Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: Calhoun readies for ‘a wild ride’

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

Trainer Bret Calhoun won his first stakes race in 1997. In 2010, he notched a pair of Breeders’ Cup victories with Dubai Majesty (Filly & Mare Sprint) and Chamberlain Bridge (Turf Sprint). And just last month, his barn passed 3,000 career wins.

Now Calhoun is only weeks away from another milestone, his first Kentucky Derby starter, following By My Standards’ victory Saturday in the Louisiana Derby (G2). And he knows that in this situation, “There’s going to be a lot of attention paid to every move you make.”

“We’ve been in a lot of big races,” Calhoun added Sunday morning. “I think we’ve been able to handle it pretty well. We’ve learned to kind of stay in the middle of the road — not get too high and not get too low. I think that helps us get through times like this.

“We’re excited to be here. I’m sure it’s going to be a wild ride, but I think we’re very prepared for it.”

Last fall, Calhoun openly wondered how he’d fill the void of Grade 1 winner Finley’sluckycharm’s retirement following the Breeders’ Cup. Chester Thomas’ Allied Racing gave him two apt runners in Mr. Money, who ran fourth in the Juvenile, and By My Standards, who was a bit slower to come around.

A son of first-crop sire Goldencents, By My Standards graduated from fourth-out maiden winner to graded stakes hero, going by Todd Pletcher-trained Spinoff for a 3/4-length victory at Fair Grounds.

“Mr. Money was the one we thought a little more of early on, and this horse just kept getting better,” Calhoun said of By My Standards, a $150,000 purchase as a 2-year-old. “He had not gotten to this point until he broke his maiden, and then he kept moving forward. He always showed talent, but he wasn’t this good yet.

“He finally improved mentally and physically. He did what we always thought he might be able to do.”

Calhoun reported that By My Standards exited the Louisiana Derby well, “and that’s the main thing that allows us to continue to enjoy it.” For the first time, Calhoun has a horse qualified to run on the first Saturday in May, and he considers the charge a legitimate contender who should thrive at 1 1/4 miles.

The vans begin departing Fair Grounds for Churchill Downs — one of Calhoun’s main bases — so let the Derby fever set in…

“We’ve had quite a bit of success, and but at the end of the day, this business is all about the Derby,” he said. “I think you can see that — how Churchill Downs has continued to grow based on the Derby and Derby week — and it’s such a focus for most of the owners in this industry, too.

“It could be a game changer for us.”

Derby links

• We’re not done yet this weekend. Ahead of Sunday evening’s next prep, run down all you need to know about the Sunland Derby.

• Trainer Mark Casse reports War of Will was “much improved” on Sunday morning after the Louisiana Derby favorite suffered an injury early in the race.

• The news isn’t so fortunate for another Derby trail player. Gunmetal Gray suffered an injury Sunday that requires surgery.

• Was there a bigger winner Saturday than By My Standards? Results heavily flattered Hidden Scroll, writes Reinier Macatangay.

In case you missed it…

Saturday’s Derby Daily report took an early look at next weekend’s prep fields, the Florida Derby (G1) and UAE Derby (G2).