I receive this from a friend each year. Freaking hilarious. He did have Smarty last year before the odds went to hell.
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 588pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=781 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1097" width=30><COL style="WIDTH: 61pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2962" width=81><COL style="WIDTH: 55pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2669" width=73><COL style="WIDTH: 49pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2377" width=65><COL style="DISPLAY: none; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 658" width=0><COL style="WIDTH: 362pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 17627" width=482><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl23 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=30 height=30>Gate</TD><TD class=xl22 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=81>Horse</TD><TD class=xl22 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=73>Jockey</TD><TD class=xl22 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=65>Trainer</TD><TD class=xl23 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=50>Odds</TD><TD class=xl23 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=482>B's Thoughts</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 56.25pt" height=75><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 56.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=75 x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Sort It Out</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>B. Blanc</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>B. Baffert</TD><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482 x:str="A Bob Baffert horse. I may have read somewhere that he was scrappy. Nothing else good to say really. I think Baffert is a jackass but he used to own these races so one might think he sees something that no one else does. I doubt it. I think he is stupid and just doesn't like not having a horse in the Derby so he picked the only horse with owners stupid enough to pay the entry fee. ">A Bob Baffert horse. I may have read somewhere that he was scrappy. Nothing else good to say really. I think Baffert is a jackass but he used to own these races so one might think he sees something that no one else does. I doubt it. I think he is stupid and just doesn't like not having a horse in the Derby so he picked the only horse with owners stupid enough to pay the entry fee. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 45pt" height=60><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 45pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=60 x:num>2</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Andromeda's Hero</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>R. Bejarano</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl40 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>He is going to the Derby off a win in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Huh??? I lived in Tampa for 4 years and went to the track all the time and I have never even heard of this race. Zito trained but the worst of his bunch. He is from the mighty Fusaichi Pegasus, but not the best of his either (see Bandini below).</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 67.5pt" height=90><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 67.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=90 x:num>3</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Sun King</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>E. Prado</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'15-1">15-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>This guy is interesting. He had been really strong his entire career, until the Blue Grass a few weeks ago where he was dreadful against a tough field. His trip was bad but still? Also, he has never run over 1 1/8 of a mile. Not real good, nonetheless, a lot of folks like him. However, being trained by Zito and ridden by Prado isn't all bad. Also out of Charismatic, the 1999 Derby winner. Lastly, and extremely interesting, is that Prado had a chance to ride Noble Causeway but decided to stay with this guy. I will keep him on my radar but I am not sure if I will play him.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 78.75pt" height=105><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 78.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=105 x:num>4</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Noble Causeway</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>G. Stevens</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'12-1">12-1</TD><TD class=xl40 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>He has arguably the best pedigree in the field, he is the only true closer in the bunch and he improves every day. Three traits that I am usually very keen on. He should have pretty good odds, also a favorable trait. And, he is trained by probably the best trainer in the country (Zito) and ridden by my favorite jockey (Stevens). Why am I not in love? For one, this is the first time that Stevens will have ridden NC. Second, he just lost to High Fly in the Florida Derby. Lastly, he has had a long layoff (although I don't care too much about this). He will be up there but I am not sure where just yet. Maybe a better bet for the Preakness.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=30 x:num>5</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Coin Silver</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>P. Valenzuela</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>T. Pletcher</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482 x:str="Don't really know much except Pletcher is pretty good. I think he is a front runner and good in the slop, two things I really don't give a **** about. Maybe if it rains. ">Don't really know much except Pletcher is pretty good. I think he is a front runner and good in the slop, two things I really don't give a **** about. Maybe if it rains. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 33.75pt" height=45><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 33.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=45 x:num>6</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>High Limit</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>R. Dominguez</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>R. Frankel</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'12-1">12-1</TD><TD class=xl40 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>Very fast, front running horse that has been training very well this week at Churchill Downs. If he has a clean run to the first turn, he could steal this. I doubt it. Probably another Preakness horse.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 56.25pt" height=75><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 56.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=75 x:num>7</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Flower Alley</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Chavez</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>T. Pletcher</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>Decent horse but probably a little too green. It is difficult to like a horse that is not very battle tested going into the most grueling race a horse will ever encounter. Good trainer and good jockey but probably not enough. Also, he will be wearing blinders for the first time. I usually don't like it when a horse tries new things before this race. Also, he doesn't run well in the slop.