April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Slew — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:31:11 GMT

Dr. D: Checked it out..offically the drink of the Preakness is the Black-eyed Susan. Since it includes Vodka..I might enjoy that.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Mr.Ruffian — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:15:27 GMT

Thank you Slew!

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Dr Drunkinbum — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:12:03 GMT

Slew

The proper drink for The Preakness is something pleasant, and fit for a Prince.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Dr Drunkinbum — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:09:55 GMT

Ranagulzion

Don't even try to compare Super Saver to Homeboykris. Maybe you missed Super Saver's excellent 3yo foundation and saw a foundation for Homeboykris in your dreams worthy of a Derby entry and got reality confused with your dreams. Wake up.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Slew — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:55:32 GMT

Mr Ruffian, Awesome Act is lame but they don't know why. They cannot do the proper test without the tracer dye that cannot be shipped from overseas because of the residual effects of the volcanic ash. However, I have to wonder what other test they can run in the mean time temporarily.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Slew — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:52:31 GMT

Dr D...no problem...just very surprised at your vehemence. I think Calgary may already have the copyright on a "Stampede"...but if NBC ever covers it again...they can call it the Kentucky Circus, because it will show more clowns than horses. (PS..I love to argue anyway.) Now..exactly what is the proper drink for Pimlico and the Preakness?

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Ranagulzion — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:39:01 GMT

ZOOKEEPER,

For the 2nd year straight we are reminded in the Derby that 2YO foundation must be respected, whether it is Mine That Bird, Super Saver, Make Music For Me or ...guess who ...Homeboykris. This is very well established Kentucky Derby rule-of-thumb. Dr Drunkinbum is quite misguided in this area. Thusly the Graded Earning System, crediting 2YO earnings, was again vindicated this year by the winner Super Saver

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Zookeeper — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:39:01 GMT

Mr.Ruffian,

I said I was wrong. I no longer think he didn't belong. His great run in the Derby showed me the error of my ways.

If his gallop out in the CashCall was a clue, it went way over my head. What can I say? There's no accounting for people like me who fail to see the clear evidence that others pick up so easily. :)

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Mr.Ruffian — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:51:37 GMT

Zookeeper

Zarvona

If you two can watch the gallop out of the Cashcall back in December, it may show you that

Make Music for Me belonged.

Greg J do you know exactly what happend to Awesome Act? Thanks!

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Zookeeper — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:56:46 GMT

Dr Drunkinbum,

You did not offend me in the least, I was just surprised to see the "fire" under your usual "bonhomie" and I was afraid of having lost my coffe shop buddy!

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Dr Drunkinbum — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:41:06 GMT

Slew and Zookeeper

You both make excellent points !!!! Sorry if I offended you. Keep up the good work !!! I respect both of your opinions very much and you add a lot to the bloodhorse site. Yes, I can go on tirades and have my pet peeves too. Some are the same as yours and some are different. Everyone has their right to an opposite view. I just wish they'd change that darn Derby criteria but I'll leave it alone now. I think. Slew-I was always relieved that 85ina50 wasn't in The Derby. If they can coral that speed he could be something at 6-7 furlongs. More than 7 is stretching it. Zookeeper-you don't have to ask forgiveness if we disagree. I respect your opinion no matter what. Slew-Do you think they should change the name to The Kentucky Stampede?

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Zookeeper — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:04:38 GMT

Dr Drunkinbum,

WOW! That was quite a tirade! Who knew you could get this riled up?

You make excellent points that are hard to refute.

I know you never said that Make Music didn't belong. I'm the one that was thinking it and I was proven wrong. Happens to me a lot! Hope I didn't offend you, if I did please forgive me for (often) I know not what I'm talking about. :)

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Slew — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:37:17 GMT

And yet Homeboykris still managed to finish 16th, ahead of favorites Sidney's Candy, Line of David, and Awesome Act I believe that Make Music for Me, who was the last in, was still 3 steps ahead of Setsuko in that inglorious food chain. Do I personally feel Homeboykris should have been in? No! But he earned in; it's over. Next up..the Preakness. Can Borel do it again...maybe.

