Horse Racing Fantasy Community

What happens when a horse has the ability to be a genuine contender in the Kentucky Derby, but lacks the graded earnings to get into the field?

It is a question that is placed to owners, trainers and gamblers just about every year. Often times the horses excluded from the Kentucky Derby did not belong anyway, but genuine contenders have been denied an opportunity to starts on a few occasions.

In 2004, late developing three-year-old Rock Hard Ten broke his maiden at Santa Anita on February 7; won an allowance on March 3 in his two turn debut; then finished second in the Santa Anita Derby before getting DQ'd to third for drifting through the stretch.

The DQ meant only $90,000 in graded-earnings compared with $180,000.

Rock Hard Ten was excluded in Kentucky, but showed he was one of the better 3-year-olds of his crop with a second-place finish behind Smarty Jones in the Preakness.

In 2007, Chelokee battled foot problems late in his two-year-old season before winning a March 3 allowance. The colt was then a troubled third in Florida Derby after getting completely shut off in the stretch.

His $100,000 in graded-earnings were not enough, although the colt was better than most that ran in Kentucky. His lack of entry also denied trainer Michael Matz the chance to return under the Twin Spires a year after the whole Barbaro ordeal.

Drosselmeyer is the bubble horse this year, but his story is more interesting, as his connections are taking a proactive approach compared with picking another spot.

WInStar Farm and trainer Bill Mott plan on running Drosselmeyer next weekend in the G2-Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on three weeks rest, but giving him only two weeks to recover for the Kentucky Derby.

The son of Distorted Humor finished third in the Louisiana Derby last out, but jockey Kent Desormeaux was full of praise for the colt. after his third-place finish -- beaten a length -- by Mission Impazible.

"I had tons of trouble," said Desormeaux. "If I get through I win by three and I'm the favorite for the Kentucky Derby."

Drosselmeyer is owned by Win Star Farm, one of the premier breeding establishments in Kentucky. They have made winning the Derby a priority and are expected to have numerous starters this year. Rule, Endorsement and Super Saver are among there potential starters.

But this is the one for me and he checks all boxes of a serious contender.

Drosselmeyer is a son of Distorted Humor, one of the premier sires in the world and the producer of Funny Cide, a Derby and Preakness winner. The female family is equally strong, as Drosselmeyer's dam is the top class Golden Ballet, winner of the G1-Santa Anita Oaks and over $700,000 in career earnings.

Drosselmeyer's running style is perfect for Derby success. This colt is most effective when he lays in midpack and comes off the bridle on the backside. The energy he saves during the middle of the race in converted into his powerful finishing kick. He has a beautiful way of going, with a long effortless stride that gives the impression this colt will run all day.

Despite a lack of graded earnings, this colt is well seasoned. He will have eight races before the Derby, all of them going at least 1 1/16th miles. He also broke his maiden by six-lengths at Churchill Downs late in his two-year-old season, so no excuses about not handling the surface.

If you are not inspired by Eskendereya at 3-1 or Lookin at Lucky at 5-1, here is a horse you can support, and you get to see him one more time this weekend in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.

And if you need any more of a reason to think to support Drosselmeyer, the Lexington Stakes was the final Derby prep for Charismatic in 1999 before his upset win under the Twin Spires two weeks later.

Keep in mind the word upset in generally used in it's current form due to Upset's surprise victory over Man o'War in a 1919 horserace.

Betting on horses teaches one to expect the upset. This year's version is a horse named Drosselmeyer.