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 56.25pt" height=75><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 56.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=75 x:num>8</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Greater Good</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>J. McKee</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>B. Holthus</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl40 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>Another interesting horse that is a little below the radar. A month ago he was 10-1, last week he was 50-1, now 20-1??? What??? Granted, he was awful in his last race (Arkansas Derby) where he was crushed by Afleet Alex and Flower Alley but he had done quite well before that. He likes Churchill Downs and he will probably end up with big odds. He shouldn't win but he could end up in the money.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 67.5pt" height=90><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 67.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=90 x:num>9</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Greeley's Galaxy</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>Desormeaux</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>W. Stute</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'15-1">15-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482 x:str="He is coming here off a win in the weak Illinois Derby in only his fourth start. Extremely lacking in experience, with only 4 races to his name and none as a 2 year old, but he has been improving each time out. He has a good jockey, he has been working well this week and he has good speed figures but I am still having a difficult time getting excited about this guy. He could do well but I am just not feeling it. Also, history says no way as the last horse to win without having started as a 2 year old was in 1882. That is not a typo. ">He is coming here off a win in the weak Illinois Derby in only his fourth start. Extremely lacking in experience, with only 4 races to his name and none as a 2 year old, but he has been improving each time out. He has a good jockey, he has been working well this week and he has good speed figures but I am still having a difficult time getting excited about this guy. He could do well but I am just not feeling it. Also, history says no way as the last horse to win without having started as a 2 year old was in 1882. That is not a typo. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=30 x:num>10</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Giacomo</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>M. Smith</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>J. Shireffs</TD><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>How the hell did this guy get into this race. He is 1 for 7 with 5 straight losses. Absolutely no chance.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 78.75pt" height=105><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 78.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=105 x:num>11</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>High Fly</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Bailey</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'8-1">8-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>Now we are talking. This guy won the Florida Derby (my favorite prep race) while looking pretty good with his good buddy Noble Causeway (a fellow Zito trained horse) right on his back. A weaker field than normal in Florida but still better than most. He is 5 for 6 in his career, has hall of fame rider Jerry Bailey, has hall of fame trainer Zito, and strong speed figures. Has great tactical speed which will allow him to set his own pace and which more importantly should allow Bailey to weave him through traffic, a very underrated skill in racing (especially in the Derby). He is a definite on my list.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 112.5pt" height=150><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 112.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=150 x:num>12</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Afleet Alex</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>J. Rose</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>T. Ritchey</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'9-2">9-2</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482 x:str="He had been good until a terrible run in the Rebel where he was allegedly fighting off a lung infection. After that race, he was on the board for the Derby at 40-1. Then he ran an incredible race in the Arkansas Derby three weeks ago that has everyone talking about similarities between he and Smarty Jones. I think the comparison is a little ridiculous being that Smarty was the best 3 year old in the last 25 years. Nonetheless he is like Smarty in that his race in Arkansas was very impressive, he was a cheaper horse, he was a sprinter, he was injured once, his mom's
didn't have any milk, blah blah blah. He is no Smarty but he is good. He has run 9 times, with 6 wins, 2 places and the one loss discussed earlier. Not bad. He is clearly battle tested which is another important trait in this race. However, the one thing I can't seem to get past is his jockey. A kid at 26 who has never done anything like this. ">He had been good until a terrible run in the Rebel where he was allegedly fighting off a lung infection. After that race, he was on the board for the Derby at 40-1. Then he ran an incredible race in the Arkansas Derby three weeks ago that has everyone talking about similarities between he and Smarty Jones. I think the comparison is a little ridiculous being that Smarty was the best 3 year old in the last 25 years. Nonetheless he is like Smarty in that his race in Arkansas was very impressive, he was a cheaper horse, he was a sprinter, he was injured once, his mom's didn't have any milk, blah blah blah. He is no Smarty but he is good. He has run 9 times, with 6 wins, 2 places and the one loss discussed earlier. Not bad. He is clearly battle tested which is another important trait in this race. However, the one thing I can't seem to get past is his jockey. A kid at 26 who has never done anything like this. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 33.75pt" height=45><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 33.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=45> </TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81> </TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73> </TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65> </TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50> </TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>As even Bailey, who has been ridding in this race for 20+ years, says he still gets butterflies before this race. A jockey is a big deal and I am scared. Also, until the Arkansas Derby, Afleet had never won a race over a mile. Could definitely win but I will not be on him.