5/5/06
Last updated: 5/4/06 7:39 PM
<p align="center"><i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">DERBY THEY SAID IT</font></b></i></p>
</p><p><p align="center"><b><font face="Arial" size="2">MAY 4, 2006</font></b></p>
</p><p><p>"We talked about taking the 14 or 15 post this morning. So we are just a
</p><p>little bit farther out. When I heard this morning we were picking 16th (in the
</p><p>selection process), it got to me a little bit and I was upset, but by the time I
</p><p>got back to the barn and thought about it a little bit, I was fine with it. I
</p><p>was afraid that we might wind up in (post) 1, 2, 3 or 20. It didn't work out
</p><p>that way at all. I have to be realistic about this and I can't be complaining.
</p><p>It's the Kentucky Derby. The greatest race in the world, and I am here with one
</p><p>of the favorites. How can I be upset?"</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>Trainer Dan
</p><p>Hendricks on Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) winding up
</p><p>in post 18</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"He likes to be outside. The 15 (post) would have been ideal, but it was
</p><p>taken. I'm happy. I did not want to be trapped down inside. There is a lot of
</p><p>speed to the inside of us, and if we can follow somebody, we will be in good
</p><p>shape."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Trainer Bob
</p><p>Holthus on Arkansas Derby (G2) winner LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) in post 17</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"Sinister Minister is a speed horse. After we took the 4, I thought maybe we
</p><p>should have taken the 11. He will probably be your pacesetter. We're in it now.
</p><p>There's nothing we can do about it."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Trainer </strong></em></font>
</p><p><em><strong><font face="Arial" size="2">Bob Baffert on selecting post 4 for Blue
</p><p>Grass S. (G1) winner SINISTER MINISTER (Old Trieste)</font></strong></em></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"It went perfect for me. I like there is a lot of speed inside of us. I was
</p><p>surprised Sinister Minister did not take the 11 (post) when he had the chance."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Trainer Dale
</p><p>Romans, who chose post 9 for Swale S. (G2) winner and Florida Derby (G1)
</p><p>runner-up SHARP HUMOR (Distorted Humor)</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"They (Sinister Minister, Bob and John and Point Determined) have three
</p><p>different styles. I think post position is who's next to you. I'm happy with Bob
</p><p>and John. If they don't break, it doesn't matter what hole they're in. If the
</p><p>horse is ready to run, if they have class, they'll get there."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—</strong></em></font><em><strong><font face="Arial" size="2">Baffert
</p><p>on Wood Memorial S. (G1) winner BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold) in post 7 and
</p><p>Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up POINT DETERMINED (Point Given) in post 5</font></strong></em></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"I don't think there are many bad draws. There are two key match-ups -- Keyed
</p><p>Entry (Honour and Glory) (in post 3) and Sinister Minister (post 4), Lawyer Ron
</p><p>(post 17) and Brother Derek (post 18). You've got two sets there next to each
</p><p>other that have the same style."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—</strong></em></font><em><strong><font face="Arial" size="2">Baffert
</p><p>on the outcome of the post position draw for the Derby field as a whole</font></strong></em></p>
</p><p><p>"(Jockey) Edgar (Prado) didn't want to be far outside. No. 8 is the best
</p><p>place for him to get where he wants to be."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Trainer Michael
</p><p>Matz on unbeaten Florida Derby winner BARBARO (Dynaformer) in post 8</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"I was going to go for the one, but (jockey) Robby (Albarado) said he'd
</p><p>rather be in the two. It didn't matter; I just wanted to be inside. I do like it
</p><p>that the two horses outside of us are speed horses. And the one inside is not.
</p><p>It should be perfect."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Trainer Dan
</p><p>Peitz on Arkansas Derby runner-up STEPPENWOLFER (Aptitude) in post 2</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"In fact, it's hard to predict how a race like this will unfold, so the idea
</p><p>is post positions can get a little overrated. It looks like there is a lot of
</p><p>speed in the race, but with 20 three-year-olds going 1 1/4 miles, we've all seen
</p><p>cases where the jocks take a hold and if that happens, who knows what is going
</p><p>to happen going into that first turn. So you just do it as it comes up."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Trainer John
</p><p>Shirreffs, who saddles San Felipe S. (G2) winner A. P. WARRIOR (A.P. Indy) (post
</p><p>10), discussing the value of post positions</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p>"I'm frustrated we didn't get in. I don't look back on the decision not to
</p><p>run in the Lexington (S. [G2]) because that was not going to put us with the
</p><p>horse in the right frame of mind to run back in two weeks. I thought that was
</p><p>our only move. Sometimes those things work out for the best. I'd say the most
</p><p>likely scenario is we'll go to the Peter Pan (S. [G2]) on May 20. We'll see what
</p><p>happens Saturday and go from there."</p>
</p><p>
</p><p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Arial"><em><strong>—Trainer Todd
</p><p>Pletcher on Florida Derby third SUNRIVER's (Saint Ballado) failure to draw into
</p><p>the field because of insufficient graded stakes earnings</strong></em></font></p>
</p><p></div></body></p>
