As the anticipation for the 2013 Kentucky Derby reaches the home stretch, there is no shortage of buzz coming from the biggest contenders from Churchill Downs.
While it'd be oft to expect any sort of groundbreaking news coming out this close to the race, it's still an important time for fans and bettors to ensure the well-being and preparedness for whatever horse they support or have put money on.
On Wednesday, Orb was schooling into the paddock received a scare when a nearby truck lift turned its engine on, according to Jerry Bossert of the New York Daily News.
After being startled, Orb reportedly kicked the back of his stall but did not suffer any injury, trainer Shug McGaughey claims.
It's not uncommon for such a huge race to make a participant's stomach a bit heavy, but top contender Verrazano is apparently taking that to a whole new level. According to the Connecticut Post, Verrazano isn't eating as of late.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has five horses in Saturday's race, thinks everybody is trying to make something out of nothing.
"Really? He's about as big as Mike (Rapole, one of Pletcher's owners). Honestly, everybody saw our horses train (Thursday). I don't know what else I can do. Verrazano breezed 59.2 the other day and everyone acted like it was a bad work."
Pletcher is undoubtedly frustrated at the bad luck his top contenders have had in the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby. Each of the last three years, Pletcher has had a big favorite not get to the race for various reasons.
This horse's trainers couldn't have expected the morning line to be huge in their favor, but it's no secret they're disappointed with how Itsmyluckyday was represented in the latest odds.
Despite going into the Florida Derby earlier in the year as a 7-5 favorite before being upset by Orb, Wednesday's line revealed Itsmyluckyday has just 15-1 odds to win the "Run for the Roses," according to this Times Union article.
For a horse that has five wins in 10 career starts and was the overwhelming favorite at Churchill Downs before losing the Florida Derby, this type of betting line is an insult to say the least. Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. wasn't happy with it, and acknowledged a big reason for the horse's defeat earlier this season.
"You've got a person making odds on what he sees on paper. Does it hurt a little bit? Yeah. But life is what it is. Is he getting the respect that maybe I feel he deserves? Probably not."
"The Florida Derby, as much as I would have liked to win it, that's not what I'm here for. I look at this horse (now) and say I've done the right thing. He's doing great. I wouldn't trade him for any horse in the race."
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