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=30 x:num>13</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Spanish Chestnut</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Bravo</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>P. Biancone</TD><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>Bandini's rabbit, is what EVERYONE is calling this guy. Worked well in the Blue Grass, for Bandini that is. No chance.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 112.5pt" height=150><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 112.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=150 x:num>14</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Wilko</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>C. Nakatani</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>C.Dollase</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>Every year the best two year olds in the country race in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Every following year the winner of that race sucks. This is that guy from last year. As long as I have been watching this stuff, I have never seen the winner of this race make it to the Derby. He made it but he probably will not win. Regardless, everyone loves this horse..., as a horse and not a racer. I even saw one guy write "He has the sweetest disposition that makes a person have to love this horse"??? What the F###? Who the hell cares about that? In fact, I see that as a huge negative. I am still looking into whether that writer is gay but until then I will have to determine what I think about ole Wilko. This little guy is gutsy, scrappy, determined and a battler and he is healthy for the first time in a while. Maybe I am gay, because I like him too. My favorite long shot.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 56.25pt" height=75><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 56.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=75 x:num>15</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Bandini</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Velazquez</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>T. Pletcher</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'6-1">6-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>In easily the deepest Derby prep this year (Blue Grass), he was awesome. His time wasn't great but he wasn't really pushed. He has a solid tracking style that should allow him a decent amount of freedom (see High Fly above) and he has been training real well. Great pedigree (son of the awesome Fusaichi Pegasus) that should make the distance not be a problem, unlike most of his rivals. Enough said. He is my guy. Hopefully, his odds get better.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 101.25pt" height=135><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 101.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=135 x:num>16</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Bellamy Road</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>J. Castellano</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'5-2">5-2</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>The favorite and, arguably, deserving. A month ago, he was 50-1. That is how dominating his run in the Wood Memorial was. Traditionally I think the strongest prep race and he dominated, breaking the track record and winning by 17+ lengths. This ***** is good but is he worth the price? I don't think so. He is fast but there is a lot of speed in this race, which could be a problem if he gets caught up in it. In each of his wins he has led the entire way. Since his debut, he has never passed a horse. This could be a whole new world for him. However, if he gets out front cleanly and things go his way, this could be a romp. Still, I don't think the reward is worth the risk. Also, the favorites rarely win this race and he is owned by super jackass George Steinbrenner. No out of pure principle.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 45pt" height=60><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 45pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=60 x:num>17</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Don't Get Mad</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>T. Baze</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>R. Ellis</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'30-1">30-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>3 for 3 at Churchill, however, only around one turn. 0 for 2 around two turns. A lot of these horses haven't run on this track before so you can't always be sure if they will like it. As weird as it sounds, some horses will not run on certain tracks. Not the case with this guy. Live long shot.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=30 x:num>18</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Closing Argument</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>C. Velasquez</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>McLaughlin</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'30-1">30-1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>I don't really see anything good. I think I read somewhere that someone said he is a good long shot. Don't know but my money is not going there.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=30 x:num>19</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Going Wild</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Valdivia Jr.</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>D. W. Lukas</TD><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>Got crushed in the Wood and the Blue Grass. Lukas sees something that I don't and Lukas is the man. Nonetheless, no thanks.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=30 x:num>20</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Buzzards Bay</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>M. Guidry</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>J. Mullins</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>This is beautiful! The douche bag trainer of this horse said earlier in the year, "anyone who bets on horses is an idiot." F### that guy and the horse he rode in on. I hope he dies.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 82.5pt; mso-height-source: userset" height=110><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 82.