Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 6, 1990 TAG: 9005060091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOUISVILLE, KY. LENGTH: Medium
"He wasn't handling the track well," jockey Gary Stevens said. "I asked him for his best and it wasn't there."
Stevens admitted "it was a lame excuse," but he still pinpointed the colt's uncomfortable feeling on the track.
"That's a lame excuse for any race," Stevens said.
Stevens said he felt even more sorry for jockey Pat Day, who piloted second-place Summer Squall. Day had his third consecutive second-place finish in the Derby.
"To me it's phenomenal to finish second in the last three years," Stevens said. He added that no jockey is snake-bitten and predicted Day's time will come.
"It's only a matter of time before he does get a Derby," he said.
\ Thirty Six Red's fate was decided right out of the gate, jockey Mike Smith said. The colt, known as a fast starter, was a disappointing fifth at the quarter-mile mark.
By that point, Smith said, "usually he's up and gone."
Smith said Thirty Six Red never seemed to be comfortable with the track.
"He scrambled all the way. He just never handled the track one bit. . . . I was worried before I got to the wire."
\ Betting at the 116th Derby was the second-highest in history, and attendance was 12th highest.
A crowd of 128,257 jammed Churchill Downs and bet $14,775,103 on the 10-race card Saturday. The all-time attendance record of 163,628 was set in 1974 and the all-time betting record of $15,490,382 was established in 1988.
A total of $6,948,762 was wagered on Saturday's Derby. The record of $7,346,411 was set in 1988.
\ Forty of the past 82 Derby winners have had first-time trainers. Carl A. Nafzger, trainer of winner Unbridled, followed in that tradition.
"I predicted it. Thank goodness it's over," Nafzger said.
Will Nafzger see victory at the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown? "That's up to Carl. We've been taking things one day at a time," said Frances Carter, owner of Unbridled.
\ Mister Frisky missed a chance to break the North American record for most consecutive victories (16), first set by Citation in 1948. The record for most consecutive victories was 56, by Camarero in 1951, racing in Puerto Rico.
\ Mister Frisky trainer Laz Barrera went by Calumet Farm this week to visit Affirmed, the 1978 Triple Crown winner. Next door was Alydar, the second-place finisher in the 1978 Derby, whom Barrera said began to get jealous.
As Barrera fed Affirmed a few carrots, nearby Alydar "was jealous. I said good . . . because he give me open-heart surgery." Alydar competed against Affirmed, which Barrera trained.
by CNB