Derby Decompression

Tweet

We made it back to Buffalo yesterday afternoon, after a pit stop on Saturday night in Columbus, so we've had a full day to decompress and look back at quite a weekend in Louisville.

The shot above was from my spot in the press box capturing the five top finishers as they approaching the wire. In the "punch yourself in the face department," I dropped I'll Have Another from my top four spots after the post draw, which of course, was a colossal mistake. Luckily, I included him in an exacta box, so I at least cashed on the race, just not as big as I could have.

Just eight days ago in my Degrees of Separation post, he was listed as my top horse, and made him No. 2 on my Wireplayers' Derby Dozen list (had Bodemeister No. 1) somewhere between that point and 5:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon, I blew it. I've been reaching to hit the Derby trifecta for four years now without success, hitting two of three spots each time. Oh well, that's why they call it gambling.

I did feel good that I included him in my advance article on Saturday, spending a full paragraph saying he had the pedigree to contest. Post No. 19 and the "Derby Rules" scared me away on Saturday afternoon, however. Of course, he got a perfect trip, but he did it and kudos to the connections. I like the horse a lot, was always a big fan of Flower Alley (my first Travers) so we'll be rooting for him on Preakness Day.

Overall, you can follow how my day unfolded over at the TBN live blog on the Sports, Ink site. I had some pretty good luck throughout the day, hitting two Pick-3's and giving out some horses that fared pretty well. It could have been bigger if Turallure would have won the Woodford, as I did have No. 19 in my Pick-3 into the Derby.

For my post-race article in the TBN, if you didn't catch it, that link can be found here.

I didn't stray too far from the press box on Saturday, other than to buy some horsies for the Space Kid and Space Filly at the Derby store, but did experience the walkover from the barns before the Derby, which was pretty cool. I've included some pictures below which chronicle the walkover. I walked with the two Pletcher horses, Gemologist and El Padrino. Seeing the massive crowd while walking alongside the outside of the track was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced.

Kreskin update: Nailed one of my three predictions in December related to the Triple Crown - that a horse from the outside post would win the Derby. The other two are still alive, but down to two shots: 1) photo finish and 2) female jockey will hit the board in a Triple Crown race, respectively. We'll keep you posted.

Here are some photos from the walkover and before, during and after the big race...

The look from just past the clubhouse turn
on way to the backside

Who's the first horse we run into?
The Derby champ - I'll Have Another

Daddy Knows Best

Steve Asmussen "high-fives"
a fan as he leads out Sabercat & DNB

Hansen

Doc Hansen and...well..um....yeah

Gemologist

Pletcher and crew

Graham Motion

Kenny Rice about to give me
a sideways high-five

Creative Cause

I'll Have Another

The start of "the walkover"

Mr. Bailey, could I see you for a minute?

People taking my picture

Gemologist's hind end, The Toddster &
Donna Barton Brothers
(I know there's a joke in there somewhere)

Almost there...

U of L Band plays "My Old Kentucky Home"
(not a dry eye in sight)

Take Charge Indy

Mike Smith and Bodemeister

Dullahan and Union Rags

Starting the official Post Parade

They're Off in Kentucky Derby 138

Calvary charge to the clubhouse turn
(note I'll Have Another in 7th - big gap)



Heading into the clubhouse turn



Second place finisher Bodemeister post race
He ran a helluva race.

That's a wrap from Louisville....onwards to Baltimore. Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Augustus Saratogus

Tweet

When in Rome.....

I'm feeling that "August Place To Be" hyperbole and I can't seem to shake it. I went back into my photo set for the first Travers I ever attended in 2005 and came across one of my favorite horses, Roman Ruler. The Space Gal took a pretty good shot of horse and rider as they exited the paddock and headed past the "At The Rail" pavilion, always a good spot to capture the ponies as they head to the track for the post parade.

I think it was Jerry Bailey's last Travers, however Flower Alley was the best that day. Roman Ruler finished third behind the winner and Bellamy Road that day. He was coming off a big win in the Haskell earlier in the month after winning the Dwyer at Belmont Park. The FuPeg colt earned over $1.2 million, running one more race after the Travers, taking second in the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap behind Rock Hard Ten.

I'm finding it fascinating to follow the first set of offspring of the first set of horses I watched as a rookie horseplayer. Of course, Roman Ruler's top two progeny are the Classic winning Ruler On Ice and the 4-year old Rule who is nearing $1 million in earnings.

