Get ready, everyone! I would like to invite you all to join me in the fifth annual "Road to the Kentucky Derby" informal Handicapping Challenge!
Starting on January 7th and continuing until January 18th, players may choose a stable of ten horses (plus one jockey and one trainer) that will earn points based on their performances in a series of official Kentucky Derby prep races (the list of races is available here; only races held after January 7th will be counted in the contest.) Points will be awarded to the top four finishers in each race, although the number of points awarded will vary from race to race. For example, if a player chooses Game Winner for their stable and he goes on to win the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), that player will earn 100 points, but if Game Winner were to instead win a race like the San Felipe (gr. II), they would only earn 50 points. Trainer and jockey points will be awarded only if the trainer or jockey in question wins a race and not if they finish second, third, or fourth; 10 points will be awarded for each prep race that a trainer or jockey wins, regardless of the actual points available in the race, while 50 points will be awarded if your jockey or trainer wins the Kentucky Derby.
Also, each week, players will be able to designate one of their horses as a "prime" horse, and will earn double the number of points for that horse's performance that week. For example, if a player were to designate Game Winner as their prime horse on the week of the Santa Anita Derby and Game Winner won the race, that player would earn 200 points, double the standard 100 points. Designating a prime horse each week will not be a requirement, but it will add a bit of additional intrigue to the contest, and give players a chance to gain extra points if they think one of their horses is ready to run a big race. To designate your prime horse each week, simply leave a comment on this page with the name of your prime horse and the race in which they are running.
Players will get a chance to add two additional horses to their stables starting on March 25th and ending on March 29th. The contest will culminate with the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on May 4th, which will offer points on a 200-80-40-20 basis to the top four finishers. Whoever accumulates the most points by the end of the contest wins bragging rights as the Unlocking Winners Kentucky Derby Handicapper of the Year! :)
All contest entries, stable additions, and prime horses MUST be posted on this contest page; any contest entries, stable additions, and prime horses posted on other pages or blog posts will not be accepted. In addition, players will only be allowed to join the contest during the initial joining period from January 7th to January 18th; any entries submitted after this time will not be accepted. Finally, once your stable has been posted, no changes will be accepted regardless of whether you submit the change before the deadline for entries closes.
To simplify the scoring process, please do not post anything except contest entries, stable additions, and prime horses in the comments on this page.
Good luck to all!
Contest Entries
Absolutley Aiden
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Gun It
Hidden Scroll
Improbable
Instgrand
Kingley
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Signalman
Vekoma
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Akita Girl
Classy John
Code of Honor
Country House
Game Winner
Gunmetal Gray
Improbable
Instagrand
Maximus Mischief
Roadster
Signalman
Still Dreaming
Vekoma
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Aluminaut
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Gray Attempt
Improbable
Long Range Toddy
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Mr. Money
Network Effect
Signalman
Walking Thunder
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Amanda Williams
Country House
Gunmetal Grey
Improbable
Instagrand
Mihos
Mind Control
Mucho Gusto
Plus Que Parfait
Tackett
Walking Thunder
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
AmyK
Anothertwistafate
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Galilean
Improbable
Instagrand
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Mucho
Omaha Beach
Still Dreaming
War Of Will
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Anglachel
Code of Honor
Galilean
Game Winner
Gunmetal Gray
Improbable
Instagrand
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Omaha Beach
Signalman
Vekoma
Walking Thunder
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
arliss
Bourbon War
Global Campaign
Haikal
Improbable
Instagrand
Kentucky Wildcat
Kingly
Maximum Mischief
Network Effect
Signalman
Standard Deviation
Vekoma
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Chad Brown
armyguy
Cambier Parc
Coliseum
Game Winner
Gunmetal Gray
Improbable
Instagrand
Knicks Go
Maximus Mischief
Mucho Gusto
Signalman
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Chad Brown
Betty S
Anothertwistafate
Bankit
Bourbon War
Game Winner
Improbable
Instagrand
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Network Effect
