Derby desire for Desormeaux and Dullahan

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux is one of only two active riders with three Kentucky Derby victories. This year Desormeaux has the mount on Blue Grass Stakes champ Dullahan.

"He finishes better than the other three," Desormeaux said when comparing Dullahan to his other Derby winners Real Quiet, Fusaichi Pegasus and Big Brown. "With Fusaichi Pegasus, I had a dream trip and never cocked my stick. Every time I'd move for a hole, it would open so wide you could drive a Mack Truck through it."

Versatility is an attribute of Dullahan's that has Desormeaux confident on the colt's ability to handle the 1 1/4-miles of the Run for the Roses.

"The other day (in the Toyota Blue Grass), he was with the pack for the first 100 feet, but I elected to take him back," Desormeaux said. "I think he can be right in the thick of it; I'm not afraid of that.

"I know one thing about him; at the quarter-pole he's not going to raise the white flag. It will be more like the red flag to start the race."

In last November's Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs the colt was fourth behind Hansen and Union Rags. He was bumped at the start and forced to the back of the 13-horse field.

The only other active jockey with three wins in the Run for the Roses is Calvin Borel winning in 2007, 2009 and 2010.