Kentucky Derby 137

[trifectarich]

I guess we can be thankful they don't use Roman numerals.

Looks like a full field of 20 with Uncle Mo, Toby's Corner or Dialed In having the best chances to be the favorite. Five-day weather forecast calls for a Saturday high of 72 with a 40 percent chance of rain.

Draw for post positions is Wednesday.

One change is that Tom Durkin has taken himself off the Triple Crown assignments as the network race caller. Recent stories say the anxiety of making a mistake in the biggest races of the year was too much for him. He'll continue calling races for the New York Racing Association.

Good luck at the windows to one and all.

 

[imjustagirl]

Wait a second, Durkin's gone? Sonofabitch!

 

[trifectarich]

Thanks; good stuff. Here's Durkin calling a race won by an 88-to-1 shot; can't find the very entertaining race call of Doremifasolatido.

 

[Ace]

Toby's Corner out. Lame.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I'll miss Durkin. He was top drawer.

And I'll likely not be putting any money on a horse that prepped on polytracks.

 

[imjustagirl]

This one is awesome.



I love Durkin. Won't be the same.

 

[Double Down]

I wonder if the Mine That Bird call spooked him a bit two years ago. He got no small amount of **** for sort of blowing that one.

 

[holy bull]

Larry Collmus gets the call to replace Durkin, and it's a good move:



I'm breaking my Derby maiden this year, leaving Wednesday AM. Very pumped, even though you're going to need a dartboard to find the tri.

Losing Toby's Corner is a bummer, also R Heat Lightning from the Oaks was a big blow.

 

[Bubbler]

I did a story on one of Mucho Macho Man's owners this week.

The story of the horse (nearly died as a foal, was only purchased for $80K), trainer (had a heart transplant), jockey (original jockey was badly hurt the day before MMM won the Risen Star Stakes), etc. is pretty amazing.

Love writing about horse racing ... in the rare chances I get to do it anymore.

 

[imjustagirl]

Larry Collmus gets the call to replace Durkin, and it's a good move:

Meh.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I was fortunate enough to be on-track when Arrrrrrr captured the second of his back-to-back wins with Durkin on the horns.
Always brings a smile.

 

[holy bull]

I was there for that Slambino race at the Spa and know a guy who caught half of the $2,500 exacta. Not a bad return for a $1 five-horse box ($20).

One of my all-time favorite Durkin calls was the 1994 Travers, won by, naturally, Holy Bull.

I'm sorry to see he won't be doing the TC, because he is simply the greatest, but from the sound of it, he's better off.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I was there for that Slambino race at the Spa and know a guy who caught half of the $2,500 exacta. Not a bad return for a $1 five-horse box ($20).

One of my all-time favorite Durkin calls was the 1994 Travers, won by, naturally, Holy Bull.

I'm sorry to see he won't be doing the TC, because he is simply the greatest, but from the sound of it, he's better off.

I was at an out-of-state tournament for Slambino. That was a bizarre day at Saratoga on the grass, when all the winners came from a zillion lengths off in the middle of the turf course. It was, of course, no surprise Slambino dind't win again for at least the next 18 months.

 

[holy bull]

I was there for that Slambino race at the Spa and know a guy who caught half of the $2,500 exacta. Not a bad return for a $1 five-horse box ($20).

One of my all-time favorite Durkin calls was the 1994 Travers, won by, naturally, Holy Bull.

I'm sorry to see he won't be doing the TC, because he is simply the greatest, but from the sound of it, he's better off.

I was at an out-of-state tournament for Slambino. That was a bizarre day at Saratoga on the grass, when all the winners came from a zillion lengths off in the middle of the turf course. It was, of course, no surprise Slambino dind't win again for at least the next 18 months.

The turf courses can be a tricky read sometimes because you're dealing with some unusual circumstances, including the weather, of course, but also the fact that they're pounding it six days a week for six weeks.

 

[trifectarich]

1 Archarcharch (Jon Court), 10-1
2 Brilliant Speed (Joel Rosario), 30-1
3 Twice the Appeal (Calvin Borel), 20-1
4 Stay Thirsty (Ramon Dominguez), 20-1
5 Decisive Moment (Kerwin Clark), 30-1
6 Comma to the Top (Pat Valenzuela), 30-1
7 Pants on Fire (Rosie Napravnik), 20-1
8 Dialed In (Julien Leparoux), 4-1
9 Derby Kitten (J.J. Castellano), 30-1
10 Twinspired (Mike Smith), 30-1
11 Master of Hounds (Garrett Gomez), 30-1
12 Santiva (Shaun Bridgmohan), 30-1
13 Mucho Macho Man (Rajiv Maragh), 12-1
14 Shackleford (Jesus Castanon), 12-1
15 Midnight Interlude (Victor Espinoza), 10-1
16 Animal Kingdom (Robby Albarado), 30-1
17 Soldat (Alan Garcia), 12-1
18 Uncle Mo (John Velasquez), 9-2
19 Nehro (Corey Nakatani), 6-1
20 Watch Me Go (Rafael Bejarano), 50-1

 

[holy bull]

By far the biggest cheer was when Mucho Macho Man was announced with the No. 13 post. It was the 17th pill pulled.

I was disappointed Nehro drew 19, but Asmussen said it wasn't a big deal, and he could foresee a mini-squadron of Nehro, Mo, Soldat and Shackleford getting the jump on them before the first turn. Then Nehro can pick his spot on the backside. I'll believe that when I see it.

Poor Jinks Fires. He had to sit there the whole time waiting for Archarcharch, then was stuck with the one hole by default after 19 pills were drawn.

Baffert threw his fist in the air when Midnight Interlude got the 15 (see: Lookin At Lucky).

 

[linotype]

So we've got Bo-Rail starting at the No. 3 position? Should I save myself three days of studying and simply empty the 401(k) on Twice the Appeal?

 

[holy bull]

So we've got Bo-Rail starting at the No. 3 position? Should I save myself three days of studying and simply empty the 401(k) on Twice the Appeal?

Please don't do that.

 

[imjustagirl]

To be fair, hb, that's a lot less money than he could have gambled on him two years ago.

 

[holy bull]

OK, that's a good point.

Uncle Mo camp sending mixed signals about whether he'll run or not.