NBC Sports will once again offer comprehensive reporting on the 5 million US dollar in Kentucky Derby on Saturday and the $ 1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks, the Premier race for 3-year-old Stutfalen the day before.
The OAKs will be worn on Friday at 1 p.m. ET by Churchill Downs from the USA Network. On Saturday, fans can accommodate all action under the Twin spines by adjusting to NBC from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on NBC, which leads to the planned 6:57 PM et derby post. The audience can also stream the shows on Peacock, nbcsports.com and the NBC Sports app.
The experienced analyst Randy Moss will again play an outstanding role for NBC to set the stage for the opening stage of the Triple Crown and later describe how the 1 ¼ miles competition was won. Moss helped to separate candidates during a question and response session carried out on behalf of America's best race.
Pedulla: The Hall of Fame Trainer Mark Casse and Jockey Jose Ortiz each are looking for their first victories in Kentucky Derby. Can Sandman provide that?
MOSS: Absolutely. He is one of the horses that should be on the compact list of everyone. He definitely had a perfect pace in the Arkansas derby for his running style. But the chances are that he will receive a similar facility in the Kentucky Derby.
Pedulla: Does the mile and quarter-distance sovereignty proved itself?
MOSS: I think it does. From day one, he looks like a horse in all races of sovereignty that will do better when the distances become longer. His family tree does not necessarily scream one and a half miles. The superstallion of sport is obviously at the moment in mischief and it can meet with it. But the only thing that has shown sovereignty is that the mile and a quarter shouldn't be a problem for him at all.
Pedulla: Which horse do you see as a coach Bob Baffert's best hope?
MOSS: None of the above. I think [Stakes] in front of it. This can give something to what Baffert said about the horse that is not in the top top. In view of the pace that will probably develop in the Kentucky Derby, it is probably not in favor of Citizen Bull or Rodriguez.
Pedulla: Does Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. have a shot to win a second derby in a row when he drives Burnham Square?
MOSS: Burnham Square, his running style is supported by the expected quick pace in the derby. From the perspective of a handicaping, I didn't particularly like his blue grass piles. I know he won. He was hardly able to get up in a race in which the East Avenue asked the gate to catch the East Avenue after the opening gate. For a potential winner of the Kentucky Derby, in view of the way the blue grass developed, I would have a significant victory. … this is one of the reasons why I don't put Burnham Square on my compact list of top derby competitors.
Pedulla: Is coal battle more than a sentimental favorite?
MOSS: I think what is something about what [trainer] Lonnie Briley said that the coal battle was a little too aggressive while running the Arkansa Derby and maybe put in a heated pace a little early. After saying that, the extent to which he emptied in the last Furlong gives me how he will avoid the miles and a quarter in another rapid race. It would be a wonderful, wonderful story if the coal battle would win. I think it's the best feel -good story that goes into the Kentucky Derby.
Pedulla: Can the Maiden publishing house Hall of Fame coach Steve Asmussen allow its first Derby victory to achieve?
MOSS: Absolutely. I think publisher goes in the right direction. Although he has never won a race, his Arkansa's derby was a robust race. He has to take another step forward, but the way he has trained, as he has broken since the Arkansas derby, seems to indicate that it further improves. Its delayed style will be an advantage.
Pedulla: Is East Avenue a mystery to you?
MOSS: Not really. When he won the breeders of the breeders in Keeland, he did it with an early lead. Everyone expected that he set the pace in the breeding cup youth, but he basically fell on the head when the start gate ruined the strategy at the front and completely. He came back in the risen star [Stakes]He was taken to the top by the order of magnitude and tried to evaluate him from the pace, and he ran badly. It turned out that he could be one of these one -dimensional horses that need early leadership from its best side. So he was definitely driven when the start gate opened in the blue grass. He was as strenuous as a horse in the early part of this race with the intention of getting the lead.
Pedulla: Is the American promise good enough to give the legendary 89-year-old coach D. Wayne Lukas another derby?
MOSS: This horse is a huge, handsome chestnut. He will definitely be one of the best-looking horses in the Kentucky Derby field. He took a nice step forward in the Virginia Derby. It was an inspired choice of racing by Wayne Lukas. I can't say that he has no shot. He was visually impressive in this race. The level of competition in this race was definitely a cut under the graded preparatory races, which we later saw. He will have to improve, but he has the look and he looks like he is going in the right direction.
Pedulla: How do you see Japan's hopes for his first derby victory with Admire Daytona and Luxor Café?
MOSS: Luxor Café does not look as robust for me last year as forever newborn or even Derma Sotogake two years ago. Nevertheless, he is a more arduous horse to measure for us because forever boy and derma Sotogake drove in the Middle East before they came to the USA. They drove on the same race card as American horses with an established form, so it was easier for us to get a line for these horses before they came to the Kentucky Derby. The Luxor Café has never ran out against horses with which we are familiar with. Admittedly, it is a little blurred to find out how good the Luxor café is.
Pedulla: What about Admire Daytona?
MOSS: His efforts in the VAE derby were inferior, based on what he has to do to win the Kentucky Derby. He also went into the derby of the VAE derby wire and wire and that is not the type of running style that will facilitate his chances in the Kentucky derby.
Pedulla: Would you agree that Japan is approaching a historic derby triumph?
MOSS: It will happen and it will probably happen sooner than later.
Pedulla: Can you give me a living long shot?
MOSS: Grande, the second -placed finisher in the Wood Memorial [Stakes] Behind Rodriguez. Grande was wide in the first round, he was a little far in the second round. Rodriguez was able to control the pace. It was not particularly brisk and yet Grande was able to take a nice step forward and ended strongly to take second place. I think that gives him a shot to be in the mix in the Kentucky Derby at a nice price.
Pedulla: Finally, who do you like to win?
MOSS: At the moment I think it is pretty clear that journalism is head and shoulders over the other horses. For me it is better two to three lengths than the rest of the field.
