Aug 24, 2012
Flying into Chicago looking down on Arlington Park race track.
Flying into Chicago looking down on Arlington Park race track.
Bring your green hat Snoop-a-loop, it's Derby time!
This year, for the sake of time and lack of creativity, I am going to do my best impression of Mr. Roto and give you my likes and hates for your annual Hugging Harold Reynolds Kentucky Derby preview. Off to the races. Hates Daddy Long Legs (1) - pinched on the rail, his legs may be long, but they will be cramped. Optimizer (2) - not much good comes out of the two hole, let alone in the Derby. Rousing Sermon (7) - he is going to need more than a sermon and prayer to win this contest Creative Cause (8) - has not been training well, good resume, but lacking. Nothing creative about that post. Trinniberg (9) - you will hear his name for the first one minute of the greatest two minutes of sports, but then will fade into the glue factory Went the Day Well (13) - the team is trying for a copy cat performance from the year before with Animal Kingdom. This copy cat has a hairball lodged in its gullet. Hansen (14) - this horse is white, too white to win this athletic competition. El Padrino (16) - used to like him, now I don't. Suck on that. Done Talking ( 17) - more like done racing. Rimshot. Sabercat (18) - if he dresses as Battle Cat from He-Man on race day, I will bet on him Liaison (20) - boring as his name
Likes Take Charge Indy (3) - two words, Borel. Never discount the ragin cajun on Derby day. Union Rags (4) - preseason favorite, coming off a loss that handicappers want to excuse so they can be right from the beginning Dullahan (5) - if the early speed horses exhaust the field, someone needs to pick up the pieces. Why not a turf horse? Bodemeister (6) - This horse is named after Bob Baffert's son Bode, who is named after Bode Miller the skiier, so you can sense my skepticism. But the best horse in the field.
Daddy Nose Best (10) - He was my sleeper until Andrew Beyer (horse god) spilled the beans. They were going to be tasty beans. Alpha (11) - Might have to be my new sleeper. Plus, Alpha sounds like a Derby winning name. Prospective (12) - I hear he is training well. Deep sleep. Gemologist (15) - Tim Tebow, all he does is win I'll Have Another (19) - I'm just being nice, I really don't like him. I hate to pick the favorite, but Bodemeister looks good right now. However, the best trip wins the derby not the best horse. So, here in unenthusiastic fashion, which is cool right now, are my favorites in order: Bodemeister, Gemologist, Union Rags, Daddy Nose Best and Take Charge Indy.