Looks like Maryland-shipper and bubble horse My Adonis will be hauled back up to Pimlico. There were no scratches by scratch time Friday morning from the main body of the field for the 138th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs, so My Adonis, the lone also-eligible in the race, was officially scratched.
It was cited that he’ll run back home in Saturday’s Canonero II Stakes, which sadly was the Federico Tesio rennamed.
Thought:
Is it possible that the only reason Optimizer is running is so the press could say that Kelley has a Derby horse right at the time the Calumet deal is announced?
[QUOTE=vineyridge;6294068]
Thought:
Is it possible that the only reason Optimizer is running is so the press could say that Kelley has a Derby horse right at the time the Calumet deal is announced?[/QUOTE]
Nah. Just my view but the press isn’t biting on the Optimizer-Kelley-Calumet connection. In large part perhaps because the purported buyer is a hidden trust and not Kelley openly. I’d say the only reason Optimizer is in this race is DWL. If he only had a three-legged mule I suspect he’d be coaxing the owner to take a shot.
Speaking of DWL I didn’t know he wasn’t keen on Dr. Hansen’s enthusiasm to make racing more festive. From an AP article (5-4-12) “Dr. Kendall Hansen stirring pot of thoroughbred racing”:
Hansen’s antics have sparked conversation at Churchill Downs this week, but he had largely gone under the radar because he was vacationing with his fiancee and didn’t make a public appearance until the post-position draw on Wednesday.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, is not a fan.
“The whole thoroughbred industry has turned into kind of a circus. I don’t think we need to perpetuate that any further,” Lukas said. "I think characters are one thing, I think you can get out of line with that, though. We’re a tradition-bound sport, we did pretty good for a couple hundred of years with it. I don’t think we should put (advertising) patches on (jockeys) like the NASCAR guys and I don’t think we should dye the horses’ tails.
“We need to keep it classy and it gets less classy every year, I think.”
Additionally when it comes to jockey pants and adverts the last few years there have been a single company that bought the rights, donating a portion of money to the PDJF but 2012 appears to be more each man for himself.
Julien appears to have inked a deal with brewer Stella Artois
And Ramon is getting Microsoft - maybe:
Microsoft announced it was sponsoring Hansen by stitching its Windows Phone logo into the horse’s racing silks and jockey Ramon Dominguez’s outfit for Saturday’s race.
One problem. It may not be legal. Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rogers says the racing stewards are investigating the issue.
Initial current odds (1pm EST FRI) that are being seen at CD …
6-1: Union Rags
7-1: Hansen, Bodemeister, Gemologist
8-1: Take Charge Indy
12-1: Creative Cause, Dullahan
Daddy Long Legs finally has hit the track after being cleared, but with a few drawbacks:
If one were to judge the chances of Aidan O’Brien-trained overseas shippers by the way they looked during their first morning training session at a new venue, one would think they never won.
Almost without fail, the animals sweat profusely and don’t, to most observers, look good at all. Last summer at Arlington Park, for instance, Cape Blanco and Treasure Beach came off the track on a morning only mildly hot absolutely dripping with sweat following moderate exercise. A few days later, Cape Blanco won the Arlington Million, Treasure Beach the Secretariat.
So, while there are many reasons to doubt the O’Brien-trained Daddy Long Legs in the Kentucky – his 12th-place finish here last fall in the BC Juvenile, the dreaded one hole on Saturday - the fact that he sweated heavily Friday morning when seeing the racetrack for the first time since arriving here early Wednesday morning probably is not one of them.
Video - T. J. Comerford, asst. to trainer Aidan O’Brien, was however “very happy”
Okay so we’ve seen the workouts- listened to the hype- Now is the time for the big question(especially you Glimmer cuz I really respect your opinion) Who do you like???
I am sticking with Union Rags but I feel there are a lot of good horses this year…
Union Rags, Gemologist and WTDW are the beginning of my Trifecta. I usually start my Derby picks by eliminating horses, instead of starting with who I like. This year is tough:(
I am only a casual racing fan, but I’ve been following the trail this year and Union Rags seems to be a hell of a horse. I’m hoping he wins (even if just for his trainer, my childhood hero).
I’ll Have Another.
Exacta box I’ll Have Another/Union Rags
quick question on betting…
is there a timeframe for when you have to turn in your winning ticket(s)? If I had a winning ticket, but did not cash it in for say - 2 months - would I still be able to cash it in?
Yea!! it’s Derby day!!!
How many of you go to Derby parties and/or watch with non horsey people?
I used to and it made me crazeeee. Now I watch it by myself or only with racing fans who really want to watch the race and will STFU when the horses are on the track.
The last year I went, Real Quiet won. I thought it was Indian Charlie, since he was the better regarded horse.
When I discovered I had been watching the wrong horse, I realized that the best view of the race is at home in front of a tv.
I adore Union Rags, and I thought that an added plus was that my beloved George is also a grandson of Dixieland Band.
Until I realized that George needs sharp spurs and a stick to keep him trotting. :winkgrin: Not the best recommendation for a reason to bet on UR. But I still want him to win.
Bodemeister and Union Rags are my two main picks.
Longshots for just $2 imaginary bucks if I were there (unfortunately cannot bet real bucks in my state): Daddy Long Legs and Rousing Sermon.
I actually like this horse, so I am not at all making fun of the horse. Would seriously hate to see poor fitting equipment be the cause of any incident.
You make it this far & cannot even buy a halter that fits properly? Can anyone say hole punch? A custom halter would be in order, as the muzzle on the halter is a tad too big too.
I know, I know, the lip chain helps to pull the halter down. Exactly why a hole punch should have been used!
I bet that noseband could easily be pulled down over the entire mouth.
Wishing all a safe trip this Derby Day & each & every day.
Corey Nakatani dumped
Mr. Nakatani just fell off Skyring after race 3. Watched it live. Not like the horse was even being a jerk. He is up, walking, & remounted. But he obviously ouches. Will this make a difference on any betting you have?
[QUOTE=vineyridge;6294068]
Thought:
Is it possible that the only reason Optimizer is running is so the press could say that Kelley has a Derby horse right at the time the Calumet deal is announced?[/QUOTE]
Correction here - it looks like you might have hit on something. A new twist:
Brad Kelley, the owner/breeder of Optimizer, one of 20 contenders in the May 5 Kentucky Derby has notified state stewards that he intends to have jockey Jon Court dressed in Calumet’s colors instead of his black with gold chevrons.
“As far as we know, he is riding with the Calumet silks tomorrow,” said Barbara Borden, acting chief steward at Churchill Downs. “We did get the request and did not have a problem with it.”
Kelley apparently acquired the rights to use Calumet’s famed silks as part of an arrangement announced May 3 that he was leasing the 800-acre Calumet Farm from a trust that bought the farm and all its assets for between $36 million and $40 million.
I guess why pay $36M+ and not also reach out to the Brazilian TNT Stud and secure the colors too
[QUOTE=ThisTooShallPass;6295664]
Mr. Nakatani just fell off Skyring after race 3. Watched it live.[/QUOTE]
I think that will be the only DWL-Kelley win today. Optimizer, even in the famed colors, just looks to be outclassed.
Race 4, someone had saddle slipage, but no disaster. phew
Is it going to be one of those kind of race days? gulp
All turf races will be run on the dirt today due to 1.5 inches of rain last night.
Track is listed as fast.
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