Times wires
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nobody wanted to be No. 1.
No. 20 wasn't too popular, either.
Dialed In avoided both — the inside rail and far outside — at Wednesday's post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby.
He was made the 4-1 favorite for Saturday's race after drawing the favorable No. 8 post, prompting owner Robert LaPenta to cheer. Uncle Mo was the second choice in a full field of 20 horses.
Ten horses have won from the No. 8 position; the last, 50-1 shocker Mine That Bird two years ago.
"It's a big thing, and he deserves it," two-time Derby winner Nick Zito said of his horse's favored status. Dialed In has won three of four career races.
Three times in the past seven runnings the favorite has worn the garland of roses, most recently Big Brown in 2008.
"So far, so good," Zito said. "If he has another couple of good days we'll be happy. Things are doing all right."
Things haven't been quite so right for Uncle Mo, who drew the No. 18 post, three slots from the outside. The colt is being treated for a gastrointestinal infection, which was blamed for his stunning first-ever defeat in last month's Wood Memorial.
Owner Mike Repole has said if Uncle Mo isn't sufficiently recovered, he won't run in the 1¼-mile Derby. Trainer Todd Pletcher, however, said Uncle Mo might be able to win at less than his best.
"But we're committed to bringing him over there at 100 percent, anything less than that, we won't accept," he said.
Uncle Mo, last year's 2-year-old champion, jogged a mile around the dirt track at Churchill Downs and later stood in the starting gate to familiarize himself with the surroundings. He is scheduled to gallop today.
"I've always said I think he's the best horse of his generation," Pletcher said. "We proved that last year and identified what we thought was the reason for the poor performance in the Wood. I think if he shows up and he's the Uncle Mo from the Breeders' Cup or the Champagne or even the Timely Writer, he's the horse to beat."
Uncle Mo would have to overcome history. One horse since 1900 has come out of the No. 18 hole to win, Gato Del Sol in 1982.
Still, Pletcher and Repole were relieved to have avoided the rail.
"We had this overlying fear we were going to get the 1," the trainer said. "Once it was anything besides that, we were happy."
JOCKEY HURT: Jockey Robby Albarado was hospitalized for treatment of a facial injury after his mount tossed him off before the third race at Churchill Downs. Albarado was aboard Smoke'n Al when he got thrown forward and the horse stepped on him during the post parade.