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Derby morning barn notes

Minus a favorite, Lukas still likes Derby chances

McNamara: Price is wrong to bet Pegasus

Cronley: Living the Derby high life



Barn notes: Hope reigns for jockey, owner


LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- If Hal's Hope isn't the colt your heart and money rides with for two glorious minutes on Saturday, that's OK. But if the Florida Derby winner pulls off such an improbable Kentucky Derby win, the moisture in your eyes better resemble two mini saunas.

 
  Trainer Harold Rose talks with reporters outside his barn Monday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Not just for the ultra-lovable, 88-year-old Harold Rose, whose love for his dark bay beauty helped him recover from a major heart attack and quadruple bypass last year. But also for the man on the mount, Roger Velez.

Never mind that the Miami-born jockey is a 43-year-old Derby rookie. For Velez, being here at The Downs is the culmination of a journey that looked inevitable in the early '70s, and then absolutely out of the question in the '80s.

One of the top jockeys in New York throughout the '70s, Velez seemed destined for years of greatness at places named Churchill Downs, Pimlico, Belmont Park, Saratoga -- you name it. Instead of following up victories at the Whiney Handicap (1976) and the Matron (1978) with mounts on the most prized 3-year-olds, the grips of alcoholism got to him, and he hit "rock bottom" during the '80s and early '90s.

It wasn't until a close female friend of his was on her deathbed in 1992 that Velez finally made a pledge to stop drinking and, consequently, get back into his first love -- horse racing. Now, some eight years later, he feels as though the Man Upstairs has decided to give him his last big break.

"This is my last chance," says Velez. "It's been 20 years in the making. And we're all very upbeat."

Derby Dollars & Cents
Parking anyone?: Churchill Downs lost about 450 parking spaces due to the widening of nearby Central Avenue. That puts smiles on the faces of residents on Haywood and Rodman, who usually can make up to $1,500 by filling their lawn with 10 cars at $50 a piece on Derby day and a little cheaper throughout the two-week festival. According to The Kentucky Derby Festival, the two-week period through this Saturday, will have a $60 million impact on the city of Louisville.

It?s official, now buy it: With every major sporting event comes a barrage of officially-licensed products. This year?s specialties include the 126th Kentucky Derby table cover with napkins for $40; a Kentucky Derby Nicole Miller scarf for $85; a limited-edition Churchill Downs replica birdhouse for $195; and a Peter Max signed poster for $200. SME Design of New York designed the logo and has a contract for the Derby logo through 2003.
Derby glasses & Pegasus pins: The popular souvenir is the Derby glass, which of course is filled with the Derby drink, Mint Julep. The first Derby glasses from the early 40's are the most valuable and range in price from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on their condition. Pegasus Pins are plastic pins that cost $2 and are used as admission tickets to various Derby Festival events. The first pin, issued in 1973, has fetched up to $800.
Technology "on track": Horse racing soon will be benefiting from race tracking technology by 2002, according to Jaan Janes, VP Sales and New Development for Sportvision. The company that invented the First and Ten technology (yellow line in football broadcasts) is currently pitching their "RACEf-x" tracking system to auto racing leagues and broadcast rights holders for the 2001 season. The system will allow the fan to track their favorite cars through a unique highlight or glow color and will also feature a virtual race track in the corner of the screen with the highlighted cars and their position on the track. How soon will this technology reach horse racing and the Kentucky Derby? Janes says it could be there within the next two years, but it depends on how the routine-oriented and superstitious trainers and jockeys receive the news that their horse will have to wear a tracking device.
Jockeys in the Derby: According to the most recent NTRA statistics, eight out of the top 10 earning jockeys will be in Saturday's Derby. Anees jockey Corey Nakatani leads the group with 2000 earnings of over $5.7 million. Jockeys that have made over $4 million include Captain Steve rider Robby Albarado, Jorge Chavez on Exchange Rate, Kent Desormeaux on favorite Fusaichi Pegasus and High Yield veteran rider Pat Day. Lanfranco Dettori, Chris McCarron and Jerry Bailey round out the richest jockeys in 2000 that will be racing in this weekend. McCarron and Pat Day are the only two jockeys in the history of the sport to have earned over $220 million throughout their careers.
-- Darren M. Rovell
Special to ESPN.com

Fittingly enough, Hal's Hope isn't simply just another horse to Velez. He believes they have a special relationship that includes a lot of talking. Yes, talking.

"It's amazing with Hal's Hope, he's such a smart horse," says Velez, who has three daughters with his wife, Patti. "I talk to him as soon as I climb aboard him every morning, just to let him know it's alright and everything is going to be OK."

Velez says the horse -- which has only had Velez aboard as a jockey -- responds to him in many ways, but nothing compares to what happens down the backstretch.

"When I say, 'Hal, switch!' his ears twitch back and forth," says Velez, outside of Barn 42 on Friday morning. "ABC even got a shot of it for its broadcast. After the twitch, he takes off."