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=110></TD><TD class=xl41 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 203pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=269 colSpan=5 x:str="Disclaimer: As usual, I must provide my standard disclaimer. I would like to start by reminding everyone that these are horses that we are talking about. What I mean is that they can't talk and, therefore, they can't let us know what they are thinking or how they are feeling, and that is very much the beauty of this sport. As I have noted before, who the hell knows what these big ass things are thinking prior to the gates opening. All we know is that they can run pretty good, when they want to. What we don't know is if they are bored, tired, they hate the horse next to them, they are hungover, they didn't get any from their ***** last night, whatever. My point is, they might just not feel like running. Even the great Secretariat lost a race (he lost the Wood just before his run at the Triple Crown). Even the greatest can throw in a clunker and I love it for that. ">Disclaimer: As usual, I must provide my standard disclaimer. I would like to start by reminding everyone that these are horses that we are talking about. What I mean is that they can't talk and, therefore, they can't let us know what they are thinking or how they are feeling, and that is very much the beauty of this sport. As I have noted before, who the hell knows what these big ass things are thinking prior to the gates opening. All we know is that they can run pretty good, when they want to. What we don't know is if they are bored, tired, they hate the horse next to them, they are hungover, they didn't get any from their ***** last night, whatever. My point is, they might just not feel like running. Even the great Secretariat lost a race (he lost the Wood just before his run at the Triple Crown). Even the greatest can throw in a clunker and I love it for that. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 88.5pt; mso-height-source: userset" height=118><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 88.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=118></TD><TD class=xl41 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 203pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=269 colSpan=5>Anyway, Jay Cronely (ESPN expert) picked Afleet Alex, Bellamy Road and Sun King; Bill Finley (another ESPN expert) picked Afleet Alex, Noble Causeway and Sun King; Eddie Mac (ESPN expert) picked Bandini, Noble Causeway and High Fly; and Dan Illman (Daily Racing Forum) picked High Fly, Bellamy Road and Afleet Alex. My play is Bandini, High Fly and Noble Causeway. Also, I will probably have a couple of hedges including, but not limited to, Don't Get Mad, Greater Good and Wilko across the board. Good luck to all of the other suckers out there and you can all cuss me on Sunday. I would like to note that I have done better than the guys noted above in this race, as I have won 3 out of the last 5 Derby's (Stupid War Emblem and Stupid Funny Cide got me). With that said, I would also like to note that my wife usually does better than me and she bets on any horse whose name has something to do with cats (i.e. cat, lion, kitty, tiger, etc.). Whatever works. Good luck to all. Cheers from down under!</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl32 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 39.75pt; mso-height-source: userset" height=53><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 39.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=53></TD><TD class=xl41 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 203pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=269 colSpan=5>I would also like to note that there are no females in this race, therefore, I will not get to use my favorite phrase, "However, after all is said and done, I have to go with something that my good friend Geoff once told me and that was, "I don't want to bet on anything without nuts."." Maybe next time.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 588pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=781 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 23pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1097" width=30><COL style="WIDTH: 61pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2962" width=81><COL style="WIDTH: 55pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2669" width=73><COL style="WIDTH: 49pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2377" width=65><COL style="DISPLAY: none; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 658" width=0><COL style="WIDTH: 362pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 17627" width=482><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl23 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=30 height=30>Gate</TD><TD class=xl22 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=81>Horse</TD><TD class=xl22 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=73>Jockey</TD><TD class=xl22 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=65>Trainer</TD><TD class=xl23 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=50>Odds</TD><TD class=xl23 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #333333" width=482>B's Thoughts</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 56.25pt" height=75><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 56.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=75 x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Sort It Out</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>B. Blanc</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>B. Baffert</TD><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482 x:str="A Bob Baffert horse. I may have read somewhere that he was scrappy. Nothing else good to say really. I think Baffert is a jackass but he used to own these races so one might think he sees something that no one else does. I doubt it. I think he is stupid and just doesn't like not having a horse in the Derby so he picked the only horse with owners stupid enough to pay the entry fee. ">A Bob Baffert horse. I may have read somewhere that he was scrappy. Nothing else good to say really. I think Baffert is a jackass but he used to own these races so one might think he sees something that no one else does. I doubt it. I think he is stupid and just doesn't like not having a horse in the Derby so he picked the only horse with owners stupid enough to pay the entry fee. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 45pt" height=60><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 45pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=60 x:num>2</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Andromeda's Hero</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>R. Bejarano</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl40 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>He is going to the Derby off a win in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Huh??? I lived in Tampa for 4 years and went to the track all the time and I have never even heard of this race. Zito trained but the worst of his bunch. He is from the mighty Fusaichi Pegasus, but not the best of his either (see Bandini below).</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 67.5pt" height=90><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 67.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=90 x:num>3</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Sun King</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>E. Prado</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'15-1">15-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>This guy is interesting. He had been really strong his entire career, until the Blue Grass a few weeks ago where he was dreadful against a tough field. His trip was bad but still? Also, he has never run over 1 1/8 of a mile. Not real good, nonetheless, a lot of folks like him. However, being trained by Zito and ridden by Prado isn't all bad. Also out of Charismatic, the 1999 Derby winner. Lastly, and extremely interesting, is that Prado had a chance to ride Noble Causeway but decided to stay with this guy. I will keep him on my radar but I am not sure if I will play him.