140TH KENTUCKY DERBY

One-hit wonder or more?

Danza on quest for validation

Exercise rider Dana Barnes takes Kentucky Derby entrant Chitu for a morning workout at Churchill Downs Thursday, May 1, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Exercise rider Dana Barnes takes Kentucky Derby entrant Chitu for a morning workout at Churchill Downs Thursday, May 1, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Lightly raced Danza was an unexpected big hit in Arkansas, but will the confounding chestnut colt have the same ratings in Kentucky?

The answer comes today in the $2 million Grade I Kentucky Derby for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Probable post time for the 140th Kentucky Derby, the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, is 5:32 p.m. Central. NBC will provide live coverage of the 1 ¼ -mile race (3 p.m.-6 p.m.).

Danza, among 19 horses scheduled to run in the Kentucky Derby, is coming off a stunning 4 ¾ -length victory in the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 12 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

Named after actor Tony Danza - star of the 1980s hit sitcom, Who’s the Boss? - Danza was making just his fourth career start in the Arkansas Derby and second since August. It was his first race around two turns.

Danza earned a career-high 102 Beyer Speed Figure, a performance rating that is a product of how fast a horse runs, modified by how fast the surface was on that given day.

Outside of today’s 5-2 morning line favorite California Chrome, who has recorded four consecutive blowout victories, Danza’s performance in the Arkansas Derby was as good, if not better, than any other Kentucky Derby prep.

So less than three weeks after going off 41-1 in the Arkansas Derby, Danza was made the 8-1 co-third betting choice on the Kentucky Derby morning line.

“I’ve seen a lot of people picking Danza, and a lot of people who think he’s a no-hoper,” New York-based freelance writer Teresa Genaro said Friday morning. “I won’t be surprised if he runs well, but have to wonder whether his relatively short price is due to actual confidence in his ability or because no one else is standing out.”

Other Oaklawn-raced horses scheduled to start today are Arkansas Derby runner-up Ride On Curlin and Tapiture, who finished fourth in the race.

Ride On Curlin and Tapiture both entered the Arkansas Derby with much stronger resumes, yet were no match for Danza.

“He’s a colt that we’ve always thought a lot of,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Danza. “I think if you look at his form, he’s never run anything but good races.”

Danza immediately showed promise last summer in New York, winning his July 12 career debut at Belmont Park before finishing a closing third, beaten a half-length, in the $200,000 Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes on Aug. 11 at Saratoga.

Danza didn’t race again at 2 after coming out of the Saratoga Special with a “little issue” involving a knee, said Aron Wellman, president of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which owns the Street Boss colt.

Danza resurfaced March 1 at Gulfstream Park in Florida in a first-level allowance/optional claimer at 7 furlongs. In what would be his audition for the Arkansas Derby, Danza finished third, beaten 7½ lengths over a speed-favoring surface.

“Timing is everything,” said Joe Bravo, Danza’s jockey. “That’s why really good handicappers go back and watch races.”

Bravo said Danza “gained so much ground” in the stretch of the Saratoga Special that he was in front two jumps past the wire of the 6½ -furlong race.

“He ran a winning race that day,” Bravo said. “OK, he didn’t run a great race in his first race back this year. Every horse needs kind of a stepping stone before they really get good. That’s how I took it before I went to Arkansas.

“All the dominoes fell in line really nicely for us and we got there.”

Danza was a forward factor throughout the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, receiving a ground-saving trip, after breaking from the rail. Danza drew post 4 today.

Bravo rode Danza for the first time in the Arkansas Derby and said the colt is tactical and can be placed anywhere during a race.

But at the moment, Danza is simply a one-hit wonder.

“I watched his Arkansas Derby again yesterday,” Genaro said. “I think I’d be more surprised if he runs poorly than if he runs well.”

Arkansas’ Derby connections

DANZA Surprise winner of the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 12, going off at 41-1 odds at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

Today’s race will be Danza’s second start around two turns.

TAPITURE Winner of the $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 17 at Oaklawn Park.

Second in the Grade II $600,000 Rebel Stakes on March 15 at Oaklawn Park and fourth in the Arkansas Derby.

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Sports, Pages 19 on 05/03/2014

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