Black Onyx More Than a Dark Horse

It's that time again, but I am oh, so very far behind in my blogging about the Kentucky Derby this year, I have fixated upon ORB and not given much thought to the other 19 in the full field of 20 , even though Verrazano has his eye on the garland of roses, too.

A full field of 20, headed by favored ORB and unbeaten VERRAZANO, will contest the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby Saturday at Churchill Downs:

BLACK ONYX will start from the No. 1 position

Kentucky Derby
Purse: $2 million; 1 1/4 miles; Grade 1
PP, Horse, Jockey, morning-line odds
1. Black Onyx, J. Bravo, 50-1
2. Oxbow, G. Stevens, 30-1
3. Revolutionary, C. Borel, 10-1
4. Golden Soul, R. Albarado, 50-1
5. Normandy Invasion, J. Castellano, 12-1
6. Mylute, R. Napravnik, 15-1
7. Giant Finish, J. Espinoza, 50-1
8. Goldencents, K. Krigger, 5-1
9. Overanalyze, R. Bejarano, 15-1
10. Palace Malice, M. Smith, 20-1
11. Lines of Battle, R. Moore, 30-1
12. Itsmyluckyday, E. Trujillo, 15-1
13. Falling Sky, L. Saez, 50-1
14. Verrazano, J. Velazquez, 4-1
15. Charming Kitten, E. Prado, 20-1
16. Orb, J. Rosario, 7-2
17. Will Take Charge, J. Court, 20-1
18. Frac Daddy, V. Lebron, 50-1
19. Java's War, J. Leparoux, 15-1
20. Vyjack, G. Gomez, 15-1
also-eligible
21. Fear the Kitten, A. Garcia, N/A
Track odds
Post time: Saturday, 6:24 p.m. Eastern
All starters carry 126 pounds
Television: NBC, 4-7 p.m.

Breeder: Cloverleaf Farms II (Ky.)
The sales history of Black Onyx is one of the more unique and appealing of this year’s Kentucky Derby contenders, as owner Sam Herzberg (Sterling Racing) bought the striking dark bay or brown Rock Hard Ten colt for $125,000 at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale.  Black Onyx is out of the winning Cape Town mare Kalahari Cat. He is a half-brother to stakes winner Francois and Grade 2-placed Quality Council. Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Desert Stormer and Group 1 winner White Moonstone are notable family members.

Why I like this colt:  BLACK ONYX is a dark bay colt by ROCK HARD TEN (who finished 2nd in the Preakness in 2004).  I like this colt because I love dark horses, and speaking of upsets, is it not sweet that BLACK ONYX  made his stakes debut and ran himself right into the Kentucky Derby discussion last month when he drove to a 15-1 upset under Joe Bravo in the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park (in my hometown of Florence, Kentucky)?