A New Yorker to bet $100,000 on 2012 Kentucky Derby and Isn’t He Clever has new trainer
"Babe' Hanford, Ron Turcotte, Carl Hanford (left to right)
A longtime horse racing fan from New York has won a chance to place a life-changing $100,000 win bet in the 2012 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 5.
Joel Einhorn of Flushing, N.Y. was randomly selected to place the grandiose free wager in conjunction with the $100,000 Kentucky Derby DreamBet online contest, which was offered by Churchill Downs, NBC Sports and CNBC for the third consecutive year.
“I saw (five-time Horse of the Year) Kelso run in an allowance race at Aqueduct in 1960 and have been hooked ever since,” Einhorn said. “I’ve been an owner, a spectator and a handicapper for over 50 years. This is the fruition of a lifetime dream.”
Einhorn, 68, hopes to follow in the footsteps of inaugural contest winner, Glen Fullerton of Houston, who won $900,000 when Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby at odds of 8-1. Last year, Dave “Rico” Flores of Chicago came close but fell short when Mucho Macho Man finished third behind Animal Kingdom.
In 2006, Kelso’s trainer Carl Hanford was a member of Kentucky Derby Tours. He came to Kentucky to watch his brother “Babe” Hanford place his handprints in the ‘Gallop to Glory’ exhibit for Kentucky Derby winning jockeys. “Babe” won the 1936 Kentucky Derby aboard Bold Venture. To see photos look at our website at https://kentuckyderbytours.com/photo-gallery/tour06/
Isn’t He Clever trainer change
One of the horses “on the 2012 Kentucky Derby bubble” at number 21 or 22 (depending on whose list you read) is Isn’t He Clever. He has been transferred to trainer Steve Amussen, according to owner J. Kirk Robison, and a start in the Kentucky Derby is still under consideration.
Isn’t He Clever had been under the care of Henry Dominguez. A 3-year-old gelded son of Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, Isn’t He Clever arrived at Asmussen’s barn at Churchill Downs on April 17.
“We moved him to Steve’s barn because there are more opportunities for him on the dirt being in Kentucky and out in the East than if we brought him back (to New Mexico),” Robison said via phone from El Paso.
Robison said the Kentucky Derby is still possible for the Isn’t He Clever, who has $191,333 in graded stakes earnings. The graded stakes earnings list will likely determine the participants in the 138th running of the Run for the Roses.
“We’re evaluating our options,” Robison said. “The Derby is still under consideration, but I’ve always said I would never enter the Derby if I didn’t think the horse would be competitive. The horse will go out for some exercise this week, but won’t have a work till next weekend. The decision will be based on Steve’s opinion.”
Bred in Kentucky by Monticule, Isn’t He Clever has a career record of 4-2-0 from eight starts and earnings of $395,293. He was purchased for $45,000 at the 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
