JC / Railbird

Kentucky Derby

Who’s in your five?

I thought I’d piggyback on Jessica’s post to A) introduce myself and B) post my own Derby five as of Tuesday night.
My name is Ed DeRosa, and I am news editor of Thoroughbred Times. More importantly for the purpose of this exercise, I am a race fan and avid bettor who thoroughly enjoys many of the racing-related blogs both in and out of the TBA.
I’m a frequent reader/commenter on Railbird, Handride, Thoroughbredblog, Cristblog, and on the Thorograph forum. I have enjoyed the dialog and now look forward to dissecting the Derby with Jessica and her readers.
I’ll be in Louisville “on assignment” beginning Friday night and hope to bring some on-site perspective to one of my favorite racing blogs. Michael Tynan of fellow TBA member Thoroughbredblog will also be on site.
So who’s in my five?
1. Z Fortune… this horse is starting to pick up steam, but I can’t imagine him being anything less than a $20 horse, so I’m on board.
2. Gayego… There’s a horse like this every year—the horse who “can’t get the distance,” and the price improves because everyone just keeps repeating that mantra. More on this later, but for now I like him at the price. Obviously I think the Arkansas Derby is a key race.
3. Colonel John… This is more a “I think he deserves a top three ranking” selection than a “I’ll play him in all my tris” selection, but it’s hard to fault what he’s done so far and the consistency with which he’s done it, and if I like Gayego, I have to like Colonel John at least a little bit right?
4. Big Brown… Depending on which numbers you trust most, he’s either the fastest by a lot or fastest by a little but clearly the fastest. It’s hard to ignore Dutrow’s enthusiasm for this horse, and that type of attitude is infectious Derby week, but I’m going to stay away at a short price.
5. Smooth Air… My Derby budget (for the race itself) is usually about $100, which doesn’t give me a lot of wiggle room to get too jazzy, but if I strike it rich on Oaks day or during the undercard, then I might try to just single this guy underneath to hit the tri. He’s consistent and fast enough to make an impact.
Thanks for having me, Jessica!

Posted in Racing on April 22, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / 4 comments

Derby 5 – April 22

1. Big Brown: What can I say? The giddy confidence expressed by trainer Rick Dutrow in the NTRA teleconference this afternoon was infectious. Big Brown has the speed; he just has to beat history.
2. Colonel John: Santa Anita Derby winner ships to Churchill without incident. Trainer Eoin Harty warns, “If you ignore the synthetic races, you ignore them at your peril.”
3. Gayego: Arkansas Derby winner is exhibit #1 backing up Harty’s contention.
4. Z Fortune: Trainer Steve Asmussen’s sleeper starter.
5. Eight Belles: Probably belongs in the Oaks, but I’d love to see her try the Derby.

Posted in Racing on April 22, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Comments Off on Derby 5 – April 22

Tuesday Morning Notes

– Trainer Larry Jones said Proud Spell has only a 15 percent chance of entering the Derby. Salute the Sarge is also likely out, which bumps Bob Black Jack up into the field, and puts Tomcito tantalizingly close to a post.
– Pyro breezed six furlongs at Keeneland in company with stakes winner Noonmark, but no official time was given due to dense fog that obscured the track. “He worked well, but there was no way of knowing how fast he went,” said assistant trainer Scott Blasi. “[Clockers] wanted to make up times, this or that, but there was no way anybody clocked him. He worked outstanding” (ThoroTimes). Pyro will ship to Churchill Tuesday.
– Jockey Edgar Prado and trainer Carl Nafzger are elected to the Hall of Fame, in their first appearance on the ballot.
– Jay Cronley one-liner: “Value is defined in handicapping as an obvious loser with a tempting price.”
– The NY Times launches The Rail, a Triple Crown blog.
– Curlin gets back to work.

Posted in Racing on April 22, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / 2 comments