Speaking of that 2005 Travers, what a sequence the late Pick-4 was that day, where two horses running in that sequence sired 2011 Classic winners.  The sequence started with the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap was won by Leroidesanimaux, Animal Kingdom's sire. Next up was the Grade 1 Hopeful where First Samurai (with Bailey aboard) held off Henny Hughes (Gary Stevens riding) in the second leg. The next leg was the Grade 1 King's Bishop won by the legendary Lost in the Fog, followed by the Travers victory by Flower Alley. Two of those races are now run on different weekends, but I must say that was a tremendous group of horses we were blessed to see that day.

Here's a few pictures from that Travers Day in 2005....

Leroidesanimaux wins the Fourstardave

Gary Stevens aboard Henny Hughes

Jerry Bailey in the irons on Roman Ruler

Flower Alley holds off Bellamy Road to win Travers
(Hey get yo head out the picture)

Flower Alley heading to the winners circle

Let's hope we see some classic 2011 winners in the coming month of Augustus....

Another Marquee Day at the Spa

Tweet My first live Travers was in 2005, when Todd Pletcher's Flower Alley (inset) beat the Boss' Bellamy Road and my favorite horse of 2005, Roman Ruler, who rounded out the trifecta. Flower Alley now stands at Three Chimneys. The Hopeful was also run on that day (now run on the last Sunday of the meet) and First Samurai went out and beat Henny Hughes, who ended up having a pretty decent career as a sprinter, neither went on through the Derby trail. It was the day that really turned me into a huge racing fan. I hit my first pick-four which included Flower Alley, First Samurai, Leroidesnimux (BRZ- in the Fourstardave) and the only Spa appearance of the great sprinter Lost in the Fog who won the King's Bishop handily. Looking back on it we saw some true champions that day, and it was definitely the day I became hooked on the sport. Great memories.

After taking a couple days off to enjoy this beautiful WNY weather (my 3 wood is back in form) it's back to the actual Form to see what we have cooking on Travers Day, circa 2008. Ace handicapper JB has commented on his in-depth thoughts on the race and likes Harlem Rocker, as does Kevin over at The Aspiring Horse Player. Power Cap likes Mambo in Seattle as his Play of the Day, as does the DRF's Dave Litfin. The HR Maven likes the fact that Tyler Baze made the cross country trip for one mount, the lovable Tres Borrachos. The Puma has been uncharacteristically quiet maybe we'll hear from him later. John DaSilva of the NY Post and Steve Crist of the DRF both like Pyro. The race is basically wide open and has a tremendous amount of opportunity for value. It's going to be one of those races that you'll have to keep an eye on the tote board to see if any of these horses creeps up on the board. Five of the last seven winners have had Beyers in excess of 110 for this race. The last three also won the Jim Dandy, Flower Alley (110 -Travers, 112 Dandy), Bernardini (116 -T, 114 - JD) and Street Sense (108 - T, 105 - JD). Here's where the Saratoga Resident would say "Beyer Smeyer." Macho Again, looking to make it four in a row for the Dandy/Travers double, had a 102 in the Dandy, Pyro a 101. The Three Drunks had a 101 and Colonel John a 99 in the Swaps, also at the 1 1/8 distance. As the Travers stretches out to a mile and a quarter, this should favor the closers. I'm not going out on a line again on Tale of Ekati (which means he will win), but I think Pyro, Colonel John and Macho Again will round out my trifecta box. I don't think Mambo in Seattle has faced these caliber (i know i'm stretching it here) of horses, and my two Derby future horses Cool Coal Man and Court Vision, are just too slow. The Zito spoiler just might be Amped, who looks like he might like the extra distance, and could end up second or third and might be worth throwing in some exotic tickets. Of course, we'll be rooting for the Adena Springs' owned Rocker, who I have in my Toga handicapping tourney. Looks like a nice day so attendance should not be hindered by the weather.

Other the other stakes today I favor, Indyanne in the Victory Ride, Russell Baze also making the one mount trip from the left coast, might be worth a single in pick three and pick four plays. I like Operation Red Dawn in the Baruch (G2) with the red hot Ramon Dominguez up. In the King's Bishop, talented J be K may be tested by Lantana Mob (Dominguez again), Golden Spikes (who seems to be doing well in the sprints) and Larry Jones' Kodiak Kowboy, winner of the G2 Amsterdam, Gabe Saez trying to win his second straight Saturday Grade 1. I'm going with KK (coupled with Lantana Mob) for the upset.

Speaking of making the cross country trip for one mount, it was certainly worth it for Raf Bejarano yesterday, winning the thrilling Personal Ensign (G1) on champion filly Ginger Punch by a "snot bubble" over Lemon Drop Mom (who I told the Space Gal before the race, "if anyone will pull the upset that horse will"). That race is up there with the Alabama, for the race of the meet, so far. Maybe today will produce another thrilling finish at the wire.