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Monday was full of major events as some of the biggest names in Horse Racing dropped out of the field for the Kentucky Derby. D. Wayne Lukas best hope for a victory had to drop out of the race because he suffered a fractured sesamoid. This horse, Consolidator, would have been a longshot to win the race but was surrounded by big names. Lukas is one of the big three when it comes to horse trainers. Consolidator also had big name owners in Bob & Beverly Lewis. Now all three of them are left with extreme longshot, Going Wild. This horse was embarrassed in his last two starts at the Wood Memorial and Lexington Stakes. Going Wild will likely enter the race at around 50-1 odds.

The other news of the day involved jockey legend Pat Day, who declared himself out of the 2005 Kentucky Derby. Day has been dark since March 5, 2005 as he recovers from hip surgery. Day says there is no chance he will ride, even if one of the big name horses starts calling. He is the all-time money leader amongst jockeys and ranks fourth in victories at 8,780. His greatest triumph at Churchill Downs came in 1992, when he was aboard Kentucky Derby Winner Lil E. Tee. If all goes well in his recovery, Day may be healthy enough to run at Pimlico in three weeks.

Doc's Sports is your place for handicapping the Kentucky Derby. After the postpositions are drawn on Wednesday, May 4, 2005, we will begin are final analyses of each of the contenders. Doc's is confident in our ability to make you money.

Doc's Sports will be writing several weekly articles regarding the Kentucky Derby up to the day of the race and we will be following all Kentucky Derby race information until and afterthe race lineup is set. Check back for more articles regarding past Kentucky Derby race winners.