Pincay Makes His Decision for Derby: He Will Be Aboard Stephan’s Odyssey

After three days of suspense, Laffit Pincay got off the fence Friday and announced that he will ride Stephan’s Odyssey in the Kentucky Derby May 4.

Pincay, who rode Stephan’s Odyssey to victory in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Tuesday, also had been the first choice to ride Skywalker, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby.

“It was a tough choice,” said Pincay’s agent, Tony Matos. “But the (Derby) looks like a lot of speed, so I chose the horse that comes off the pace.”

Stephan’s Odyssey won the Hollywood Futurity in December but finished third in the recent Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah, a controversial race won by Chief’s Crown.

Pincay may be playing a hunch, since Stephan’s Odyssey is trained by Woody Stephens. Last year, Pincay ended a 0-for-10 slump in Kentucky, winning his first Derby aboard Swale, also trained by Stephens.

A replacement for Pincay on Skywalker hasn’t been named, but speculation centered on Eddie Delahoussaye, who won consecutive Derbies aboard Gato del Sol in 1982 and Sunny’s Halo in 1983.