Run Free, Billy!

Every year there is a colt on the road to the Kentucky Derby who shows potential as a two-year-old, but doesn’t quite follow through at the start of their three-year-old campaign. This year, that colt is Free Drop Billy, a son of Union Rags and Trensa (by the late Giant’s Causeway).

The Dale Romans-trainee broke his maiden by three-lengths first time out on June 15, 2017, and after a couple of runner-up efforts (in the Gr.3 Sanford and Gr.1 Hopeful) won the Gr.1 Claiborne Futurity in October.

He’s been winless ever since and the victim of some bad luck. On April 7, 2018, Billy started rocketing late on the stretch at Keeneland and looked as if he stood a fighting chance in the Gr.2 Blue Grass. That is until Sporting Chance ducked out in front of him and squashed all chance. Though he was moved up to third, it was heartbreaking to watch the closer have to slam on his brakes when he was moving so beautifully… MORE DERBY PREP HIGHLIGHTS