Derby Fever! And Contest!

Can you feel it? Do you have your hat picked out? Is your OTB phone account up to date or are you going to go by your local track to place your bets? You been reading the handicappers? Oh, it's getting so close! Are you feeling the Curlin buzz? The chatter is all about this guy. And Street Sense is getting a lot of attention too. This year the Derby also happens to fall on Cinco de Mayo so I am feeling very good about Storm in May as a longshot bet. The name plus a Mexican-born jockey bodes well!

If you are not the sort of person who has a big, red circle drawn around the first Saturday in May on your calendar then maybe you are unsure what I am talking about. The Kentucky Derby is this weekend! (Post time 6:04 pm if you're not coming over to my house to watch it.) I get giddy all April just waiting for the big day. I am a really sick gambler too and even if I don't have a bet on the race I am all itchy to see if my picks make it.

In honor of the 133rd run for the roses I am sponsoring a contest here. Take a look at the contenders  and put up your 3 best guesses for win (1st), place (2nd) and show (3rd) in the comments and the winner (or the closest to getting all 3) will receive a special (non-monetary - think handmade) prize from me in the mail. (In the case of a tie I'll do a drawing for the winner). I was going to say one guess per commentor but, hell, I've never been able to make just one bet on a race in my life so let's put the limit on 3 sets of picks per person. All guesses timestamped before 6 pm on Saturday will be in the running. Even if you've never bet on a horserace before you really can't go wrong picking for the Derby. Wildly choosing random names from the list is almost as good as actually picking from the favorites since this is notoriously the hardest race of the year to handicap. But if you want some tips check out KentuckyDerby.com for the latest news. FYI, horses may scratch (drop out) as late as an hour or so before the race but that is all part of the game. You never know who is going to actually be running the race until the gates open. Good luck!

Comments

[LetterB]

I will start off the betting (of course my guess does not count but, I'm telling you, I can't help myself when there is a gambling opportunity). Here is my super long-shot trifecta:

1. Win: Storm in May
2. Place: Street Sense
3. Show: Dominican

[Nicolle]

ok, I know NOTHING about any of this but I'm gonna say:
1. Scat Daddy (I like the idea that maybe his jockey is all, "do dap a dee-yee pap po waa" all over the track.)
2.Circular Quay (fun names only)
3.Hard Spun (sounds like a cool wool yarn!)

[kara]

1.any given saturday (go garrett!)
2.stormello (mmmmm...carmello)
3.curlin (the trainer is ass-mussen...*snort*)

you can go ahead and send me my consolation prize now.

[Jill]

My mom is freakily good at picking the Derby winner for some reason. I'll turn her on to your contest...

[HoorayForSaturday]

Derby Fever?
You bet your ass I've got Derby Fever!
Yes, we are in Kentucky, where the state motto is "Unbridled Spirit". We are less than an hour away, right up I-71 from Churchill Downs.
Actually, this marks our second running of the Derby that we have lived here for and I have paid a little more attention to it this time. People loose their minds around here for the Derby. I have not seen any bigger backyard parties for an event other than this. Super Bowl, yeah whatever. Derby...everything's closing, bars are taking bus trips to the race, outdoor grills are fired up and grilling, adult beverages are being comsumed by four year olds.
Derby Fever indeed! It's kind of funny because the build up to it lasts for weeks, then in a matter of about two minutes, everyone is hung over and ready to go to bed at 7pm.
With all this being said, I know nothing about horses besides they run faster than I do and everytime I see one I ask, "Why the long face?".
Here is my first round of picks:
1. Street Sense
2. Curlin
3. Nobiz Like Shobiz

[LetterB]

Oooh goody! Keep em coming!

HFS - you couldn't know this but I spent formative years in your neck of the woods (Cincy) but my fever extends even further back. It goes all the way back to 1978 when I was a total horsenerd and Affirmed won the triple crown. My dreams of being the next Stevie Cauthen (on whom I had a major crush) were snuffed out at age 12 by a growth spurt, but I still wish it could have been. Damn my average stature.

[sarah]

we drew horses at random at work, so i'll stick with the luck of the draw...bad pun intended...

1. stormello
2. teuflesberg
3. tiago

[lea]

here goes...I'll do two because I have no idea what I am doing:
#1
Street Sense
Cowtown Cat (how can someone from Chicago NOT pick a horse with this name?)
Any given Saturday

#2
Curlin
Great Hunter (the maiden name connection...)
Street Sense

[wordgirl]

Uh...horses make me sneeze. And watching them run makes me want to take a nap. Not judging...just an opinion.

[Paw Paw]

OK, my secret (not anymore) is to: 1) Don't read "a thang bout these colts" 2) Pick names that sound fast and intriguing, and 3)Last but not least, never, NEVER, go with the favorite - it just creates too much stress and feelings of doubt as soon as you lay your money down(as in "you IDIOT") - the middle of the herd is the best chance, the safe and lucky ones. Remember, horses are basically cowards. So... based on this careful 1+ minute analysis (matches the race time)... here is a reasonable projection of where these animals will wind up at the end of this cruel flight fury...
1. Circular Quay
2. Scat Daddy
3. Any Given Saturday

[HoorayForSaturday]

It looks like it might be a sloppy track for the Derby, as it's been nasty weather in this region for the past couple of days.
Here is my second round of picks.
1.Hard Spun
2.Curlin
3.Circular Quay

[braine]

W. Nobiz Like Shobiz
P. Curlin
S. Street Sense

[aunt ann.....uncle dennis]

Alana, I'm so proud the torch has passed!

Dennis
Curlin
Cowtown Cat
Scat Daddy

Me
Dominical
Curlin
No Biz like Showbiz

[aunt ann.....uncle dennis]

ok,
one more pick (can't stop that feeling!)

Teuflsberg
Storm in May
Circular Quay

[LetterB]

Woooohoooo - feel that fever burn!