Derby favorite proclaimed healthy but exhibits strange behavior

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Bobby Frankel stood atop a low brick wall alongside his barn Friday morning and issued a challenge to anybody who thinks Empire Maker won't win the Kentucky Derby: "Bet against him at your own risk."

Foot bruise?

"He's fine," he said.

The scary but ultimately harmless romp just after sunrise?

"He's playing with us right now," Frankel said. "Otherwise, it would be a boring week."

It's been anything but that for the Hall of Fame trainer.

Still, if he was worried about his 6-5 favorite facing 15 challengers in Saturday's 1 1/4-mile Derby, he was hiding it well.

"He's 100 percent," Frankel said no less than half a dozen times when asked about the strapping bay's right front foot. "He's going to run good. Don't worry about it."

Ten Most Wanted was the early second choice at 6-1, with Buddy Gil and Peace Rules -- Frankel's other entry -- each at 8-1.

The field was reduced by one after Sir Cherokee was scratched with an injured right rear leg.

Bob Baffert will saddle Indian Express in a bid for his fourth Derby win, while D. Wayne Lukas sends out Scrimshaw and Ten Cents a Shine with hopes of landing No. 5.

The 61-year-old Frankel, however, is still looking for his first.

"The script's written already," he said. "If he's meant to win, he's going to win. I think he's meant to win. He's just giving me a little aggravation right now."

Like on the track when he suddenly veered sideways while coming around a turn and backed up toward the outer rail in his first gallop since irritating the foot Tuesday.

An outrider on a pony reached over and grabbed Empire Maker's bridle and helped settle him down. With exercise rider Jose Cuevas aboard, the colt then galloped through the stretch and left the track with another pony.

"He pulled one of his little acts," Frankel said, adding that his star was only trying to get back to his barn. "That's why I was laughing when I came off the track. It's just part of the drama of this whole thing."

The horse's antics are part of his pedigree. "The whole family does it and it's never stopped any of them," said Frankel, who trained Toussaud and several of her stakes-winning siblings. His sire is 1990 Derby winner Unbridled.

As for the bruise, the foot was being treated with an anti-inflammatory drug and the hoof soaked in a warm wrap this week. Things were going so well, Frankel said, the three-quarter shoe Empire Maker was wearing may come off and he might wear a full one on Saturday.

For two years, Frankel has been convinced Empire Maker is his winning ticket -- champion bloodlines and a Hall of Fame jockey in Jerry Bailey will do that to a trainer.

And while Empire Maker is the heaviest morning-line choice since Arazi in 1992, the Derby has been unkind to favorites. Since 1979, only one favorite -- Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000 -- has won.

Lukas, who will increase his record of Derby starters to 41 if both his colts go, said Empire Maker doesn't deserve to be such a strong favorite despite convincing wins in the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial.

"We don't have a Spectacular Bid, I don't think, or a Seattle Slew," he said. "We've just got a darn nice horse. I'm not easily intimidated."

Frankel isn't so sure.

"I just think that going in, this is a superior horse," he said.

Bailey and Frankel have mapped out the race: Buddy Gil, Indian Express and Peace Rules are in the lead at the top of the stretch, with Wood runner-up Funny Cide in the mix.

"Jerry said he's following Peace Rules because he knows Peace Rules isn't going to stop," Frankel said. Then, of course, Empire Maker makes his move and, they hope, wins.

Ron Ellis, who sends out late-closer Atswhatimtalknbout -- partly owned by director Steven Spielberg -- sees it this way:

"The speed horses up front look like legitimate contenders, so I don't think any will sneak off. My horse can sit five lengths off with a slow pace, or can be 10-15 back with a blazing pace," he said.

Empire Maker is owned by Saudi prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, and, like Frankel, is looking for its first Derby win. They were second in the 2000 Derby with Aptitude, also trained by Frankel. Rarely seen in public, the 65-year-old Abdullah was expected to attend the race.

Peace Rules, winner of his last four races including the Louisiana Derby and Blue Grass Stakes, is owned by Edmund Gann, whose Medaglia d'Oro was fourth in last year's Derby.

Ten Most Wanted, winner of the Illinois Derby and improving rapidly, has been virtually overlooked. Pat Day, riding in his 21st Derby, will be aboard.

"It's all falling into place," trainer Wally Dollase said. "We just need to keep it going."

Rosemary Homeister Jr., aboard 50-1 long shot Supah Blitz, will become the fifth woman to ride in the Derby. "I know it's not like any other race, but I have to make it like it is," she said.

With 16 starters, the purse will be $1,100,200, with $800,200 going to the winner.

Post time is 5:04 p.m. CDT.