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 78.75pt" height=105><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 78.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=105 x:num>4</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Noble Causeway</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>G. Stevens</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'12-1">12-1</TD><TD class=xl40 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>He has arguably the best pedigree in the field, he is the only true closer in the bunch and he improves every day. Three traits that I am usually very keen on. He should have pretty good odds, also a favorable trait. And, he is trained by probably the best trainer in the country (Zito) and ridden by my favorite jockey (Stevens). Why am I not in love? For one, this is the first time that Stevens will have ridden NC. Second, he just lost to High Fly in the Florida Derby. Lastly, he has had a long layoff (although I don't care too much about this). He will be up there but I am not sure where just yet. Maybe a better bet for the Preakness.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=30 x:num>5</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Coin Silver</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>P. Valenzuela</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>T. Pletcher</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482 x:str="Don't really know much except Pletcher is pretty good. I think he is a front runner and good in the slop, two things I really don't give a **** about. Maybe if it rains. ">Don't really know much except Pletcher is pretty good. I think he is a front runner and good in the slop, two things I really don't give a **** about. Maybe if it rains. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 33.75pt" height=45><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 33.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=45 x:num>6</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>High Limit</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>R. Dominguez</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>R. Frankel</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'12-1">12-1</TD><TD class=xl40 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>Very fast, front running horse that has been training very well this week at Churchill Downs. If he has a clean run to the first turn, he could steal this. I doubt it. Probably another Preakness horse.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 56.25pt" height=75><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 56.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=75 x:num>7</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Flower Alley</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Chavez</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>T. Pletcher</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>Decent horse but probably a little too green. It is difficult to like a horse that is not very battle tested going into the most grueling race a horse will ever encounter. Good trainer and good jockey but probably not enough. Also, he will be wearing blinders for the first time. I usually don't like it when a horse tries new things before this race. Also, he doesn't run well in the slop.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 56.25pt" height=75><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 56.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=75 x:num>8</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Greater Good</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>J. McKee</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>B. Holthus</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl40 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>Another interesting horse that is a little below the radar. A month ago he was 10-1, last week he was 50-1, now 20-1??? What??? Granted, he was awful in his last race (Arkansas Derby) where he was crushed by Afleet Alex and Flower Alley but he had done quite well before that. He likes Churchill Downs and he will probably end up with big odds. He shouldn't win but he could end up in the money.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 67.5pt" height=90><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 67.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=90 x:num>9</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Greeley's Galaxy</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>Desormeaux</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>W. Stute</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'15-1">15-1</TD><TD class=xl39 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482 x:str="He is coming here off a win in the weak Illinois Derby in only his fourth start. Extremely lacking in experience, with only 4 races to his name and none as a 2 year old, but he has been improving each time out. He has a good jockey, he has been working well this week and he has good speed figures but I am still having a difficult time getting excited about this guy. He could do well but I am just not feeling it. Also, history says no way as the last horse to win without having started as a 2 year old was in 1882. That is not a typo. ">He is coming here off a win in the weak Illinois Derby in only his fourth start. Extremely lacking in experience, with only 4 races to his name and none as a 2 year old, but he has been improving each time out. He has a good jockey, he has been working well this week and he has good speed figures but I am still having a difficult time getting excited about this guy. He could do well but I am just not feeling it. Also, history says no way as the last horse to win without having started as a 2 year old was in 1882. That is not a typo. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=30 x:num>10</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Giacomo</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>M. Smith</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>J. Shireffs</TD><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>How the hell did this guy get into this race. He is 1 for 7 with 5 straight losses. Absolutely no chance.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 78.75pt" height=105><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 78.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=105 x:num>11</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>High Fly</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Bailey</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'8-1">8-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>Now we are talking. This guy won the Florida Derby (my favorite prep race) while looking pretty good with his good buddy Noble Causeway (a fellow Zito trained horse) right on his back. A weaker field than normal in Florida but still better than most. He is 5 for 6 in his career, has hall of fame rider Jerry Bailey, has hall of fame trainer Zito, and strong speed figures. Has great tactical speed which will allow him to set his own pace and which more importantly should allow Bailey to weave him through traffic, a very underrated skill in racing (especially in the Derby). He is a definite on my list.