Ehalt and Pedulla Try to Crack Derby Code
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California Chrome trains for the Kentucky Derby. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Bob Ehalt and Tom Pedulla
Bob Ehalt and Tom Pedulla became fast friends when they met on their first day at Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1971. Bob soon introduced Tom to the joys of Thoroughbred racing.
They have endured some rough moments at the track, with Tom taking exception when Bob repeatedly smacks him on the back with a program when one of their horses launches an all-out drive. Much to Tom’s chagrin and the amusement of onlookers, Bob has been known to call for security as he proceeds to cash a $27 trifecta.
They have owned a number of horses together and are often seen carrying on at the track as if they never left their teenage years.
Here is their take on the 140th Kentucky Derby:
PEDULLA: Bob, I know how badly you want a price. I know you spend days and nights searching for bombs, horses that will come from nowhere to pay big. Let’s not be guilty of overlooking the obvious, and that is California Chrome.
Watch any of his last four races and you have to come away believing he can not only win the Derby but emerge as a Triple Crown threat. It takes a very good - and possibly great -- horse to sweep four stakes races by a combined 24 1/4 lengths, and yet that is what Chrome has done since the capable Victor Espinoza hopped aboard.
Although there is a ton of speed in here, Espinoza is too smart to be scorched in a speed duel and his mount has shown a willingness to sit off the pace before. Whenever Espinoza decides to go, no horse packs the devastating punch Chrome does. He is going to win. The only question is the margin.
EHALT: Tom, hold on to your hat, even though you don’t wear one.
I completely agree with you. This seems like a weak group to me, and California Chrome is by far the best of them all. I can see him taking charge on the final turn and drawing off to a victory that should electrify and energize the entire industry.
Now, more than ever, this will tell us all we need to know about California Chrome, because if he can win after both you and I pick him, he’s truly Hall of Fame material.
PEDULLA: I liked Hoppertunity for second, then scrambled for another answer when he was scratched with what is believed to be a foot injury. Where I turned will shock you. How about General a Rod for a steak-dinner exacta?
GENERAL A ROD
I know I am stepping out of my chalky character. But I covered the Florida prep races and Mike Maker, a trainer of few words who is becoming increasingly prominent, said all along that General a Rod provided his best chance to date at a Derby victory. He has the speed for Joel Rosario to place him in the first flight and the hard-knocking nature to stay close throughout the mile and a quarter. It only boosted my confidence when he was purchased early this week, valued at a figure much higher than either of us would go for. I am far from alone in my faith in him.
EHALT: Thank heavens I had smelling salts nearby or this story never would have been finished.
YOU, on a 15-1 shot? I’m thinking you went with “A Rod” because you’re trying to relive your younger days of the 1980s when you were a New York Yankees beat writer and would spend your nights on the road clubbing with The Boss, Dave Winfield and Howie “The Horse” Spira, but still, kudos for stepping out of character.
I’ll do likewise, and pick the chalk exacta. I can’t say General a Rod is a bad pick, but my thought is that if California Chrome wins, he’ll put away those who set or chase the pace. So I’m completing my ticket with some closers, starting with Wicked Strong who was too good to ignore in the Wood.
Have to say, it’s mind-boggling: you on a longshot, me on the chalk exacta, and me, who wrote this while wearing a Yankees cap and polo shirt, rooting for a Boston horse. The space-time continuum is definitely going to be tested this weekend.
PEDULLA: The race is really wide open after California Chrome. The consistency of Samraat is too compelling for me to not believe he will crack the top three. He has lost to one horse in his life, Wicked Strong in the Wood Memorial. I am tossing Wicked Strong because he is too high-strung to withstand the pressures of Derby day. Yes, Samraat is stepping up in company. He is more than capable of meeting that challenge.
EHALT: Not bad, but I think Candy Boy will rebound and complete the trifecta. He probably was too fresh in the Santa Anita Derby and was too close to the early pace. He should be more relaxed today and make a late run. He might be a “Boy” but I’m hoping the “Candy” man can.
PEDULLA: I view Intense Holiday as the best of Todd Pletcher’s quartet. He is a significantly better horse at 3 than he was at 2, not finishing worse than third in any of his three starts this year while closing powerfully to win the Risen Star. He and John Velazquez will get the solid pace they need to be charging at the end.
EHALT: With Pletcher 1-for-36 in the Derby, I’ll pass on the best of his bunch. My final choice came down to Ride On Curlin and the aforementioned Samraat, and I’ll take Ride On Curlin, who usually winds up somewhere in the superfecta and has Calvin Borel to offset post 18.
Glad we went in opposite directions at the end. I was beginning to wonder what this world was coming to.
PEDULLA'S PICKS: 5, 8, 6, 16 (California Chrome, General a Rod, Samraat, Intense Holiday)
EHALT'S PICKS: 5, 20, 18, 19 (California Chrome, Wicked Strong, Candy Boy, Ride On Curlin)
$2-million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands
Saturday, Churchill Downs, Race 11, Post Time 6:24
1 ¼ miles, dirt, 3-year-olds
Television: NBC coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET
P#
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
ML Odds
1
1
Vicar's in Trouble
Rosie Napravnik
Mike Maker
20-1
2
2
Harry's Holiday
Corey Lanerie
Mike Maker
50-1
3
3
Uncle Sigh
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Gary Contessa
30-1
4
4
Danza
Joe Bravo
Todd Pletcher
8-1
5
5
California Chrome
Victor Espinoza
Art Sherman
5-2
6
6
Samraat
Jose Ortiz
Rick Violette
15-1
7
7
We Miss Artie
Javier Castellano
Todd Pletcher
50-1
8
8
General a Rod
Joel Rosario
Mike Maker
15-1
9
9
Vinceremos
Joe Rocco Jr.
Todd Pletcher
30-1
10
10
Wildcat Red
Luis Saez
Jose Garoffalo
15-1
11
Hoppertunity
SCRATCHED
12
11
Dance With Fate
Corey Nakatani
Peter Eurton
20-1
13
12
Chitu
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
20-1
14
13
Medal Count
Robby Albarado
Dale Romans
20-1
15
14
Tapiture
Ricardo Santana Jr.
Steve Asmussen
12-1
16
15
Intense Holiday
John Velazquez
Todd Pletcher
8-1
17
16
Commanding Curve
Shaun Bridgmohan
Dallas Stewart
50-1
18
17
Candy Boy
Gary Stevens
John Sadler
15-1
19
18
Ride On Curlin
Calvin Borel
William Gowan
15-1
20
19
Wicked Strong
Rajiv Maragh
Jimmy Jerkens
6-1
21
20
Pablo Del Monte
SCRATCHED