Contenders
Download moreinformation from:
He put in a big effort to finish third at 19-1 in the Kentucky Derby, a nose behind Pioneerof the Nile.
A $15,000 yearling purchase by co-owner Vic Carlson, Musket Man has come far in a short period of time. He easily won his debut at Belmont last October; tallied next at Philadelphia Park, then won his 2009 bow at Tampa, the Pasco Stakes. A third to General Quarters in the Sam Davis Stakes came prior to successive tallies in the Tampa and Illinois Derbys.
A son of Yonaguska, a prolific 2-year-old who dead-heated for the win in the Hopeful as a 2-year-old and did his best running in sprints, Musket Man has exhibited an off-the-pace running style that, despite his sprint pedigree, argues for success in longer distances.
| Video | Date | Race Name | Distance | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/02/2009 | Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs) | 1 1/4 Miles | 3rd | |
 |
04/04/2009 | Illinois Derby (Hawthorne) | 1 1/8 Mile | 1st |
|
03/14/2009 | Tampa Bay Derby (Tampa Bay Downs) | 1 1/16 Miles | 1st |
|
02/14/2009 | Sam F. Davis (Tampa Bay Downs) | 1 1/16 Miles | 3rd |
|
01/17/2009 | Pasco S. (Tampa Bay Downs) | 7 Furlongs | 1st |
|
11/18/2008 | Allowance (Philadelphia Park) | 6 Furlongs | 1st |
|
10/25/2008 | Maiden Special Weight (Belmont Park) | 6 Furlongs | 1st |
EIBAR COA
The 36-year-old Venezuelan had been splitting winters between New York and Florida but committed to Gulfstream in 2008 and dominated, winning the title comfortably. That success continued a run of seven titles won at Belmont and Aqueduct. He was the leading New York rider in terms of wins in both 2006 and 2007. He enrolled and graduated from the Venezuelan jockey school after winning five judo titles between the ages of 8 and 18. His 303 victories in '06 made him the fourth rider in history to win 300 or more in a single year in New York. His biggest success at Pimlico came in 2006 when he bagged the Pimlico Special with Eddington. He has yet to have a Preakness mount.
ERIC FEIN & VIC CARLSON
Vic Carlson purchased Musket Man for $15,000 from the Keeneland September sale and sold a majority interest to Eric Fein.
Carlson, dubbed a “money-machine magnate” by the Blood-Horse, runs First National PTBM – a firm that sells, distributes and places ATM machines – and served as the football coach and athletic director of the Jefferson High School Democrats until his retirement in 1999. Jefferson High, nicknamed “The School of Champions,” produced pro football players Terry Baker and Mel Renfro and basketball player Ime Udoka.
Carlson got hooked on racing while attending the sport at Portland Meadows in the ‘70s.
Musket Man is Fein’s second consecutive Tampa Derby winner, following last year’s winner, Big Truck.
Fein owns a title-insurance firm, EAM Land Services, in Syosset, Long Island. He bought his first horse for $30,000; the horse went on to earn $400,000.
DEREK RYAN
The 42-year-old Irishman rode ponies as a child in Tipperary and went on to gain experience in his homeland as well as in England, France and Germany before coming to the U.S. in 1989.
He calls Musket Man “The best horse I’ve had, by far,” even though Ryan won the Jersey Derby with Emergency Status in 2002 and had three stakes winners – Bunker Hill, Call My Bluff and Allnightdance – in his barn last year.
“He’s got stamina and gears,” he told the St. Petersburg Times. “The first time I worked him I was ‘Whoa, what the hell do I have here?’”
JIM E. NELSON & SERGIO De SOUSA
Jim E. Nelson purchased Fortuesque, the dam of Musket Man, for $34,000 as a 5-year-old mare at the 2001 Keeneland November sale. Sergio de Sousa is the managing partner of Hidden Brook Farm near Paris, Ky. A prominent player on the auction scene, Hidden Brook has been involved in the acquisitions of such top horses as Kentucky Derby-winner Big Brown. Musket Man was raised at Hidden Brook and sold for $15,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale.