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 112.5pt" height=150><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 112.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=150 x:num>12</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Afleet Alex</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>J. Rose</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>T. Ritchey</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'9-2">9-2</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482 x:str="He had been good until a terrible run in the Rebel where he was allegedly fighting off a lung infection. After that race, he was on the board for the Derby at 40-1. Then he ran an incredible race in the Arkansas Derby three weeks ago that has everyone talking about similarities between he and Smarty Jones. I think the comparison is a little ridiculous being that Smarty was the best 3 year old in the last 25 years. Nonetheless he is like Smarty in that his race in Arkansas was very impressive, he was a cheaper horse, he was a sprinter, he was injured once, his mom's
didn't have any milk, blah blah blah. He is no Smarty but he is good. He has run 9 times, with 6 wins, 2 places and the one loss discussed earlier. Not bad. He is clearly battle tested which is another important trait in this race. However, the one thing I can't seem to get past is his jockey. A kid at 26 who has never done anything like this. ">He had been good until a terrible run in the Rebel where he was allegedly fighting off a lung infection. After that race, he was on the board for the Derby at 40-1. Then he ran an incredible race in the Arkansas Derby three weeks ago that has everyone talking about similarities between he and Smarty Jones. I think the comparison is a little ridiculous being that Smarty was the best 3 year old in the last 25 years. Nonetheless he is like Smarty in that his race in Arkansas was very impressive, he was a cheaper horse, he was a sprinter, he was injured once, his mom's didn't have any milk, blah blah blah. He is no Smarty but he is good. He has run 9 times, with 6 wins, 2 places and the one loss discussed earlier. Not bad. He is clearly battle tested which is another important trait in this race. However, the one thing I can't seem to get past is his jockey. A kid at 26 who has never done anything like this. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 33.75pt" height=45><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 33.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=45> </TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81> </TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73> </TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65> </TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50> </TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>As even Bailey, who has been ridding in this race for 20+ years, says he still gets butterflies before this race. A jockey is a big deal and I am scared. Also, until the Arkansas Derby, Afleet had never won a race over a mile. Could definitely win but I will not be on him.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=30 x:num>13</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Spanish Chestnut</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Bravo</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>P. Biancone</TD><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>Bandini's rabbit, is what EVERYONE is calling this guy. Worked well in the Blue Grass, for Bandini that is. No chance.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 112.5pt" height=150><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 112.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=150 x:num>14</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Wilko</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>C. Nakatani</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>C.Dollase</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>Every year the best two year olds in the country race in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Every following year the winner of that race sucks. This is that guy from last year. As long as I have been watching this stuff, I have never seen the winner of this race make it to the Derby. He made it but he probably will not win. Regardless, everyone loves this horse..., as a horse and not a racer. I even saw one guy write "He has the sweetest disposition that makes a person have to love this horse"??? What the F###? Who the hell cares about that? In fact, I see that as a huge negative. I am still looking into whether that writer is gay but until then I will have to determine what I think about ole Wilko. This little guy is gutsy, scrappy, determined and a battler and he is healthy for the first time in a while. Maybe I am gay, because I like him too. My favorite long shot.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 56.25pt" height=75><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 56.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=75 x:num>15</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Bandini</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Velazquez</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>T. Pletcher</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'6-1">6-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>In easily the deepest Derby prep this year (Blue Grass), he was awesome. His time wasn't great but he wasn't really pushed. He has a solid tracking style that should allow him a decent amount of freedom (see High Fly above) and he has been training real well. Great pedigree (son of the awesome Fusaichi Pegasus) that should make the distance not be a problem, unlike most of his rivals. Enough said. He is my guy. Hopefully, his odds get better.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 101.25pt" height=135><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 101.25pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=135 x:num>16</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Bellamy Road</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>J. Castellano</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>N. Zito</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'5-2">5-2</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>The favorite and, arguably, deserving. A month ago, he was 50-1. That is how dominating his run in the Wood Memorial was. Traditionally I think the strongest prep race and he dominated, breaking the track record and winning by 17+ lengths. This ***** is good but is he worth the price? I don't think so. He is fast but there is a lot of speed in this race, which could be a problem if he gets caught up in it. In each of his wins he has led the entire way. Since his debut, he has never passed a horse. This could be a whole new world for him. However, if he gets out front cleanly and things go his way, this could be a romp. Still, I don't think the reward is worth the risk. Also, the favorites rarely win this race and he is owned by super jackass George Steinbrenner. No out of pure principle.