Rousing Sermon confirmed for the Kentucky Derby by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
Jerry Hollendorfer has come out and said that the 3-year-old colt he trains called Rousing Sermon will make the starting gate of the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on 5 May, 2012, and added that he has yet to decide on the jockey to
ride along the California Cup Juvenile winner.
Owned by breeders Larry and Marianne Williams of Idaho, Rousing Sermon was shaping up to be a real threat in the Kentucky Derby prep races after some impressive runs in difficult races as a juvenile, but with some lack luster performances as a sophomore,
Rousing Sermon dropped on the charts dramatically as new players emerged and took his place.
Though, Rousing Sermon has there about, because he hasn’t finished worse than 3rd in 8 starts, with a lone fifth place finish in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes in his penultimate race.
The California bred won the California Juvenile Cup on 29 October, 2011, defeating Motow Men and Stoney Fleece, who finished second and third, respectively.
The son of Lucky Pulpit, broke his maiden at first asking over the Hollywood Park’s cushion track on 5 June, 2011, and then finished third in the Graduation Stakes and third again in the I’m Smokin Stakes, as both races took place at Del Mar over the venue’s
synthetic surface.
Back to Hollywood Park’s cushion track, Rosuing Sermon landed back to back second place finishes in the Real Quiet Stake and the $1 million CashCall Futurity Stakes, which really helped him in amassing enough graded stakes earnings without winning one.
Kicked off the 2012 season with a third place finish in the Grade 2 Robert. B Lewis Stakes, and then his last race reaped a third place finish as well in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Oaklawn Park, which shot his graded stakes earnings to $404,000.
“It could be a race with a little more speed than usual,” he said. “These are not everyday opportunities to run in America’s best race.”
Rousing Sermon goes as a closer, and with pace in this year’s Kentucky Derby, the 3-year-old colt could have a fair chance of winning the race.
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