Friday: Mighty Oaks

ehammonds — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:49:00 GMT

3:20 p.m.
Early Bird Pricing

With the rain pouring down at Churchill Downs, and with $260,000 having been poured into the win pool: here are the advance wagering odds for Derby 134:

Cool Coal Man – 33-1
Tale of Ekati – 44-1
Anak Natal – 56-1
Court Vision – 14-1
Eight Belles – 9-1
Z Fortune – 16-1
Big Truck – 21-1
Visionaire – 23-1
Pyro – 5-1
Colonel John – 4-1
Z Humor – 64-1
Smooth Air – 41-1
Bob Black Jack – 27-1
Monba – 28-1
Adriano – 22-1
Denis of Cork – 26-1
Cowboy Cal – 38-1
Recapturetheglory – 46-1
Gayego – 23-1
Big Brown – 7-2

1:45 p.m.
I am McLovin

Yesterday, a horse named Leigh McLovin ran second in her first start in a maiden special weight. That made us think of two things: McLovin…and McLovin.

The first McLovin is the character in last summer’s teen flick “Superbad.” The coming-of-age comedy’s best lines came from a high school senior named “Fogle” and his quest to get a fake ID. He gets the ID, but it is a Hawaii driver’s license and the name is just “McLovin.” In a key scene in the film, he’s asked by his friends if he’s going to go for the gusto or wimp out, at which point he retorts “I am McLovin” while taking the fake ID.

The second McLovin is a 3-year-old colt by Hussonet that is owned by Little Red Feather racing. Billy Koch is the founder and managing partner of the syndicate group and they sent the colt to trainer David Duggin in New York. The colt broke his maiden March 15.

Koch is at Churchill Downs, sitting with a group in Section 314.

Gangstas, what’s up guys?

“We saw the movie and there is a good bunch of guys in New York that own the horse,” Koch says. “It’s about 12 guys. We always try to come up with creative names. We had “Lock It Up” from “Wedding Crashers.” We try to be creative. When he’s at the track, people love him, they yell out ‘McLovin!’ It’s really fun. Good horses have good names. We take our naming seriously.

Expect to see McLovin May 9 in a race at Belmont Park on the turf. He’s by Hussonet, so he really should like the turf. –E.H.

McLovin's friends, from left: Dave Schack, Billy Koch, Matt "Donkey" Henderson, Mike Commodore

10:30 a.m.
DVDyno-Mite!

As we enter Churchill Downs through Gate 1 for Oaks Day 134, we are greeted by John Hennegan, who is hawking copies of the documentary “First Saturday in May.”

Wearing a black t-shirt with “BIG BROWN” emblazoned across the front, he holds up a DVD in each hand while barking out: “Buy this DVD and help us pay back our investors.”

He’ll soon be wearing a t-shirt with the film’s logo, once they arrive. That’s the only thing that is slightly off or behind schedule with their extraordinary effort.

Hennegan, along with his brother, Brad, filmed the “First Saturday in May” two years ago and captured the true essence of just how hard it is getting a horse through their 3-year-old prep campaign to the Kentucky Derby. They did a great job getting insight while filming the documentary, editing, and choosing their subject matter. They also had the good fortune to be filming the year Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby.

The DVD costs $25…and that’s a bargain. It will help defray their investment cost and a percentage of the proceeds are going to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. – E.H.

Late Start
We get a late start to Churchill Downs this morning. Last night, Morning Line got together with friends back in Lexington and had a great evening at Furlongs on Main Street. A Central Kentucky horseman’s hangout, Furlongs dishes up fantastic Cajun food.

We have a few crayfish, some catfish and banana peppers, and some etouffee...and a lot of laughs. The crew, most local, but ship ins from Tampa and Washington, D.C. will be on hand for Oaks day, as they have for the past 20-something years. One of these days, they might actually make some money at the track. –E.H.

Morning Line : Superbad

Friday: Mighty Oaks