Trojan Nation Will Run In Kentucky Derby

He may be winless in six starts but on Tuesday the connections of Trojan Nation confirmed that Wood Memorial runner up Trojan Nation will start in the Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs.

In many ways, the Kentucky Derby qualification system was set up to keep horses like Trojan Nation out of the race. But he’s qualified fair and square, earning 40 points from his second place finish behind Outwork in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. His 40 points have him in 19th place in the qualification standings and with the top twenty horses qualifying for the race he’s in. Announcing the decision to run Trojan Horse in the Derby trainer Paddy Gallagher quipped: “I’m sure there’s horses getting a lot more press than this guy, but that’s all right.”

Trojan Nation has 8 more points than the next four horses, all with 32 points. That’s Mo Tom, Fellowship, Adventist and Laoban who are in 20 through 23rd place. Mo Tom has more earnings in graded stakes races so he’s in and the other three horses are out–at least for the time being. In the most recent Kentucky Derby Futures Betting odds update from the Wynn Las Vegas they had Trojan Nation listed at 40/1. That’s better than a couple of horses that have qualified for the race including Oscar Nominated (50/1) and Tom’s Ready (60/1). Of course a less impressive reality–Laoban and Adventist are also 40/1 and Fellowship 35/1 despite not having qualified for the race.

Breeder/owner Aaron Sones says that he could shock the world: “He’s really bred to go the Derby distance, and it was really always mine and Paddy’s plan to get him to the Derby starting back in March of last year when he showed up at Paddy’s barn. Paddy’s very conservative, and of course we have to do what’s best for the horse and keep him happy and healthy. Knock on wood, he keeps getting better every day, and we’re going to give it a shot.”

Nyquist remains the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, listed at 4/1 in the most recent Wynn Las Vegas future odds. The Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, May 7th at Louisville’s iconic Churchill Downs race track.