140th Kentucky Derby thread

"West Coast Represent!"

Good for California Chrome, his owners and the trainer ... all a great story.

 

That race was over at the half-mile mark when they hit it at 47 and change and Chrome had a clear path to the front. You have to run him hard early to have a shot at beating him down the stretch.

He'll get a good test from a rested and healthy Hoppertunity in the Preakness.

 

My early pick was Hopperunity, and had he run, I think he would have had a shot at California Chrome. But I'm not disappointed. I ended up landing on Commanding Curve, and hit some exactas based on the idea that if CC did break well (he often doesn't), he would have a big shot. A perfect trip for the winner. Even if Hopperunity runs in the Preakness, I would favor CC. Big believer in the Derby as a Preakness prep, and he's now far more fit than Hopperunity.

 

Whoever it was at NBC that thought it was a good idea to have Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir on the broadcast, I hope they've been fired.

 

I went with a female "friend" to the derby in 2000.
We got so wasted the night before. The hot sun was just killing us.
That combined with the walking. She actually momentarily passed out near a fence.
The infield is like Mardi Gras.
Plenty of stripping, lots of booze.
Not a fun place to be with the hangover of your life.

 

I figured the payoff would be you've been happily married for 14 years...

 

Happily for 10. But I did win an award for that column.
I have never seen anything as out of control as that infield.
Twain was right - sometimes too much to drink is barely enough.

 

DJ Gallo ‏@DJGalloEtc 16h
Big day of horse racing and boxing. I hope we win World War II.

 

Maybe the St. Louis Browns can win one in a row.

 

I've heard that California Chrome can hit the triple axel, but only in five-furlong workouts.