Racing fans around the globe remembered the late Barbaro’s birthday Sunday and there was even a celebration in his honor at Delaware Park, where he broke his maiden as a 2-year-old in 2005.
While all Thoroughbreds in the Northern Hemisphere share Jan. 1 as the date they officially become a year older according to The Jockey Club, not all of the Derby contenders have actually reached their third birthday by their foaling date as we approach the first Saturday in May. The vast majority of horses gearing up for this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) are three, but three contenders were foaled after May 5, and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Dominican will celebrate his third birthday on Oaks day, the day before the Derby.
Below are the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby, and their foaling dates:
Horse (State bred) – Foaling Date
Any Given Saturday (KY) – Jan. 29
Bwana Bull (KY) – March 18
Circular Quay (KY) – Feb. 26
Cobalt Blue (FL) – Feb. 12
Cowtown Cat (KY) – April 22
Curlin (KY) – March 25
Dominican (KY) – May 4
Great Hunter (PA) – March 31
Hard Spun (PA) – May 10
Imawildandcrazyguy (FL) – Feb. 23
Liquidity (KY) – March 21
Nobiz Like Shobiz (KY) – Jan. 29
Reporting for Duty (KY) – May 12
Sam P. (KY) – Feb. 27
Scat Daddy (KY) – May 11
Sedgefield (KY) – Feb. 19
Stormello (KY) – March 31
Storm in May (FL) – Feb. 3
Street Sense (KY) – Feb. 23
Tiago (KY) – March 8
Teuflesberg (KY) – Feb. 3
Xchanger (FL) – April 24
Zanjero (KY) – Feb. 25
The three youngsters who won’t be three come Derby day? They are: Hard Spun (May 10), Scat Daddy (May 11), and Reporting for Duty (May 12). The oldest runners are Nobiz Like Shobiz and Any Given Saturday, who were both foaled in Kentucky in Jan. 29.
For those who take the stars into consideration and will be reading up on Derby day horiscopes, remember the Zodiac signs: Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18); Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20); Aries (March 21-April 19); and Taurus (April 20-May 20). The earliest sign of the year, Capricorn, is not represented among this year’s contenders.
Cobalt Blue was foaled on Lincoln’s Birthday, Feb. 12.
Of the last seven Derby winners, four were February foals: Giacomo (Feb. 17), Smarty Jones (Feb. 28), War Emblem (Feb. 20), and Monarchos (Feb. 9). The three others were April foals: Barbaro (April 29), Funny Cide (April 20), and Fusaichi Pegasus (April 12).
Hard Spun won't be 3 until May 10.
Derby Works Photos