First Samurai Wins Fountain of Youth on Disqualification

Kentucky Derby Betting Favorite May Not Get Derby Distance

Kentucky Derby future book play First Samurai was moved up from second to first to win the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, but he certainly did nothing to convince you he could win the 2006 Kentucky Derby at a mile and a quarter. Corinthian on the other hoof, despite being disqualified from first and placed third, stamped himself as a definite contender on the first Saturday in May and as a solid Kentucky Derby future book bet.

Getting away to an uncontested lead and setting soft early fractions of 23.86 and 48.30, First Samurai still held a length advantage after six furlongs in 1:12.36. Entering the stretch, Corinthian, who had been rating three-wide, moved to challenge the leader but lugged in after passing the eighth pole in 1:36.05, brushing and bothering First Samurai, forcing that one to steady and move to the outside. Corinthian then opened a short but clear lead, but as First Samurai came back at him from the outside he started to drift out, bothering First Samurai again.

Despite strong right-handed urging from jockey Javier Castellano,Corinthian continued to drift out through the drive, carrying First Samurai out, who in turn carried third-placed finisher Flashy Bull out. At the wire it was Corinthian by a length over First Samurai, who was a neck in front of Flashy Bull. The final time for the mile and an eighth was 1:49.

While there was no question that Corinthian had to be disqualified from first for bothering First Samurai, his antics probably didn’t warrant him being placed third behind Flashy Bull, who was never going to win the race and who was not bothered enough to warrant his movement from third to second. Corninthian should have been placed second.

More interesting was the fact that while First Samurai was bothered sufficiently by Corinthian to warrant the disqualification, he was never going to beat that rival. When he did remount a challenge from the outside, Corinthian simply found another gear to pull away late.

Taking nothing away from First Samurai, who to his credit did come back again late, he simply won’t be able to get the mile and a quarter of the Kentucky Derby at full speed, especially without an easy lead. Will he try all the way? Sure. Will that be good enough to win the Derby? No. He’s a good horse who tries. That’s it.

Trained by Frank Brothers and ridden by Edgar Prado, First Samurai returned $3.40, $2.60 $2.20 as an underlay. A multiple Grade 1 winner by Giant’s Causeway-Freddie Frisson by Dixieland Band, First Samurai earned $330,000 for the victory, increasing his career earnings to $1,042, 575 from a record of 5-1-1 in seven starts. Flashy Bull returned $6.20 and $3.80 to place and show while Corinthian returned $4.00 to show.

If you’re looking for a solid future book bet on the Kentucky Derby, Corinthian is worth a good look. The son of Pulpit-Multiply by Easy Goer, was making only his fourth lifetime start in the Fountain of Youth and was really never in doubt. To make the jump in class from allowance to graded stakes and handle seasoned competition in his first try is a true mark of quality.

At this point, Corinthian may not quite ready fitness wise to handle Brother Derek, who romped home in the Santa Catalina-G2 at Santa Anita on Saturday, but with another race under his belt, he might just be the Derby horse to beat.

To top it all off, you have one of the best young trainers in the world at the Corinthian helm in Jimmy Jerkens. The son of Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens learned his lessons well while working for his famous father – whom some regard as the best thoroughbred trainer in the history of the sport.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Corinthian show up wearing blinkers in his next start, which could make him an even better bet. Regardless, we won’t argue with the Jerkens clan – who have been beating up on the sport’s elite with former claimers and allowance horses for almost 50 years.

And we do so love an underdog.