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Down and dirty in the Kentucky Derby By George Dickie © Zap2it Crowd, stamina, distance. Thoroughbred racing’s Tri- ple Crown presents a gaunt- let unlike any other in sports, each race posing a separate and distinct challenge for its competitors. In the first leg, the Ken- tucky Derby, horses must contend with a field that can reach as many as 20. This is where post position is critical, as horses starting in 17th or 18th position can find themselves squeezed out of the main pack before the field even sets up. Next is the Preakness Stakes, a test of stamina. Coming two weeks after the Derby, it leaves a rest period about half of what is consid- ered ideal. If a Triple Crown con- tender manages to success- fully negotiate these first two legs, he is then treated to the epic 1 1/2-mile distance of the Belmont Stakes, a length that has been known to frustrate many a Triple Crown bid. preparation is very strong, it’s very tough, and slight injuries where you miss one day of training, or there’s a cough one morning or a high temperature, and you miss one day of training from the first week of the year, it can put a flaw into the prepara- tion for the Derby.” At this writing, there were no prohibitive favorites for either the Derby or the Triple Crown, but the Todd Pletcher-trained Uncle Mo had garnered most of the at- tention before his lackluster third-place finish in the April 9 Wood Memorial. Other horses in contention include Bob Baffert’s The Factor, Kiaran McLaughlin’s Soldat and the Nick Zito-trained Dialed In. As a jockey who won Gary Stevens competes in The 137th Kentucky Derby which airs Saturday on NBC. Add to that the possibility of injury at any point and the fact that fresh horses are be- ing shipped in for the Preak- ness and Belmont, and it’s easy to see why there hasn’t Stutzman MOTOR SALES , INC. 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The three Kentucky Derbies over a 26-year career, Stevens knows the territory well, and he explains that getting out of the gate quickly and with minimal contact is key to any Run for the Roses bid. “I like to break it down into three different spots, and the start of the race is essential,” he says. “If you’re on a horse that needs to be forwardly placed, you want to have as clean a trip as you can early on. And I’ve seen chain reactions hap- pen where a horse gets bumped out in the 12 path and bumps with the 11, and it causes a domino effect all the way down to the one path on the inside fence. And that’s something that, as a rider, if you’re caught Allergies? Asthma? We Can Help! Snoring? Daytime Fatigue? Morning Headaches? Excessive Sleepiness? Yatin J. Patel, M.D. Diplomate, American Board of Pulmonary Medicine You may have sleep apnea. Sneeze & Snooze C L I N I C 2417 South Berkshire, Goshen 574-534-9911 www.md4lungs.com Watch informational videos on our website. Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. down on the inside, you have no control over that. ... So there’s a lot of finger crossing going on, just hop- ing that you get a clean trip in that first section of the race going into the first turn. “And then once you get your position going into that first turn, you just try to switch them off and maintain your position, to keep him relaxed and breathing well and keep as much energy as you can for the final quar- ter of a mile, because that’s where the race is won. “And by that time, you’ve hopefully got your horse set up in a good position, that you’ve got a clear path into the straight, and then it’s ped- al to the metal,” he says. “And you just hope that you’re on the horse with the most gas in the tank at that point.” 13024 US 20, Middlebury • 574-825-2965 GET YOUR CAR READY FOR SPRING BILL’S COLLISION - Oil Change - Brakes Check - Alignments SERVICE Weblinks “Wild Kingdom” airs Sundays on Animal Planet. 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