Norton Herrick's Racehorse 'Destin' A Kentucky Derby Favorite
BOCA RATON, Fla., May 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Norton Herrick, Chairman and CEO of The Herrick Company, Inc., one of the nation's largest investment firms, is headed to Churchill Downs again, this time looking for his second Kentucky Derby crown in the past five years. Herrick, along with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, is a partner in prized thoroughbred, Destin, considered by most American handicappers to be a Top 5 choice in this year's 'Run for the Roses'. Some bookmakers, both in Europe and the United States, have made Destin the favorite in this year's race, the first leg of the American Triple Crown, which will be held Saturday, May 7th at 6:34 PM (EDT).
Destin, trained by leading American thoroughbred trainer, Todd Pletcher, is coming off his emphatic wins in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby, where he established a new track record, and the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes. Javier Castellano, the leading rider in the country and the Eclipse Award winning jockey the past two years in a row, is committed to ride Destin in the Derby.
Herrick is no stranger to the Kentucky Derby, winning with Animal Kingdom in 2011; finishing 3rd with Danza in 2014; 4th with Went The Day Well in 2012; and 12th with Visionaire in 2008.
Destin is incredibly progressive and will absolutely have no problem going the 1 1/4-mile distance and beyond. His speed figures are sensational, while maintaining a healthy improvement from race to race, with a 100 Beyer in the Tampa Bay Derby, a "Zero" on the Thoro-Graph Sheets, and a 4 3/4 on Len Ragozin's The Sheets.
"We are excited to once again have a thoroughbred racing in this year's Kentucky Derby, where we won in 2011 with Animal Kingdom who went on to win the $10,000,000 Dubai World Cup in 2013," said Norton Herrick, Chairman of The Herrick Company. "We are confident that Destin can repeat the success he has had in past races and look forward to his performance in the Derby."
Destin is sired by the immortal stallion and stallion of stallions, Giant's Causeway, who was recently pensioned, creating a high demand for his high class sons, including Destin. Destin's stallion prospects are only bolstered by the promise of his full brother, the Grade 1 winner, Creative Cause, whose 1st crop of 2 year-olds hit the track this season.
About Norton Herrick
(Financier/Investor/Producer) is Chairman of The Herrick Company, Inc., with income property transactions, "Green" Power Plants and hospitals totaling over $5 Billion. Its Herrick Entertainment, a motion picture, theatrical, television, production and financing company credits include the new to Broadway musical, Waitress starring Jessie Mueller; the new to The Venetian in Las Vegas, Hensen's Puppet Up. Mr. Herrick also produced Hair The Musical and Pippin both Tony Award winners for Best Musical Revival; Dolly Parton's 9 to 5; West Side Story; and Spiderman as well as the Las Vegas show Hairspray. Herrick Entertainment's recent film lineup includes Oscar & SAG nominated and Critic's Choice Best Picture and Best Actor Award winner, action-thriller Lone Survivor, starring Mark Wahlberg; 2 Guns, starring Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington; and recently released Precious Cargo, starring Bruce Willis. Mr. Herrick is a longtime supporter of progressive and humanitarian causes. He has served on the Boards of People for the American Way and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Mr. Herrick is also the recipient, along with President Ronald Reagan and Isaac Stern, of the Jerusalem 3000 Award, presented by Prime Minister Shimon Peres and most recently the recipient, along with Michael J. Fox and Billy Cypress, of the President's Medal from the University of Miami presented by its President, Donna Shalala and the Guardian Award from the Hebrew University Jerusalem. www.theherrickcompany.com
SOURCE Norton Herrick
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