Ramon Dominguez likely to take up Hansen for the Kentucky Derby leaving Alpha hanging
Godolphin’s 3-year-old colt, Alpha, is already a top contender for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on 5 May, 2012, but like many contenders for the Derby, Alpha is too going through a jockey dilemma for the Kentucky Derby.
Julien Leparoux, who rode Daddy Nose Best for eight times out of his 10 career starts will be without his jockey going into the Kentucky Derby, but for Daddy Nose Best it could be a good thing because veteran Hall of Fame jockey, Mike Smith, has agreed to take up the ride for the Kentucky Derby.
Similarly, Alpha has been ridden by Ramon Dominguez in his last 3 starts out of his 6 career starts, and the last three has been the best races for Alpha, will part ways with the Kiaran McLaughlin colt, because Ramon Dominguez would likely take saddle on the 2-year-old champion, Hansen, who is also this weekend’s favourite for the Grade 1, $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
For Alpha’s first three starts Alan Garcia rode the Kentucky bred colt and broke his maiden at first asking at Saratoga, and then finished second in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park to winner Union Rags over a mile.
Garrett Gomez rode the colt once, and it was the only off the board finish Alpha had in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, where he finished 11th on the day.
Ramon Dominguez this year took up the ride on Alpha and immediately downed the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct racetrack at about 1 mile and 70 yards.
Staying at Aqueduct, the pair easily won the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at about 1 1/16 miles on 4 February, 2012, with a winning time of 1 minute and 44.23 seconds, but their last race together before the Kentucky Derby was a second place finish to Gemologist in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial.
“We’ll wait until what Ramon and his agent Steve Rushing decide, and (if they choose Hansen) we’ll put six or eight names out there and talk to Simon Crisford about who he prefers,” McLaughlin said. “It’s hard to say until after Saturday when we know who is available. We might just wait. Those six or eight names might be open Sunday and still might be there two weeks from Sunday.”
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