2013 Kentucky Derby field: Golden Soul

Sire: Perfect Soul (IRE)
Dam: Hollywood Gold
Damsire: Mr. Prospector
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: TBD
Owner: Charles Fipke
Record: 5-1-2-0
Earnings: $117,400
Notable Races: 4th, G2-Louisiana Derby; 6th, G2-Risen Star; 2nd, G3-Lecomte

Positives: A winner of just a maiden race in his career, Golden Soul has flashed some signs of talent this spring but he’s finished behind too many of his rivals to consider him a serious contender to win the Derby. If you’re looking for reasons to bet this colt, the top of the heap might be his running style. Golden Soul is more of a grinder than a hard charging closer. He won’t do a whole lot of running in the early stages, and his late kick isn’t particularly devastating, but he does appear to be able to keep chugging along in the final furlongs, regardless of how things break during the race.

Another reason to be high on this colt is his effort in the Louisiana Derby his last time out. He finished fourth that day at the Fair Grounds but had a horrible trip all the way around the course. The trip comment in his past performances reads “5 wide at 5/16^th; 8 wide at ¼ pole”. He lost some serious ground in that race.

If the pace of the Derby melts down on Saturday, perhaps this guy can grind his way to a top four finish. He needs some luck, but so do many other horses in this field.

Negatives: Despite running well while finishing fourth in the Louisiana Derby, he wasn’t close to beating Revolutionary, a colt that had a similarly wide trip throughout that race. Plus, at some point he needs to actually win a race other than simply a maiden event, and the Kentucky Derby is as tough a race as you’ll find for a horse to pick up their first non-maiden victory.

Personally, I was quite high on Golden Soul prior to his race in the Lecomte back in January and I’d love to see him run well on Saturday, but he’s got to make a major step forward, or get some help from his rivals, to win the Derby.