Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

Flynne — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:12:31 GMT

Kevin: Absolutely! My name is Jamie Griggs. :)

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

Derby132 — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:11:35 GMT

Have had my eye on this guy since early in the year and just love him and WOW what a comeback run in the Tampa Bay Derby. His previous race nicely showed that beautiful stride and his long reach and the turn of foot he can turn on. Go Odysseus!

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

christy tate — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:10:11 GMT

this years derby is so wide open at this point that i think odyessus has a chance. as for who will actually win, who knows.

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

marktoothaker — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:25:48 GMT

Would love to see him make a impact in Ky.Derby great trainer and a son of the rising star, Malibu Moon.

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

Carlos in Cali — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:23:16 GMT

GoldenGiven

What are you talking about?...he has the same stride and carries his head low just like his Grandfather AP Indy who happened to be the Horse of the year while winning the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes. Like his trainer said,distance will not be a problem for him. The colt is a Bulldog.

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

Kevin Stafford — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:04:04 GMT

Thanks to all for the replies.

@Golden Given: I agree with much of what you say. Awesome Act I currently have ranked 4th, but he's my 2nd favorite (behind Odysseus) of the 3-year-olds (I think highly of 'Lucky and Esky as well).

@Flynne - THANK YOU for those pictures!! They are wonderful. I'd love to use them in future posts (or if I do another tribute video). Would that be okay with you, and whom would I make the credit out to?

I know what you mean about his appearance as well. I was out there Tweeting and posting about him and hoping he'd look good. I'd heard he had a tendency to get washed out, but thought he looked mesmerizing in the post parade.

I'm so happy you got to see him live. I'm hoping to have that experience in the Preakness. :-)

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

Joanna — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:07:43 GMT

He does need to face better company but man oh man is he a gorgeous horse. Look at all that bone, he can handle the triple crown trail and stay sound. I hope he does turn into the "real deal." I was like the poster Flynne above, as soon as I saw him I knew he was going to win...

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

Blind Squirrel — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:39:28 GMT

He's a contender, with a very strong trainer and one of the best up and coming jockeys in North America.

Don't underestimate Schoolyard Dreams. He's improving big time, while still learning the game as well. Needs to keep his focus in Illinois to garner Graded Cash and position in KY Dby starting gate.

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

doubleg — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:48:51 GMT

Odysseus come back in the Tampa Bay derby was very impressive. He was only 2/5ths off the stakes record, on a track that received 4 inches of rain the day before. Who was that that had the stakes record? It weas a lightly raced horse by the name of Street Sense (KY Derby Winner and 2nd palce in the preakness by a nose). Hey, but that was only the Tampa Bay Derby. The same derby that provided Musket Man to the Triple Crown last year. Oh yeah, Musket only finished 3rd in th Derby and 3rd in the Preakness. Eat that Johnny D!

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

Flynne — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:52:00 GMT

I agree with you 100%! I was at Tampa to see him that day, and WOW what an exciting finish. Everyone was on their tippy-toes waiting for the numbers to be put up.

I'd gone to Tampa backing him, because his allowance win really impressed me. However, I'd told my boyfriend to hold on to his money until I'd seen the horses walk by for the first time and as soon as I saw Odysseus I was like "...yeah, you can put it on him." He's GORGEOUS. Here are some (by absolutely no means professional) pictures I got of him:

i42.tinypic.com/5mcsuu.png <--- Paddock

i44.tinypic.com/ibx6h0.png <--- Warmup

i42.tinypic.com/33d9pq9.png <--- Post-race, after the numbers were finally put up.

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

Draynay — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:42:33 GMT

The horse wins a head bob and he is a legit horse because of it? It was the Tampa Derby. Let's not get too excited until he wins again against better.

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

johnny d — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:45:41 GMT

CHANGE RIDERS NOW! that ride was a rookie ride,need someone more experienced in the BIG races.

re: Odyssey: The Derby Odyssey Beginneth

GoldenGiven — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:44:04 GMT

Kev, i enjoyed your article but disagree completely about Ody. his stride is not conducive to winning top-notch route races. that's just my opinion and i'm sure you're a better horseplayer than me. Ody reminds me of an eratic point guard, that throws up a one-handed shot off the wrong foot - but the shot falls! eskendereya falls into this catagory as well. Awesome Act would be the antithesis of horses named above. empire maker had the best stride i've ever seen btw. thanks for your time, kev.