ENDORSEMENT Gets the Nod

Saturday's Run for the Roses seems to favor ENDORSEMENT, who is owned by WinStar Farms and trained by Shannon Ritter.  

A former jockey, Ritter is known as an expert horse whisperer and that will come into play at the Derby, especially as she communicates with jockey Robby Albarado about the colt's particular quirks and peculiarities.  With the mud that is sure to be a factor, it will be imperative for horse, rider and trainer to be in synch with one another. 

Out of the A.P. INDY mare CHARMED GIFT, this son of DISTORTED HUMOR stayed under the radar until this year. He ran only one race as a 2-year-old, but started edging his way into the winner's circle, placing second in January, first in February, then pulling ahead of CONVEYANCE to decisively win the Grade III Sunland Derby in late March.

What I like about this horse:  No female trainer has ever won the Kentucky Derby. For that reason alone, I will be rooting for ENDORSEMENT come late Saturday afternoon. 

(Courtesy of Photos by Z - you can see 
Shannon Ritter working the colt at Keeneland just a few weeks ago :)