2014 Kentucky Derby: Hoppertunity And The Curse Of Apollo
***Editor's Note - Hoppertunity was scratched this morning out of the 2014 Kentucky Derby due to a foot issue.
It was a rainy Derby day in 1882, a young gelding by the name of Apollo was guided swiftly by his jockey weaving through tiring horses. Jockey Babe Hurd and Apollo was now nose-to-nose with the 4-5 favorite Runnymede in the final 200 yards to the wire. Digging deep through the mud, with a breath-taking drive Apollo beats the favorite that day by a body length. Though it has been 132 years from that raining day more than a century ago; Apollo’s name is revisited each year, and we are reminded once again about one of the oldest curse in sports.
For most who follow horse racing Apollo’s name is brought up every year on the road to the Kentucky Derby. It’s called the Curse of Apollo, in which no horse has won the Kentucky Derby without racing as a 2-year-old since Apollo in 1882. Whether you are superstitious, or just use this bit of information as a handicapping angle in picking your winner; each year talented horses who have not raced at two have succumbed to this “so-called” curse.
There is one colt in this year's Kentucky Derby field by the name of Hoppertunity, who did not race last year, and falls in the shadow’s of Apollo. Since 1937, fifty-eight horses have tried to break this trend, but none have succeeded. The most recent was the talented Bodemeister (who was also trained by Baffert) who came in 2nd in 2012 Derby. Hoppertunity’s first race was not until January 4th, and you may ask what difference would it be if a horse ran on December 31st vs. January 1st since it's a day apart, but to the Curse of Apollo it matters, and each year we all wonder if there’s going to be that one special colt that finally end things for good, or at least for the time being.
Hoppertunity has a very good chance to “prove this curse wrong”. This Baffert trainee has been campaigning since January 4th and has not missed a beat. He will stay at a 1 ¼ and has already faced several horses in this race that he appears better than. He has that grind-out running style which does well in a large field for the Derby. In the Rebel Stakes-G2, he relished the sloppy track, and handled a rough run in a fierce battle to the finish. He was crowded and bumped by other horses, but showed no fear and won the race.
He still had much left in the tank after passing the wire. In the Santa Anita Derby, he received a triple-digit Beyer speed figure; which is one of only seven colts in the field that possess this speed figure in their last race. After passing the wire, he still had lots left in his tank, and the race appeared to be a “get ready race” for him after finishing second to California Chrome. Hoppertunity could be sitting on a big race as he was not pushed to catch up to California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby. Maybe he was meant to run his “A” game on Derby day? He’ll have one of the best-experienced jockeys guiding him through traffic, and his form could improve on a muddy track.
Hoppertunity is tough, will show up, and give a solid performance. Still a 2-year old, he’ll be turning 3-years-old four days after the Derby. Although he has only 2 races under his belt he seems to be improving at the right time.There are many racing fans who believe that he can overcome the three biggest obstacles: Apollo’s curse, being a May foal, and having only two races.
Will this be the year that the curse is put to rest? Or will Hoppertunity become another victim of the Curse of Apollo?