And Dr. D...after watching that 20 horse stampede, are you a little relieved that 85ina50 wasn't there? Now go back and find that lovely sense of humor to which we have grown accustomed. Is it noon anywhere yet? Where's my Mint Julep?

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Dr Drunkinbum — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:12:07 GMT

Slew and Zookeeper

I never said a word about Make Music For Me not deserving to be in the Derby. He deserved to be in there. I've really only said that Homeboykris shouldn't have been in The Derby. Others that I didn't expect to do well still earned there way into The Derby and proved for the most part that they had little chance to win, but that is irrelevant, they did earn their way in. Most years in the past, horses that ran terrible leading up to The Derby like Backtalk would not be entered in The Derby despite having had the graded earnings. Nobody in their right mind would enter a horse in The Derby with the lack of races that Homeboy had and expect to train him into condition to do well in a race like that. Step aside and let someone more deserving enter. I'm not the only that has said that Homeboykris didn't belong, and there are also writers that have said Backtalk didn't belong because he was running so poorly. The Belmont will tell us where Setsuko is, not a mile and sixteenth turf race. Despite the fact that I love Setsuko, I singled Doubles Partner in the Daily Double in that race. I knew he was the horse to beat and had good odds. And he looked phenominal pre-race. Look at who Doubles Partner had been running against. What Setsuko did in that race Friday has nothing to do with what he would have done in The Derby. I already knew Setsuko was in the wrong race in that turf race and had no intention of bettting on him. He is a mile and a quarter plus dirt horse. And I totally disagree that the only way you earn your way in is with Graded Earnings. If that was the case then why was Lookin At Lucky running in preps as a 3yo? He already had the earnings. Because Baffert is still the best at preparing a horse to run in that grueling race and knowsmwhat a horse needs to be prepared. It is a safety issue too. I would even go so far as to say that throwing Homeboy in that race was cruel and unusual punishment.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Zookeeper — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:13:15 GMT

Dr Drunkinbum,

It is true that a few of the horses who entered the gate in the KD did not belong there. But it is difficult to determine who these horses are before the race is actually run. Case in point: Make Music for Me who barely squeaked in there and to whom I gave little chance (if any) of being competitive. He surprised the heck out of me by coming in 4th. Even Homeboykris, in spite of his apparent lack of preparation, came in ahead of Awesome Act, one of the highly regarded colts before this year's Derby.

What I'm getting at is that we never know, in advance, who belongs and who doesn't. Mine That Bird certainly proved that last year, although I agree that his preparation was superior to that of Homeboykris' this year, very few people regarded him as a legitimate contender BEFORE the race. To this day, some clamor that he never won another race last year, proving that (in their mind) he STILL did not belong. They conveniently ignore his excellent showing in the two remaining TC races. lol!

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Zookeeper — Tue, 04 May 2010 16:00:02 GMT

Mr Haskin,

It finally came, your recap of the Derby was worth the wait! You have a knack for bringing out little tidbits other writers don't know about or fail to report.

Who else would tell us about "Calvin's trying to die in there" after riding the race following the Derby? No one!

The fact that Super Saver's connections considered him the "least ratable" of the WinStar horses was also a revelation to me. I was under the impression that Rule was. Either I missed that information or I did not retain it, but in any case, it gave me an even better appreciation of what Calvin Borel accomplished with this colt. The quote from his agent: "He teaches them what he wants them to learn." also opened my eyes to the fact that Calvin is not only an exceptional jockey but also an accomplished horseman.

We all know about Borel's work ethics and how he always honors his commitments. What we didn't know was the price he sometimes pays for his dedication. Your reporting of his wife's statement: "He thinks he's invincible, that he's made of iron." gave us a glimpse of what it's like to be in Calvin's zone. Priceless!!!

I can go on and on about the excellence of your article but a "critique" is not what I'm trying to accomplish. I simply want to express my gratitude for having you as our eyes & ears in a world that is closed to most of us. You get close to the action and the people involved in it and with your words, you give us a chance to be part of the "behind the scene" world of horse racing at its highest level. Thank you!

