Dullahan Keeps It In The Family, Overcomes Hansen in the Bluegrass Stakes

Half brother to 2009 Derby winner MINE THAT BIRD, DULLAHAN, a chestnut colt surged ahead of the undefeated white horse HANSEN yesterday at Keeneland to win an exciting finish to the Grade I Bluegrass Stakes.  HANSEN arrived in second place after leading nearly wire to wire.  His tail had been dyed Kentucky blue for the race and the Keeneland stewards cracked their collective rules whip and insisted the horse not have a blue tail, but for HANSEN to be completely roan/white/gray, his natural markings.  It's all about Jockey Club rules and the sport is as old as King Tut, you'd think the trainer or someone on Team Hansen would've known that...but anyway, they had to get the blue color out of the colt's tail just before the biggest Derby prep race yet...then he got beat.  

DULLAHAN, son of EVEN THE SCORE, sped up the pace in the closing furlongs, and it's reported today that he's just fine and dandy today after his second graded stakes win.    The proud breeders of the Kentucky-bred are Phil & Judy Needham and Bena Halecky.  He runs for Donegal Racing, trained by Dale Romans and ridden by one of the greatest, Kent Desormeaux.  DULLAHAN loves the polytrack, so it will be interesting to see how he takes to the good ol' dirt track at Churchill.  


With GEMOLOGIST winning last week in the Grade I Wood Memorial, he's also ensured a spot in the Derby starting gate along with DULLAHAN and HANSEN.  [btw There are more of these uninformative but sort of interesting blogs to come about other Derby contenders.  I can't help it, I started blogging about Derby contenders when I first began KimmyVille, and so the tradition goes on:].  

Derby has always been a Holiday in our home.  
I have many quite fond memories of mint juleps and quarter bets and lots of excitement throughout the race.  Nobody fights on Derby day, no gifts to buy, nobody has to do anything but score some good mint, and sit back and enjoy all the wonder and glory that is the Kentucky Derby.  

Amy Owens and I before the big race 2011 :)

However, this year, as in the past few, I'll be at the Downs, enjoying the benefits of press passes and access to just about anywhere ... but until then, I'm enjoying the pre-Derby show, there's a horse named DADDY LONG LEGS who will probably also be in the Run for the Roses. I can't wait to find out about him!


peace,
Kimmy