When Hal's Hope jumped up on its hind legs on Thursday, onlookers thought they were seeing a Fusaichi Pegasus imitation. Not to worry, says Velez.

"No, I know what it means when he does that. It means he's happy. He just loves when he has an audience."

Running out of Post 4, the son of Jolie's Halo will run in what Velez believes is an open race.

"Only one horse [Fusaichi Pegasus] looks great, but it will come down to the final turn and who has the lead," says Velez. "That's what separates the men from the boys. I'm hoping that they'll let this little black horse from the backyard take the lead."

If he does, look for plenty of ear twitching. And if the 20-1 shot pulls it off, expect lots of soak-stained hankies invading your television screens.

REG-GIE! REG-GIE!
Mr. October has suddenly become the main man for a trainer who has every reason to be dubbed Mr. May. Former New York Yankees star Reggie Jackson delighted the crowd on Friday morning at the backside as the guest of Bob Baffert. Making his first appearance at the Derby, Jackson really has enjoyed himself.

"We met when he was at a Yankees game in Anaheim and he invited me to come out here," says Jackson, who arrived at dawn with Baffert. "I'm kind of a rookie at this. I had a job for 20-something years during the Derby, but I've always watched."

Wearing the garb of the famous Las Vegas golf course, Shadow Creek, Jackson was very intrigued about what goes on in the barn and on the track during the early morning. The attention to detail of Baffert and total commitment to his horses really has impressed the Hall of Famer. The person he really wants to meet, though, is ABC's Dave Johnson, the legendary race caller.

"He's the one I'm always interested in, and that's why I watch the Triple Crown," says Jackson, who now works for Compaq. "His calls down the stretch really make it exciting. I remember one year (1997) when these two horses [Baffert's Silver Charm and Gary Capuano's Captain Bodgit] were running neck and neck down the stretch and his call was simply unbelievable. Those things get me excited."

Does this whole spectacle compare to the World Series?

"It does for a jockey," says Jackson, who Baffert kidded by saying, "He's here looking for a date." "For him it's much like the final shot in an NBA Final or an at-bat in the sixth or seventh game of the World Series. I say that because he only has his moment for two minutes. I can tell you, that moment goes by fast."

Enough, already
As the only female trainer in Derby 126, Jenine Sahadi has felt the wrath of the press more than anyone. So it's understandable that she wants Saturday afternoon to come as quickly as possible.

"I'm so exhausted, so I'm not even nervous," says Sahadi, who galloped The Deputy a mile and one-quarter on Friday morning. "I've prided myself on attending everything, but that means my day runs from six in the morning to past nine at night. And I haven't been sleeping all too well.

"Adrenaline will carry me through tomorrow."

Sahadi, who will be only the 10th woman to saddle a Derby starter, will school her Irish-bred colt in the Churchill Downs paddock on Friday afternoon during the Kentucky Oaks card.

"The horse is doing great," says the 37-year-old, who is one of the few trainers here with just one horse. "We'll be ready."

Doubling up at Churchill Downs
Three trainers have placed horses in both the Kentucky Derby and Friday's Kentucky Oaks for fillies. Todd Pletcher, who has four horses in the Derby (Trippi, Graeme Hall, More Than Ready and Impeachment), will run two entries in the mile and one-eighth classic (Circle of Life and Eden Lodge) while Bobby Frankel and D. Wayne Lukas will run one filly each.

The Derby/Oaks double has been completed three times in the same year. The last to pull the trick was Ben A. Jones back in 1952, after accomplishing the same feat three years earlier. The only other trainer to win both in the same year was H.J. Thompson in 1932.

Jockeys have had much more luck, doubling up six times in the Derby and Oaks. Jerry Bailey was the last to do it in 1993 with Sea Hero (Derby) and Dispute (Oaks). He aims to do it again this year, riding Cash Run in the Oaks and War Chant on Saturday.

For the last time
You're probably still getting it wrong. It's Foo-Sah-EE-Chee (Fusaichi) Pegasus. Even trainer Neil Drysdale has trouble getting that tongue twister out of his month -- especially with an English accent.

"My interpretation is probably the same as yours," he said while laughing. "I've probably said it a few different ways. Sometimes I just call him the colt."

They said it
Reggie Jackson on whether he'd ever buy a horse: "I buy race cars and airplanes, not horses."

Cot Campbell, president of Dogwood Stable, which owns Trippi and Impeachment, on his horses' odds: "The horses don't know who the favorites and longshots are, and I won't be betting."

Bob Lewis, the owner of two Triple Crown near misses (Charismatic and Silver Charm), and two entries in Derby 126 (High Yield and Commendable) on High Yield's outlook: "I'll say this, he really has that charisma. Or, should I say, Charismatic."

Ken McPeek, trainer of Deputy Warlock, on why a bettor should throw some cash on his horse at 30-1: "Because the pace is going to be fast and a closer is going to win. I've got the closer."



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