Anybody who has been involved in this glorious game for an extended period of time quickly comes to realize that things never go too well for very long. Thankfully, things also never go badly for very long either and that is what gives everyone hope.
Just a short week ago the farm were readying to watch a full four WinStar runners enter the Derby starting gate. They were not simply in the race, but all arriving with “live” form and legitimate chances to bring down the top prize.
Days later came word that Rule simply was not training like himself, and the decision was made to withdraw him. Then on the morning of Derby entries, Endorsement was injured while going through his final Derby preparation-a half-mile in 47.2.
And so WinStar enters the 2010 Kentucky Derby with two exceptional colts in American Lion and Super Saver. American Lion arrives at Churchill with a confidence-building win in the Illinois Derby (Gr.2) where, making his initial start on a dirt track, he easily led from start to finish. It was quite obvious that the son of WinStar stallion Tiznow relished the switch to dirt and he now has a chance to build on that success on the biggest stage of all.
Super Saver on the other hand is very familiar with a dirt surface, and specifically the same Churchill Downs racetrack he will see on Saturday. This colt set a stakes record when winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last fall and his form has been rock solid in his two Derby preps. There is plenty of rain in the forecast for both Derby eve and Derby day but this should not bother the WinStar homebred in the least as evidenced by his 7-length maiden win at Belmont Park last September.