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Greg J. — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:02:21 GMT

X-Ray,

On Awesome Act's performance in the Derby, Finishing in 19th place and 61 lengths back? He was injured during the race and that explains his poor showing, Hope he heals up and returns to the track down the road...

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Slew — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:45:57 GMT

Dr Drinkinbum: too many good spirits on Oaks Day? Setsuko did not even finish in the $$ (4th)when Doubles Partner blew by everyone in the American Turf Stakes, Race #10. Maybe, like Dave in Dixie, he just didn't earn his way into the Derby. Make Music For Me was the last horse to get in for the draw, and he finished 4th in the Derby. He certainly earned the right to be there. And you do, most certainly, earn your way in by graded stakes earnings.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Dr Drunkinbum — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:24:36 GMT

Steve Cauthen-50 years old. I still picture him as kid with a face that always looked freshly washed with strong soap. That was a feel good article by Haskin as most of his are. It really captured the essence of Derby 2010. Despite my grumblings I am very happy for the Pletcher barn. I like the extra insights we got into Borel and Lisa, and the Pletcher barn, and the thoughts of Todd Pletcher's Dad, and the WinStar trials and tribulations. No one can write like Steve Haskin and so beautifully capture the moment. The synopsis of the race was the best I've read and now I can visualize it so much better. The Derby-No DQ's there, and the riders know it and aren't afraid to bully their way through, especially early in the race. Do they really have a choice? It's crowded out there. Now we see which horses survived with great races ahead of them and which will never want to run again.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Dr Drunkinbum — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:17:46 GMT

People don't have to worry about people expressing their opinions hurting the Derby. It's popularity is continuing to increase with the public. It's a disgrace to racing, The Derby, The Triple Crown and the breeding industry that Homeboykris was in and Pleasant Prince wasn't. Some parameters must be set. You don't think the owners of Pleasant Prince and Setsuko with legitimate contenders deserved a shot at the money a Derby win would bring to breeding fees? Homeboykris had no business being in The Derby with a ridulous foundation. I don't think Backtalk should have been in either because his races leading up to The Derby were so weak and he wasn't showing any posiblity of getting a win. A few others were obvious tosses too but did earn their way in. You don't just earn your way in by having enough in graded earnings. You earn your way in by being ready to race in one of the most demanding and grueling races on earth. Homeboykris did not earn his way in. I can't even imagine why a trainer or owner would think that they have the right to train a horse into the Derby with one of the weakest racing foundations in history. Luckily the horse survived but I bet he's not happy about it either.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Bloodline Bob — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:01:41 GMT

Tell me when you want the "alphabet" winners of the Preakness. What letter won the most Preakness's?

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Slew — Tue, 04 May 2010 08:52:45 GMT

After a "bang up" ride, apparently Stately Victor's next start will not be in the Preakness, but in the Belmont. Other horses looking to the Belmont are New Madrid, Uptowncharleybrown, Devil May Care and Alphie's Bet.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

tcc — Mon, 03 May 2010 23:22:08 GMT

Conveyance (like him that much).

TerriV 28 Apr 2010 6:26 PM

Did this horse show anything about that high alitude theory?

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Dr Drunkinbum — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:31:36 GMT

Zookeeper

Now you're going to have all of the gypsies mad at you !!!! I think they should give Mike Relva early parole for good behavior. He didn't even make a bet. It was self imposed. He's in the kitchen now peeling potatoes, and doing a very good job of it. I just found a list I made two weeks ago buried in papers. If I would have followed it for The Derby I would have won a fortune. Next year is no lists, no nothing until the final pps so I don't confuse myself.

re: April 26, 2010 - Presented by Darby Dan

Zookeeper — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:37:15 GMT

Mr. Haskin,

I second Dr Drunkinbum's call for a Derby wrap-up article. You have spoiled us!!! Now, we are posting aimlessly, waiting for your input! What happened? Did you drown in Louisville? Did you get kidnapped by gypsies? Whatever you're working on, it's going to be a "doozie"! Or should I say a "Borel Ride"?