I like Colonel John. He should have a strong finish after a fast pace.

Right now I`m leaning towards Pyro, Court Vision and Visionaire. Obviously I`m hoping for a speed meltdown at the 1/8th pole. Other maybes are Z Fortune and denis of Cork if he gets in. Gotta wait till the pp draw though.

the general public as well as horseplayers that have been playing for years still dont seem to realize that horses run faster today than they ever did so each race takes more out of them.Two year olds are going to win the derby off of less starts than before.Throw out all the rules about how many starts you have to have two yaer old foundation and so forth,get with it those rules dont apply anymore lets see which of these so called rules gets broken this year.By the way I still think curlin would have won the derby with a better trip,street sense had his best races on his home track churchill downs,breeders cup and derby.

I think it's as much about the jockey as it is the horse.  Yes, you have to have the animal, but it's so about the ride and not losing your head!!!

I like Adriano and Smooth Air. In my opinion Big Brown is the mystery horse. He's either a freak or a flop. I tend to think he's a flop because the freaks do not come around very often, and the last time I saw a great racehorse run was in 1980, and that was Spectacular Bid. No horse has topped him since, although Curlin has yet to show the world his best. His race in the Florida Derby was a classic example of a racehorse that is peaking.  Does anybody remember ARAZI or BELLAMY ROAD or PRIVATE TERMS.  I can go on. I think he peaked in the Florida Derby,  but we shall see. If he is a freak that would be nice because the racing world could certainly use one.  BUT,  take a look at Smooth Air's 2nd place finish in the Fla. Derby, take a good hard look at it. I was impressed, and he was so far off the pace there was no way he was going to catch Big Brown.  Look at the determination in him as he's running.  That's what I like to see when I select a Derby winner. Adriano looks like a typical classy son of AP Indy, and we all know what his sons can do.  Do not count him out.

I disagree with 'horseefastrun's' comments. There is NO substitution for racing experience. I've seen too many favored horses with 3 or 4 starts get lost in the ky. Derby field the first time down the stretch, or get cooked in usless speed duels with 50-1 shots or longer, to not go there. All you have to do is look at the history of Derby's pp's to see where all the false favorites (and there are countless numbers of them)finished to know what I'm talking about. Some of the beaten favorites went on to have great racing careers. These trends didn't occur over a hundred years by accident. This is one reason why all those billionaire tycoons from Saudi Arabia can't win a Derby. The Saudi's (not all Saudi's mind you) think they can buy the race. Or they think their method is better. Just ask the owner of the NY baseball team, or a particular Kentucky basketball coach if winning a Derby is easy. Some People who haven't won a Derby either keep trying or discount it, can't appreciate the magnitude of the accomplishment of winning until after they've won it. I'm sorry but over 133 years of tradition can't be wrong. luck is one of many reasons why the Derby is the Greatest race of the year. Why throw out the rules of winning the Derby if the rules are what makes winning the Derby so difficult? It's SUPPOSED to be hard to win. After the Derby there are going to be 19 excuses or less of why some horses didn't win. I don't think blaming the track is one of them, since they all run over the same surface, mud or not. The rules are set up now that horses have to have at least 3 or 4 starts to be eligible to run in the race on graded stakes earnings alone. I can't see how having fewer starts is going to help a horse prepare for the biggest race of it's life.  

DennisofCork is on the bubble,and I'm a Harlan's Holiday fan so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I Love Big Brown  I Loved Him For Ever And I'm SO! Happy That He's Entered in The Kentucky Derby He's The Best Race Horse This Year

I do not think Big Brown is going to repeat his Florida Derby Win in Louisville. He's a very exciting horse, but I'm afraid we're looking at another Arazi. The other thing are the rumors about hoof problems.  NOT GOOD! Maybe his connections have cleared that up, and they better have because tender feet and Churchill Downs racing surface do not go together. Does anybody remember Unbridled Song.  He had hoof problems before the derby too, and it did not go well for him. Let's see what happens on the first Saturday in May

Big Brown is ready to run.

bet the ranch.

My Pick's Are Big Brown and Colonel John or Visionire I Think Big Brown Will Take The Win In Kentucky ON May 3

BIG BROWN should win the 2008 Ky. Derby.  His "Florida Derby" performance was 1 full second faster than "BARBARO'S" FLA Derby.  Just wish I had gone to Vegas when he was 60-1.

We will see on the first Sat. of May what the Big Brown can do for us. I think he is a freak and like a Court Vision or Monba to complete the exacta.

Colonel John...  ''If'' he does take to the track and gets a good trip, WATCH OUT !!!!!   His speed in the

final furlongs are brilliant.

Rivercitysmitty-- I like all three of your horses, Pyro, Court Vision and Visionaire-- here is my current dilemma: when War Pass still in the field, I was counting on him hooking up and leading a speed duel, making this even more of a race for the tactical speed/ late closers, to include Adriano. With War Pass now out...? Also, Big Brown fans, does having War Pass out help or hurt your guy? Without War Pass, does he go on the lead and if so, even if a "freak" as many are now tagging him, can he really wire this Race? Or, does not having War Pass in actually help, as obviously that potential speed duel now cannot materialize, and he can rate and still win? BTW-- Eight Belles is some powerful looking girl,  even when just standing next to Jeannie Edwards in the shedrow during the ESPN coverage of the Coolmore Lex on Saturday-- watch out, boys!

