The field is set for Saturday’s 140th Kentucky Derby. DO YOU HAVE A HORSE YET?! Come on, it doesn’t matter if you follow horse racing, you’re going to watch and you’d better have a Derby horse.

Why? It’s pretty simple: if your horse loses it’s just one of the other 19 losers…you tried, oh well. But if it wins, then you’ll look and feel like a genius. Go you.

1. Vicar’s in Trouble – Rosie Napravnik – 30-1

2. Harry’s Holiday – Corey Lanerie – 50-1

3. Uncle Sigh – Irad Ortiz Jr. – 30-1

4. Danza – Joe Bravo – 10-1

5. California Chrome – Victor Espinoza – 5-2

6. Samraat – Jose Ortiz – 5-1

7. We Miss Artie – Javier Castellano – 50-1

8. General a Rod – Joel Rosario – 15-1

9. Vinceremos – Joe Rococo Jr. – 30-1

10. Wildcat Red – Luiz Saez – 15-1

11. Hoppertunity – Mike Smith – 6-1 scratched

12. Dance With Fate – Corey Nakatani – 20-1

13. Chitu – Martin Garcia 20-1

14. Medal Count – Robby Albarado -20-1

15. Tapiture –  Ricardo Santana Jr. -15-1

16. Intense Holiday – John Velazquez- 12-1

17. Commanding Curve – Shaun Bridgmohan – 50-1

18. Candy Boy – Gary Stevens – 20-1

19. Ride On Curlin – Calvin Borel – 15-1

20. Wicked Strong – Rajiv Maragh – 8-1

For those of you still searching for a horse to bet the farm on, perhaps this will help you find your horse.

Californians: the choice is obvious. Not only is California Chrome a walking billboard for the state’s, umm, flagship export–chrome?–this colt is also a California-bred. Oh yeah, and the heavy favorite right now at 5-2. California Chrome has been running at a different level than the rest of the field so far this year and appears to be in peak form heading into Saturday. He’ll have to overcome a lot more than 19 rivals, however. Only three Cali breds have ever won this race (Morvich-1922, Swaps-1955 and Dedcidedly-1962) and his pedigree does not exactly scream “classic.”

 

New Yorkers: how about Samraat, bred by Waterville’s My Meadowview Farm. This talented colt has won 5 of his 6 career starts, the only loss a close 2nd in the Wood Memorial.

Canucks: Yes, there’s a horse for you too. Ontario-bred We Miss Artie is a longshot at 50-1, but you could do worse. This colt is coming off a win in the Grade-III Sprial Stakes and has already earned over $600k. This fella is well bred and has a top trainer in Todd Pletcher. The major concern is how he’ll handle the dirt track, a surface he’s not exactly taken to in the past.

Floridians: I realize the Sunshine State is most likely your adopted home, but you can still pull for Florida-bred Wildcat Red. 5 wins in 7 lifetime starts and never worse than 2nd, this guy brings it every time. His pedigree suggests the distance will be a tough obstacle but this colt is a fighter.

Cajuns: Louisiana’s own Vicar’s In Trouble comes to Churchill off a win in the Louisiana Derby and is ranked 2nd among all 3 year olds in points. He’ll be breaking from the 1 hole, which hasn’t yielded a winner since 1986 (Ferdinand). Also, this:

 

‘Who’s the Boss’ fans: Pretty much one option here, and that is of course, Danza. This lightly raced colt came out of nowhere to blow away the field in the Arkansas Derby and if he can replicate that performance, look out. Of course, he could be a one-hit wonder…no, not like his namesake…did you not see The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Phenomenon of Philadelphia? 

Sentimental picks: New Englanders won’t be the only ones rooting for Wicked Strong. This colt is named in honor of the victims and first responders of the Boston Marathon bombings and his owners are donating a portion of his winnings to a fund to aid families affected by the tragedy. He comes in hot, having won the Wood Memorial and boasts a strong pedigree and running style for the classic distance. Oh, but he’s already been dealt a MONSTER of a hurdle drawing post 20. That’s a lot of extra ground to have to cover.

Another slice of sentiment comes from Uncle Sigh, owned by Wounded Warrior Stables, who is also donating part of his winnings to injured veterans and their families.

KYDerbyPP

10 is the lucky number in this case.


Still searching? Then just go with the time-tested method of picking your favorite name, lucky number, jockey, and/or silks. Then, bet everything you have and make a julep, kick back and relax. You will soon be rich.

 

Garden & Gun

Garden & Gun

Kentucky Mint Julep Recipe
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint
Crushed ice
Kentucky Bourbon
Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of bourbon. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

 

A lot of things have to go right to win the Kentucky Derby. 150,000 vociferous drunkards decked in pastels, 20 horses bumping and cutting…break well from the gate, maneuver through, around and in between to find a comfort zone, then find a sliver of daylight, then of course go fast and stay the distance. No surprise why even great horses often say, “nah, not my scene.”  It takes a special kind of talent to handle the environment, overcome a bad trip or a tough post in the Kentucky Derby and sometimes all it takes for a longshot to come in is smooth sailing. Choose wisely.

 

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