Kentuck Derby Preview

ESPN.com ^ | April 27, 2010 | Bill Finley

[SomeCallMeTim]

I haven't figured out yet who will win the Kentucky Derby, but I have figured out how that horse will win -- by coming from way, way back. With the group that's set to line up at the starting gate Saturday at Churchill Downs, the pace for this Derby figures to be among the fastest in the history of the race. If so, any horse who gets anywhere near the lead is doomed to fail

[SomeCallMeTim]

With yet another year of the "Best" horse not running, this field is wide-open. There are no fewer than EIGHT Grade 1 winners in this race. I happen to believe, this author is correct: the early pace will take out a few of the crowd favorites. I'm kind of liking Ice Box. But, wow... there are also FIVE horses in the field who have never run out of the money... that's gonna change for AT LEAST two of them! :-)

[ml/nj]

I'm betting Stately Victor.

ML/NJ

[Recon Dad]

Don't have a clue any more on handicapping the Derby, but I was there in the infield when Secretariat won. (was there a few other times, but that was my favorite memory at Churchill Downs.

[LauraJean]

Will tell you my Derby picks after I look at the past performances Thursday. That way you will know who to throw out.

[SomeCallMeTim]

I won’t leave him out of my exotics... but, I’m not a big fan of BlueGrass winners in the Derby.

[SomeCallMeTim]

If it makes you feel any better... here’s the rundown on Mine That Bird from a handicapper sheet last year! :

Mine That Bird was the champion juvenile colt in Canada last year, but his Dosage index of 5.40 prevented him from earning Dual Qualifier status. He scored the least number of points in this year’s analysis. Along with the Beyer knock, he lacks a stakes win this year, does not have enough prep races (2 races at Sunland Park), is coming off a 5 week layoff, has a top Beyer of just 81, the slowest by far in the field, and he runs close to the pace. His few positives include stakes wins last year (all three at Woodbine), 8 lifetime starts, and a sharp prep race, having finished 3 1/4 lengths back in the Sunland Derby.

[LauraJean]

Actually I won money on Mine That Bird since I had placed on bet using the “all other horses” button in the futures bet. Didn’t make the amount of money I would have if I had bed the horse Derby day. But and ticket I can cash is a good one.

[Nepeta]

Eskendereya got more attention and respect than he probably deserved, based upon his winning times and what he beat. He looked tremendous, but he probably did not beat much.

That said, this is a difficult bunch to sort through.

[ml/nj]

not a big fan of BlueGrass winners

That, of course, is the idea. My feeling is that the Blue Grass is a $750,000 race and that sooner of later, the winner will repeat in the Derby. I was at the Blue Grass. Stately Victor was the most unlikely winner, but he woke up and ran a very powerful race. If he runs a similar race on Saturday, he's going to be tough to beat; and he'll probably be 25-1 or more because the Blue Grass has been so downgraded in bettors' minds since the switch to Poly at Keeneland.

ML/NJ

[SomeCallMeTim]

Well... he ran the RIGHT kind of race, coming from behind.

Street Sense won the Derby after a strong BlueGrass race.. but, he did have a better history coming in.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Actually I won money on Mine That Bird

That damn Bird killed all my tickets... I lost on Giacomo too... but, I've hit the winner and made money on all other Derbies since I've been attending (2002).

RIP Barbaro... who made me more money in the Derby than any other... ever... in any race.

[Severa]

Louisville, KY is my hometown, we'll be watching the races from our current home in MD. STILL haven't looked at the horses enough to make a pick. I'm the walking horse racing encyclopedia of the family but my luck of picking Derby winners has been anything but great over the years.

Here's the Louisville, KY 10-day weather forecast from weather.com with highs/lows and chances of precipitation:

Tonight Apr 27		Clear	40°	0 %
Wed Apr 28		Sunny	68°/48°	0 %
Thu Apr 29		Partly Cloudy	77°/60°	10 %
Fri Apr 30		Partly Cloudy	81°/66°	10 %
Sat May 01		Scattered T-Storms	73°/66°	40 %
Sun May 02		Scattered T-Storms	76°/59°	40 %
Mon May 03		Few Showers	75°/54°	30 %
Tue May 04		Scattered Showers	72°/49°	30 %
Wed May 05		Partly Cloudy	75°/58°	20 %
Thu May 06		Sunny	77°/61°	0 %

[Severa]

Crud. Put in the wrong link, here it is. Never been to a Derby but have attended a Breeders Cup at Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs is Barbaro's final resting place. It is also the final resting place of the great filly Eight Belles, as well as Derby winners Sunny's Halo (1983), Carry Back (1961), Swaps (1955) and Broker's Tip (1933).

[Holen1]

Weak field this year. Eskendereya was a man amongst boys...would have won by lots.
Anyway, Beyer wise, filly has a shot if she runs. I’ll use her with Awesome Act, Noble’s Promise and Lookin at Lucky.
If she’s out, Awesome Act and Noble’s Promise will be my keys.
Will include Sidney’s Candy and Jackson Bend in superfectas.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Weak field this year. Eskendereya was a man amongst boys...would have won by lots.

I agree.... and, having one horse to put on top sure makes Tri's and super's easier to hit. :-(

That said... this field is VERY balanced. With the Favorite (Lucky) drawing the rail post, the payouts are going to be huge. Morning line has Lucky at 3-1. I'd be surprised if he isn't more like 5 or 6 by race time...and, STILL the favorite.

[SomeCallMeTim]

The local weather people are far more pessimistic. They’re calling for a total of 2.5 - 5 inches of rain between Friday night and Sunday.

Normally, they try to “put on a happy face” when it comes to weather... this time, they’re all saying, “It’s gonna be WET, and possible severe”. :-(

[Holen1]

Yeah, I think it’s a balanced field also. Should get a pretty good price on the fav, no matter who it is.
Believe it or not, I actually think the 20 post will help Sidney’s Candy. I contend he doesn’t need the lead. He kinda inherited the lead in last two and was able to relax. If he gets a chance to sit off the speed he could be pretty tough...might have to rethink things here. :-)

[kalee]

ping

[SomeCallMeTim]

Yea... I kind of had the same thought.. He’s out there wide, away from the early speed horses... Probably helps.

Still though.. horses who haven’t shown they can rate, or come off the pace, generally DO NOT learn that strategy at Churchill. The drunk ass crowd of 140,000 kind of get the horses a little excited too..

That.. and, Sidney’s Candy has never raced on dirt. That’s still a BIG negative to me. PLenty of good Cali horses have come over here in the past few years and dissapeared on the dirt.

Trackside rumors have been saying he seems to like the dirt. But, I don’t think we have any direct quotes from him on that. :-)

[SomeCallMeTim]

I still like Ice Box’s style for the way this race sets up. Being at #2 post won’t hurt him at all.

I am rather bummed to see him listed at 10-1 odds... He’ll catch a lot of attention now.

When was the last Derby that only had ONE HORSE with a 100 Beyer?? Geesh!