It would be court vision for a blanket of roses.

I'm leaning more and more toward Court Vision as my favorite. He's won at Churchill before, may be sitting on a big race, and it would be really nice to see Bill Mott get his first KY Derby win.

After Court Vision, I like Eight Belles (if she goes), Recapturetheglory, Pyro, Big Brown, and Colonel John. Not sure of the order yet, but I'm thinking along these lines.

Watch for the form of horses in the Wood Memorial and Florida derby to be vindicated in the Kentucky Derby.  Big Brown should win by a city block with the minor placings being hotly contested between Smooth Air, Tale of Ekati, Court Vision, Cool Coal Man with Pyro and Tomcito (if he gets in)flying at the finish.

I think the top 5 horses in order are as follows.

1. Visionaire

2. Big Brown

3. Colonel John

4. Court Vision

5. Monba

Visionaire was wide his whole trip in the Bluegrass, 5w on the first turn, 7 wide on the second, and he swung 12 wide coming for home, and he passed 7 horses, and they came home quick after soft fractions. He should relish the long stretch at the Downs.

Big Brown is undefeated, but all I keeop seeing is a replay of last year. If War Pass does not run, and he gets and easy lead, good night closers.

Colonel John is a question mark b/c of the poly to dirt angle, but good horses will run over anything, so I like him in the exotics.

Court Vision loves CD. He loves it. Add Blinkers, and a good pace, he is running at the end. He is very consistent at CD, kind of like Street Sense was.

Monba is a nice horse, a good stalker, and a good finisher with that long sustained drive needed to capture the roses. Since I am going to the Derby, this will be one of my exoctics I play for the day, the 5 horse super box. There is speed, there are closers, and a solid stalker. I am going to keep my fingers crossed.

The one horse that people are over looking is Adriano.  His victory in the Lane's End was impressive, and with his pedigree, distance should not be a problem.  He has the tools to win this on paper, and he'll be double-digits.

sorry,i for got smooth airso now i have to change my picks.colonel john-smooth air-z fortune or colonel john-eight bells-smooth air

Arliss-- there is no overlooking HG Motion's Adriano here-- yes, he might even be better on the turf and yes, to Jason he looks a little weedy (my phraseology), but.... Talk about overlooks, that was a nice 4 furlong bullet Cool Coal Man fired for Mr. Zito today on the Churchill surface-- 47.40. Although off the Derby trail, cannot wait to see how one of Mr. Mott's now "other horses", Majestic Warrior runs. Speaking of Mr. Mott, Court Vision will be in my answer to Jason's Derby Challenge-- where I am not yet sure.

I am not picking anything officially until post draw next Wed.  But right I like these horses.

Big Brown

Col John

Smooth Air

Gayego

The winner will be: Big Brown, with War Pass out and Bob Black Jack possibly not drawing in, there is no longer a strong possiblilty of a pace meltdown, in which case it is Big Brown's pace and his race to win.

Visionaire looks interesting for second, he doesn't run anything like Smarty Jones , but his breeding reminds me of him.

 Smooth Air looks live for third. He seems to be a colt that gives it all everytime, just not as talented as Big Brown.

 Adriano runs fourth. Seems to be loving the Churchill surface, and he's a big strong colt, able to avoid being over powered by the crowded field.

Recapturetheglory runs fifth, just in front of everyone else.

There it is , just one possibility of many. The Derby is always tough to pick , and this year is as tough as ever. I would be interested in hearing what five horses people think will be bringing up the rear.

Being there really isnt any true favorites im gonna look to the rear of the field with Pryo and lets not forget Eight Belles she could steal this race if she can handle the bumpin

Pyro is being forgotten about...he wins with, Monba,colonel John,gayego,court vision,and tale of etaki fighting for the end of the tri.......

My wish came true.Denis of Cork is in.I've got to work on Saturday ,but you can bet I'll be in front of the the big screen TV come post time.And thanks for setting up these sites,I'm really enjoying them!

Colonel John has the right connections, trainer, jockey & owners. He will be flying @ the 1/4 pole and kick butt !

Contest Picks

1. Colonel John

2. Pyro

3. Adriano

4. Eight Belles

1. PYRO

2. ZFORTUNE

3. VISIONAIRE

4. COLONEL JOHN

1-big brown                              2-monba                              3-col.john                           4-eight belles

1.Colonel John

2.Pyro

3.Big Brown

4.Court Vision

5.Cool Coal Man

1.BIG BROWN

2.PYRO

3. COLONEL JOHN

4. VISIONAIRE

A Jersey-Bred whinnied this combo into my ear this morning...1st-Monba...2nd-Colonel John...3rd-Smooth Air...4th-Denis Of Cork... 1 length victory.....

1. Court Vision

2. Big Brown

3. Eight Belles

4. Colonel John

5. Pyro

Big Beown goes to the front and never looks back.

Big Brown

Gayego

Colonel John

Pyro

1.that BIG horse, can't lose....yeah! BIG TRUCK by 2 lengths!!!

2.monba

3.smooth air

4.anak nakal

I like Colonel John.