Court Vision, the Classiest of the Class! (Sarah K. Andrew)

Derby Day is upon us but the picture is still fuzzy. Let’s break it down high school yearbook-style and see if we can make any sense of it:

Cool Coal Man: Class Nerd. Has done his homework in his eight starts with a trainer (Zito) who has seen his share of Derby wins. Also in contention for the Cutest Blaze superlative.

Tale of Ekati: Biggest Flirt. He won a Grade 1 but I cannot include him in my wagers.

Anak Nakal: Class Slacker. Most likely to creep up into a tri or super.

Court Vision: Classiest of the Class of 2008. Best pedigree and trainer (Mott) to get the job done.

Eight Belles: Most Valuable Player. With 9 lifetime starts, this filly has been in the starting gate more than any other horse in the field. Also a shoo-in for Prettiest Girl.

Big Truck: Teacher’s Pet. Mr. Tagg can’t say enough about his favorite pupil.

Visionaire: Most Likely to be Seen at a Party. Has raced at 6 different tracks.

Pyro: Class Bully. Pyro is the richest horse in the field and he’s beaten quite a few Derby starters.

Colonel John: Most Likely to Succeed. Good post, impressive works, consistent record, well-bred. And based on the videos that can be seen on his website, it looks like he can handle the dirt.

Smooth Air: Mr. Dependable. Has never finished worse than third.

Bob Black Jack: Class Motorhead. He has the need for speed.

Monba: Shyest. It’s win or lose with Monba- he has never finished second or third.

Adriano: Best Dressed and Most Deserving Connections. Roses would perfectly suit this son of A.P. Indy, owner/breeder Courtlandt Farms, trainer H. Graham Motion, and jockey Edgar Prado. Plus, his silks are awesome.

Denis of Cork: Most Likely to be on the 5-year-Plan. Working up a storm, bred for the Derby distance, but the first Saturday in May of 2010 seems like it would be a better date for him.

Cowboy Cal: Class Jock. Ultra-consistent, but his surface limitations pose a huge question. Wouldn’t it be something if Pletcher got his first Derby winner on a horse who is ML 20-1?

Recapturetheglory: Class Clown. Worst silks. What exactly is on those things… a wombat?

Gayego: Class Troublemaker. What the heck do I do with this horse in my wagering?

Big Brown: Most HEXED. Front wraps, 3 lifetime starts, 20-hole, and worst of all…recipient of the 2008 Kashmir Hex.

Z Fortune & Z Humor: Class Couple.

When it’s all said and done, my Top Derby 5 are: Colonel John, Court Vision, Pyro, Denis of Cork, Monba, and Visionaire. OK, that’s 6. Happy wagering and best of luck to all!

Posted by Sarah K. Andrew on May 03 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Guest Post, Sarah K. Andrew, 3yo, Fans, Derby Trail, Racing

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Colonel John and Corey Nakatani winning the Santa Anita Derby (Charles Pravata)

No one really knows what is going to happen in any race, at any track, on any given day of the year. The old adage “That’s why they run ‘em.” helps us makes sense of a race that didn’t make any sense at all.

That is the beauty and the mystery of the sport, and the equine athlete. Everyone has an idea, some stronger than others, but, no one really knows. If you could put a microphone in front of a horse and ask him or her how they felt about their chances twenty minutes before post, I could assure you the tote board would look completely different. “So, how do you think you’ll hold up in the post parade considering there will be approximately 120,000 people in the stands?” - “I could give a rats ass about the size of the crowd. My only concern is running the competition off their feet, getting my picture taken, and getting back to the barn for a nice meal and visions of life on a stallion farm.” Now, that’s one cool, confident, and cocky horse, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went off at 1/20.

Come Derby day, I think it wise for any horse player to only look at the facts, and listen to what is in their heart. A case in point would be my 2004 Derby experience. The Friday before the race, my coworker had asked me to come by his desk and give him my thoughts on the race. When I went over there he had already left for the day, so I left him a note. Here’s what it said:

“Lion Heart leads the field with Smarty Jones stalking, Lion Heart begins to tire and Smarty Jones takes over in the stretch to win, Lion Heart finishes 2nd, and Imperialism comes running late for 3rd.”

He comes to work the next day and finds it, watches the race, and sees everything I told him come to fruition; and he’s amazed. He leaves a note on my desk congratulating me on my big win which I find on Monday morning.

Shortly after I arrive at work on Monday, he comes over to my desk and asks me how much money I won, and I tell him: “Nothing. I didn’t bet it.” He was dumbfounded.”WHAT???!!” So I begin to explain: “Here’s what happened. I went to watch the race at my friends house and everyone was talking about all these horses and who they liked and all that crap, and I got all sidetracked and didn’t play my original picks.”

Needless to say, I was SICK to my stomach watching that race unfold exactly as I had envisioned it. My spirit had aligned with that of the Horse Gods’ for the greatest race of the year, and I blew it. All those experts on TV, they were all wrong, and I was right, but I couldn’t even cash a ticket. The trifecta was more than nine hundred dollars. It still pains me.

If you are reading this, I am sure you have a similar story. Let us remind each other to look at the facts and to trust our hearts. That vision you already have in your head about how this race will unfold, trust it. You know as much about what is going to happen in this stampede as anyone. Let’s just hope that all twenty horses that go out, come back in good order, and may the best horse win.

Posted by Charles Pravata on May 02 2008    
Filed Under: Guest Post, 2008, Charles Pravata, Derby Trail, Racing

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