by Frank Angst

While he will take any luck he can get, trainer Larry Jones believes the typical crowded early running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) will not put filly Eight Belles at any particular disadvantage.

“Size-wise, she matches up with the colts,” Jones said. “I don’t think she will be intimidated by the colts and she’s big enough that I don’t think any of the colts will try to intimidate her.”

Jones appeared confident on Thursday morning as he prepared to become the first trainer of the 21st century to saddle a filly in the Kentucky Derby. Three fillies, Regret, in 1915; Genuine Risk, '80, and Winning Colors, '88; have won the 1 1/4-mile race from 38 previous starters.

“Well that’s about one out of 12 fillies winning the Derby so that’s not too bad really,” Jones pointed out.

Eight Belles, a gray or roan Unbridled’s Song filly, enters the Derby off three straight stakes victories at Oaklawn Park: the one-mile Martha Washington Stakes, and the Honeybee (G3) and Fantasy (G2) Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Jones said Eight Belles won some races on days when three-year-old colts posted slower times. Her Ragozin speed figures are comparable with some of the top colts in the race.

“About every starter this year has some nice things you can say about them and some question marks,” Jones said. “On Sunday, there will be one winner and 19 other connections making excuses.”

Frank Angst is a Thoroughbred Times senior writer