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 45pt" height=60><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 45pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=60 x:num>17</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Don't Get Mad</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>T. Baze</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>R. Ellis</TD><TD class=xl37 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50 x:str="'30-1">30-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>3 for 3 at Churchill, however, only around one turn. 0 for 2 around two turns. A lot of these horses haven't run on this track before so you can't always be sure if they will like it. As weird as it sounds, some horses will not run on certain tracks. Not the case with this guy. Live long shot.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=30 x:num>18</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Closing Argument</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>C. Velasquez</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>McLaughlin</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'30-1">30-1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>I don't really see anything good. I think I read somewhere that someone said he is a good long shot. Don't know but my money is not going there.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=30 height=30 x:num>19</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=81>Going Wild</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=73>J. Valdivia Jr.</TD><TD class=xl33 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=65>D. W. Lukas</TD><TD class=xl34 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=50>50-1</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: silver" width=482>Got crushed in the Wood and the Blue Grass. Lukas sees something that I don't and Lukas is the man. Nonetheless, no thanks.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 22.5pt" height=30><TD class=xl36 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 23pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 22.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=30 height=30 x:num>20</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 61pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=81>Buzzards Bay</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 55pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=73>M. Guidry</TD><TD class=xl35 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 49pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=65>J. Mullins</TD><TD class=xl38 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 38pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=50 x:str="'20-1">20-1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 362pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white" width=482>This is beautiful! The douche bag trainer of this horse said earlier in the year, "anyone who bets on horses is an idiot." F### that guy and the horse he rode in on. I hope he dies.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 82.5pt; mso-height-source: userset" height=110><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 82.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=110></TD><TD class=xl41 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 203pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=269 colSpan=5 x:str="Disclaimer: As usual, I must provide my standard disclaimer. I would like to start by reminding everyone that these are horses that we are talking about. What I mean is that they can't talk and, therefore, they can't let us know what they are thinking or how they are feeling, and that is very much the beauty of this sport. As I have noted before, who the hell knows what these big ass things are thinking prior to the gates opening. All we know is that they can run pretty good, when they want to. What we don't know is if they are bored, tired, they hate the horse next to them, they are hungover, they didn't get any from their ***** last night, whatever. My point is, they might just not feel like running. Even the great Secretariat lost a race (he lost the Wood just before his run at the Triple Crown). Even the greatest can throw in a clunker and I love it for that. ">Disclaimer: As usual, I must provide my standard disclaimer. I would like to start by reminding everyone that these are horses that we are talking about. What I mean is that they can't talk and, therefore, they can't let us know what they are thinking or how they are feeling, and that is very much the beauty of this sport. As I have noted before, who the hell knows what these big ass things are thinking prior to the gates opening. All we know is that they can run pretty good, when they want to. What we don't know is if they are bored, tired, they hate the horse next to them, they are hungover, they didn't get any from their ***** last night, whatever. My point is, they might just not feel like running. Even the great Secretariat lost a race (he lost the Wood just before his run at the Triple Crown). Even the greatest can throw in a clunker and I love it for that. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 88.5pt; mso-height-source: userset" height=118><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 88.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=118></TD><TD class=xl41 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 203pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=269 colSpan=5>Anyway, Jay Cronely (ESPN expert) picked Afleet Alex, Bellamy Road and Sun King; Bill Finley (another ESPN expert) picked Afleet Alex, Noble Causeway and Sun King; Eddie Mac (ESPN expert) picked Bandini, Noble Causeway and High Fly; and Dan Illman (Daily Racing Forum) picked High Fly, Bellamy Road and Afleet Alex. My play is Bandini, High Fly and Noble Causeway. Also, I will probably have a couple of hedges including, but not limited to, Don't Get Mad, Greater Good and Wilko across the board. Good luck to all of the other suckers out there and you can all cuss me on Sunday. I would like to note that I have done better than the guys noted above in this race, as I have won 3 out of the last 5 Derby's (Stupid War Emblem and Stupid Funny Cide got me). With that said, I would also like to note that my wife usually does better than me and she bets on any horse whose name has something to do with cats (i.e. cat, lion, kitty, tiger, etc.). Whatever works. Good luck to all. Cheers from down under!</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl32 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 39.75pt; mso-height-source: userset" height=53><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 39.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=53></TD><TD class=xl41 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 203pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=269 colSpan=5>I would also like to note that there are no females in this race, therefore, I will not get to use my favorite phrase, "However, after all is said and done, I have to go with something that my good friend Geoff once told me and that was, "I don't want to bet on anything without nuts."." Maybe next time.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
