Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Alex Cabrero reporting The Winter Olympics showed just how many Utah athletes can compete on a national stage.
But soon, another former Utahn will compete in a nationally televised sporting event. One, traditionally Utah isn't known for.
Just last year, this athlete was training hard in South Jordan. In his past seven events, he's won five of them. Now that hard work is putting him on the biggest stage of all: The Kentucky Derby.
"But it's Bother Drek in front by three as they come to the wire."
Look at any horse-racing site on the internet�
"Brother Derek is the one to catch."
...and Brother Derek seems to be the one to beat.
Craig Tillotson, Wasatch Farms: "It's unbelievable what Brother Derek has been able to do."
Craig Tillotson should know. He used to own Brother Derek. He trained him in South Jordan and kept him at his Wasatch Farms in Sandy.
Craig Tillotson, Wasatch Farms: "It's exciting. Everytime Brother Derek runs, I'm just glued to the TV."
"Brother Derek on the outside."
That's right. In a sport dominated by Kentucky, California and Florida, a horse trained in Utah is the favorite to win this year's Kentucky Derby.
John Brocklebank, Wasatch Farms: "It's the most prestigious horse race in the world."
John Brocklebank discovered Brother Derek and remembers the first time he saw him at a horse sale.
John Brocklebank, Wasatch Farms: "And as they brought him up, to me, I thought the horse stepped into a phone booth, and came out with an "S" on his chest. He looked just fabulous, you know?"
Brocklebank bought the horse for 175 thousand dollars. They brought him to Utah, trained him and then sold him for 275-thousand dollars.
Craig Tillotson, Wasatch Farms: "That's the business. If you can double your money, that's pretty good."
Only thing is, being a world-class horse, Brother Derek is now worth about 10-million dollars.
Craig Tillotson, Wasatch Farms: "We were worried about John when we sold the horse because John when into depression."
That's because they knew how good this horse could be. Now he could become the next Kentucky Derby champion, from Utah.
John Brocklebank, Wasatch Farms: "He's part of our family, and he'll always will be."
"Brother derek wins in a half length."
Brother Derek is named after Tillotson's son who's currently serving an LDS mission.
You can see The Kentucky Derby right here on KSL Saturday, May 6th.
