In what is being touted as one of the deepest Derby fields in years, this 127th running features colts purchased by an NFL owner, a college basketball coach, a former All-American basketball player, a sheik and a prince. 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. Zito said, referring to his 15-1 shot who finished fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes. Hofmans, one of seven first-time Derby trainers, is not about to concede, either.