Post position: 14
Odds: 15-1
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez, 31, will ride in 5th Derby. Best finish was 2nd on Bluegrass Cat in ’06.
Owner: Starlight Stable, Donald Lucarelli and Paul Saylor finished 20th in ’06 with Keyed Entry. Starlight Stable and Lucarelli also had two other Derby starters.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher, 40, won fourth consecutive Eclipse in ‘07. Won Belmont last year with the filly Rags to Riches. Best Derby finish was 2nd with Invisible Ink in ’01.
Breeder(s): Mill Ridge Farm and Jamm
Bloodline: By Maria’s Mon- Hamba, by Easy Goer
Color and gender: Gray/roan colt
Career record: 5 starts, 3-0-0 $577,534
Road to the Derby: 12th in Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on Feb. 24; Won Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 12th.
Potential trouble: Lacks experience.
Meaning of name: A combination of the sire’s name (Maria’s Mon) and the dam Hamba.
More: Pletcher has at least two shots to end slide (April 28, 2008)
Credits: Photo - Monba, ridden by Edgar Prado, charged to win the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 12, 2008 | Ed Reinke, Associated Press; profile - Alicia Wincze, Rob Kandt, Erik Miller, Herald-Leader; name - Linda Niemi, Herald-Leader; video - Monba wins the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, April 12, 2008; courtesy of Keeneland.
