Why Messier the Kentucky Derby horse was named aft

Posted by seestyle on September 2nd, 2022

Mark Me sier lifted the Stanley Cup six times during his NHL career, but it will be a different Me sier going for a title on Saturday.With the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, one of the horses has a name that will be very familiar to hockey fans. Me sier, a Canadian-bred racehorse, is set to compete as one of the 20 horses at Churchill Downs.The three-year-old colt is one of the biggest names heading into the 148th version of the event. It was Dennis Rodman Jersey born and bred at Sam-Son Farms in Milton, Ont. It was purchased as a yearling by Tom Ryan and his group, SF Bloodstock/SF Racing LLC.The horse began racing in June of 2021, grabbing its first win in November at the Bob Hope Stakes in San Diego. It then won theRobert B. Lewis Stakes in February.Me sier was originally trained under long-time horse trainer Bob Baffert but switched toTim Yakteen after Baffert's suspension Reggie Jackson Jersey from the Kentucky Racing Board. He was suspended after his horse Medina Spirit was found to have a banned substance in its system when it won the Kentucky Derby in 2021.MORE:Ahead of the Kentucky Derby, Ryan is confident in the horse's ability to come out on top."We have a Grade 1 horse that, in my personal opinion, I would not Andre Drummond Jersey choose to swap for anybody else in the race," Ryan said. "We definitely havent seen the best of this horse yet. I think theres bigger and better things to come."There may even be a chance that Me sier himself comes to see the horse sharing his namesake."I think theres a chance," Ryan said about Me sier po sibly being at the Kentucky Derby. "I dont think anything is confirmed yet, but I think the likelihood is that hell be there."How did Me sier get its name?Ryan's wife Katie has ties to the hockey world. Her father is Pat Hughes, who played in NHL for 10 seasons, including four seasons with the Oilers. Her uncle is Marcus Morris Jersey Mark Naper, another former NHL player who spent 11 season in the league, three with Edmonton.During both their teams in Alberta, they played with Me sier, hence the connection between the family and the NH legend. From that came the inspiration for the horse's name."A couple of years ago, I attended an Oilers reunion where her father and uncle were," Ryan ,"and we got to spend time with members of the team in Edmonton. We spent time with all the great players from that era. Not long after, I spoke to my father-in-law about naming a horse after Me sier. His comment at the time was: If youre going to do it, get it right! So far, the horse is holding down his end of the bargain. Hes extremely talented, just like his namesake."MORE:Is Me sier a favorite to win the Kentucky Derby?Heading into the weekend, Me sier is considered to be a favorite to win the Derby.According to , Me sier enters as an 8 to 1 favorite, the third-lowest odds behind Henry Ellenson Jersey Zandon and Epicenter.