2020 Kentucky Derby Contender Profiles
By Ed McNamara
The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner looks like one of the few who’s capable of upsetting Tiz the Law.
Honor A.P. – Photo courtesy of ©Benoit Photo
Honor A.P. jockey Mike Smith tells us: “I have a legitimate chance. I think my horse is good enough to win if he brings his ‘A’ game.” A brilliant workout on Aug. 15 at Del Mar (5 furlongs in 59.40 with a powerful gallop-out) improved his case.
To Smith, the loss to Thousand Words in the 1 1/16-mile Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 1 is a throw-out because the distance was too short and because Honor A.P. wasn’t fully cranked up. His pedigree says 1 1/4 miles should be no problem, and he deserves serious consideration as an alternative to the heavy favorite.
Worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 at Del Mar on Aug. 22, eighth fastest of 74 at the distance. One more work before heading to Churchill Downs on Monday.
Each profile will be updated with morning-line odds and post position after the field is drawn on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Odds: TBD
Post position: TBD
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Owner: C R K Stable
Career record: 5-2-3-0
Career earnings: $382,200
Top Equibase speed figure: 106
Kentucky Derby points: 140 (4th)
Pedigree: Honor Code-Hollywood Story, by Wild Rush
Color: Dark bay
Running style: Stalker
Notes: This will be the fifth Derby starter for Shirreffs, who sent out Giacomo (Smith was aboard) to win the 2005 Run for the Roses at odds of 50-1 – among the biggest upsets in the history of the race … Hall of Famer Smith will be riding in a record-equaling 26th Derby – matching the mark held by the great Bill Shoemaker, a four-time Derby winner; Smith has two Derby wins, Giacomo in 2005 and Justify in 2018 … Owner C R K Stable (Lee and Susan Searing) had one previous Derby starter, Candy Boy (13th, 2004).
(US Racing’s Kentucky Derby coverage will include profiles of the horses listed as probable for the race on Saturday, Sept. 5. Each day until the post-position draw on Tuesday, Sept. 1, US Racing will publish selected profiles of the contenders.)
Ed McNamara is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about thoroughbred racing for 35 years. He has handicapped races for ESPN.com, Newsday and The Record of New Jersey. He is the author of “Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown” and co-author of “The Most Glorious Crown,” a chronicle of the first 12 Triple Crown champions.
