BOY, IT SURE LOOKED LIKE AMERICAN PROMISE GOT OFF TO A GOOD START

 

For its Kentucky Derby open house Saturday, Colonial 

Downs gave away pin-on buttons “I’m Betting on

 American Promise.” At least we had something to show 

for the suddenly, terribly-failed winner of the Virginia 

Derby … who finished 16^th among 19 starters in the 151^st

 Run for the Roses.

Big BOO to NBC for not re-playing the entire race, start 

to finish. Or were we mistaken that the big Chestnut was 

going for the lead only to be sandwiched between 12/1 

Citizen Bull and 38/1 Neoequos about halfway of the 1 

1/4-mile race? There was contact, and from there 

American Promise advanced in the wrong direction, 

never to be in contention again.

Big BOO II to the network’s crack legion of experts … 

for not mentioning it … assuming, of course, they even 

noticed. Or cared … It was, after all, only American 

Promise, trained by Hall of Fame D. WAYNE LUCAS, 

89 ... the son of Justify, last of the Triple Crown winners 

(2018) … who had gone from a tied-for-worst 30/1 shot 

on the morning line to fifth-best 12/1 by post time.

In fact, there was next to no talk about American Promise 

during NBC’s 4 1/2-hour run-up. While everyone who is 

anyone gave their predictions, only two went for A. 

Promise (made but not kept) … U.S. Olympian and 

downhill skier Lindsay Vonn (“… because I love the 

name.”) … and the network’s overly-animated political 

analyst STEVE KORNACKI who, in 2021, was the only 

one to say Medina Spirit would finish first … but was 

later disqualified for having a banned substance that got 

trainer BOB BAFFERT suspended from competing at all 

Churchill Downs-owned tracks for three years.

Of course, they had plenty of time for lame features … 

such as meteorologist DYLAN DREYER quizzing a

 famous couple (never heard of them) about race horses’ 

names and where they came from … and a poorly 

disguised commercial about making a mint julip with the 

bourbon that paid a lot of money to be name sponsor of 

this year’s race. What did soccer-on-NBC’s REBECCA 

LOWE do to deserve that?

Best of the bunch (by far) … a look at favored (4/1) 

Journalism’s trainer MIKE McCARTHY, 54, from 

southern California … and “what he had to overcome to 

get this far was never part of the plan.” … The January 

wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area forced 

McCarthy, his family and a few horses among them 

Journalism to flee … just in time. When he returned a few 

days later, the devastation was remarkable yet his home 

had been spared. “In a strange way you almost feel guilty 

the house is still standing,” McCarthy said.

The more we learned about the field the more we realized 

only a handful of the 19 starters could/should/would win. 

And, to think for weeks after the Virginia Derby was 

contested on dirt for the first time, all we heard was what 

a weak a field it was … and no wonder American Promise 

ran away with it by 7-plus lengths (as a 7/1 mediumshot). 

Heck, BILL MOTT, 72, trainer of Kentucky Derby 

winner Sovereignty, didn’t think his horse had the right 

stuff (stamina), to be competitive … and recommended it 

be withdrawn. Fortunately, the owners didn’t listen.

Then there was Publisher, looking for his first victory 

after seven starts … Or Final Gambit, being tried on dirt 

for the first time … Or Coal Battle, trained by 72 year 

old Lonnie Briley who, in 30 years, has never won a 

stakes race.

Render Judgement, Virginia Derby runnerup, finished 

17^th Saturday. His camp knew he didn’t have a chance … 

and said so in pre-race commentary about late country-

and-western singer TOBY KEITH, who had owned 

Thoroughbreds for a long time but, until now, never had 

one good enough to qualify for the Kentucky Derby 

(which had been his dream)… and they couldn’t, in good 

conscience, not let 16/1 Render Judgement make Keith’s 

racing wish come true. Keith died Feb. 5, 2024 of 

stomach cancer at age 62. 

Next up … second leg of the Triple Crown, the May 17 

Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore … and it was 

announced yesterday that Sovereignty will not be there 

because of a leg injury suffered at the outset of the Derby 

… Both Luxor Cafe, a disappointing 12^th, and Admire 

Daytona (19^th) were scheduled to return to Japan (and 

will not compete in either the Preakness nor the Belmont 

Stakes three weeks later) … Citizen Bull (15^th) went back 

to California, but Baffert’s Rodriguez, pulled from the 

Derby 48 hours from post time ostensibly because of a 

slight bruise, will compete and likely be among the 

favorites … Lucas is expected to have Caldera in the 

field, too. Whether he opts for American Promise remains 

to be seen … Next year’s Preakness will be held at near-

by Laurel Race Course while Pimlico undergoes major 

rennovation.

Until next time ...