A lot of people have put us in the winner's circle, but the Derby is the Derby. In addition, Thunder Blitz is owned by Frank Stronach, who operates several major racetracks, including Santa Anita and Gulfstream. The Derby will be without a D. Wayne Lukas-trained horse for the first time since 1980, an unprecedented run that produce four Derby wins for the Hall of Famer. Pincay, racing's career leader in wins with more than 9,100, would be the second oldest jockey to win the Derby. Bill Shoemaker was four months older when he won aboard Ferdinand in 1986.
Point Given has five wins and three seconds in eight starts.
The only horse in the Derby field to finish ahead of him was A P Valentine, back in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 10. Hofmans, one of seven first-time Derby trainers, is not about to concede, either. No one is giving him anything. It's going to be a fight to the bitter end. Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel.