than one shot at this year’s $2 million Kentucky Derby, and at least two promising young horsemen are taking aim at racing’s biggest prize for the first time.

Eoin Hardy, conditioner of Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John, and Paulo Lobo, trainer of Arkansas Derby victor Gayego, are saddling their first Derby starters and each have a legitimate chance to succeed at first asking. However, if these young California-based trainers are destined to make their first celebrated run to the Derby winner’s circle, they will have to prove themselves in an all-star cast of accomplished horsemen.

North America’s leading trainer Steve Asmussen, who conditioned 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin to a third-place finish in last year’s Derby, has two guns loaded. Pyro set the racing world on fire early in the year before his poor performance in the Blue Grass, and Z Fortune finished a good second to Gayego in the Arkansas Derby.

Two-time Derby winner Nick Zito, who was hoping to have three representatives before the defection of War Pass, will depend on Anak Nakal and Cool Coal Man to bring him his third Derby vase. Bill Mott, a world-class conditioner and veteran Derby participant, saddles Court Vision and Z Humor in an effort to capture his first Derby. Barclay Tagg will put two of his star pupils to the ultimate test, Wood Memorial hero Tale of Ekati, considered a contender, and Tampa Bay Derby winner Big Truck, likely a pretender.

Champion horsemen Todd Pletcher also has a top pair in his hand. Monba and CowboyCal finished first and second respectively in the recent Blue Grass Stakes. Veteran Richard Dutrow, who has been on a roll lately, brings the favorite Big Brown as his lone starter. Larry Jones will attempt to improve Hard Spun’s runner-up position last year with his talented filly Eight Belles. Michael Matz, trainer of 2006 Derby winner Barbaro, has a shot with Gotham winner Visionaire.

A win on Saturday for Harty or Lobo would vault them into some elite company.

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