Contenders

Wesley E. Hawley

Hawley grew up in New Mexico, where his stepfather was a trainer.

Robby Albarado

A native of Lafayette, La., Albarado started riding at bush tracks at the age of 12 and scored his first career win at Evangeline Downs in 1990. He has earned riding titles at Fair Grounds, Arlington Park and Oaklawn Park. He fractured his pelvis in a two-horse spill at Keeneland on Oct. 13, 2000 and as a result, he had to sit out most of 2001. His 556 wins at Churchill currently rank him ninth all-time at the historic track. He was the winner of the 2004 George Woolf Memorial Award, given by piers. His best mounts include 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, Joyeux Danseur, Quiet Resolve, Morluc, and Tijiyr (Ire). He and his wife, Kimber, reside in Louisville, Ky. and have two son, Kaden and Kash. Albarado has ridden in eight Derbys, with his best finish coming on Steppenwolfer, third in 2006.

Ike & Dawn Thrash

Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds (FL)

Randy Hartley and Dean De Renzo founded the Ocala, Florida based Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds in 1992. The company began as a pinhooking operation and has evolved into a breeding, training and sales facility. The pair recently joined with Kentucky's Walmac Farm, renaming their Florida operation Walmac South.

They have developed and trained Grade 1 winners and classic contenders to include Silver Charm, Stormy Blues, Xtra Heat, D’Wildcat, Greenwood Lake and Forest Heiress. The farm stands eight stallions and is one of the top consigners at the 2-year-old sales.

Dawn After Dawn is by four time Grade 2 stakes winner Successful Appeal, who also was Grade 1 placed. Successful Appeal excelled at shorter distances although he did win the Withers (Grade 2) going the distance of a mile. He was a graded stakes winner at ages two, three, and four and earned $654,681. From his four crops to race, Successful Appeal is represented by 12 stakes winners including 2005 Kentucky Derby runner-up Closing Argument and Grade 1 winner Appealing Zophie. Both of those standouts we able to stretch their speed to a route of ground and win graded stakes going two-turns.

Dawn After Dawn is out of the stakes winner Sword Dance mare Jhenais Jewel, who racked up eight wins and $218,924 during her four years on the track, including a win in the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico. Three of her six foals have raced and each have been winners. Sword Dance had only five races in his career, but being by the great stamina sire Nijinsky and out of a Secretariat mare, he should pass on some of that distance capability, as well as an affinity for the turf, to Dawn After Dawn.

DAWN AFTER DAWN makes for an intriguing selection as she breaks from the rail. She’s obviously less accomplished than several of her competitors, with only a first level allowance win on the turf to her credit this year. She’s been a big price in most of her races since, and has outrun her odds. That was particularly the case last out in the Ashland, when she was beaten less than a length at 54-1. What makes her interesting is that she is more versatile than most of her foes, but she’d probably be better off taking back and making a late run like she did at Keeneland. Though her numbers aren’t up to Rags to Riches’ level, she does actually measure up with most of the rest of the field if she fires her best shot. Albarado was aboard for the allowance win, and he looks to kick off a big weekend here (he also rides Curlin in the Derby). Needs to take the next step, but she could add value to the exotics.