Roadster
Signalman
Walking Thunder
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
BigBob
Anothertwistafate
Big Scott Daddy
Cave Run
Federal Case
Game Winner
Harvey Wallbanger
Improbable
Le General
Metropol
Owendale
Stretford End
Tikhvin Flew
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Bill Dawson
Code of Honor
Galilean
Game Winner
Improbable
Instagrand
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Mucho Gusto
Network Effect
Omaha Beach
Tacitus
Vekoma
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Charlotte
Comical Ghost
Code of Honor
Dessman
Game Winner
Improbable
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Reedley
Tight Ten
Vekoma
Walking Thunder
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Chicken Dinner
Final Jeopardy
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Improbable
Instagrand
Knicks Go
Mucho Gusto
Signalman
Still Dreaming
Vekoma
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Chumsmo
Bankit
Bourbon War
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Improbable
Instagrand
Omaha Beach
Signalman
Still Dreaming
Super Steed
Tikhvin Flew
War of Will
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Coldfacts
Art Song
Come On Gerry
Forloveofcountry
Improbable
Instagrand
Harvey Wallbanger
Lucky Lee
Much Better
Preamble
Roiland
So Alive
Sir Winston
Jockey: Robby Albarado
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Curlin08
Bourbon War
Game Winner
Improbable
Limonite
Long Range Toddy
Mihos
Mucho
Signalman
Standard Deviation
Tax
Vekoma
War of Will
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Discopartner
Bankit
Federal Case
Game Winner
Hidden Scroll
Improbable
Knicks Go
Long Range Toddy
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Mucho
Network Effect
Signalman
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Robert E. Reed, Jr.
dust commander5
Bourbon War
Game Winner
Gunmetal Gray
Harvey Wallbanger
Improbable
Limonite
Much Better
Mucho
Sleepy Eyes Todd
Somelikeithotbrown
Tackett
Tax
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Traine: Bob Baffert
Eric Rickard
Bourbon War
Country House
Derma Louvre
Galilean
Game Winner
Improbable
Long Range Toddy
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Moretti
Tacitus
Vekoma
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Erik Bovee
Cave Run
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Knicks Go
Mucho
Roadster
Still Dreaming
Tacitus
Vekoma
Walking Thunder
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
fitzpony
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Gunmetal Gray
Improbable
Instagrand
Knicks Go
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Mihos
Omaha Beach
Signalman
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Footlick
Code of Honor
Derma Louvre
Galilean
Gunmetal Gray
Instagrand
King for A Day
Mihos
Nolo Contesto
Omaha Beach
Plus Que Parfait
Uncle Benny
Spinoff
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
gary26
Bourbon War
Cave Run
Game Winner
Improbable
Jack Van Berg
Magnificent McCool
Maximus Mischief
Nolo Contesto
Still Dreaming
Somelikeithotbrown
Tikhvin Flew
War of Will
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Hossdboss
Complexity
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Gunmetal Gray
Maximum Mischief
Mihos
Mind Control
Instagrand
Improbable
Knicks Go
Omaha Beach
Roadster
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Kathy Weightman
Admire
Bankit
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Gunmetal Grey
Improbable
Le General
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Plus Que Parfait
Tacitus
War of Will
Jockey - Joel Rosario
Trainer - Bob Baffert
Keelerman
Anothertwistafate
Cave Run
Derma Louvre
Game Winner
Gray Attempt
Improbable
Lucky Lee
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Network Effect
Roadster
Signalman
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
latenite
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Improbable
Kentucky Wildcat
Kingly
Moretti
Mucho
Mucho Gusto
Network Effect
Omaha Beach
Still Alive
Tacitus
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Leigh
Binary
B P Rocket
By My Standards
Gunmetal Gray
King For A Day
Mihos
Omaha Beach
Plus Que Parfait
Signalman
Tacitus
Tackett
Vekoma
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bill Mott
Lights Out
Admire
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Hidden Scroll
Improbable
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Nolo Contesto
Omaha Beach
Seismic Jolt
Signalman
Still Dreaming
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Mary Y.
Bankit
Federal Case
Galilean
Game Winner
Garter and Tie
Improbable
Kentucky Wildcat
Moretti
Mucho Gusto
Network Effect
Omaha Beach
Tax
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Chad Brown
MDG
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Improbable
Instagrand
Long Range Toddy
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Nolo Contesto
Omaha Beach
Plus Que Parfait
Tacitus
War Of Will
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
My Takeout
Bankit
Galilean
Game Winner
Gunmetal Gray
Knicks Go
Long Range Toddy
Mihos
Mucho Gusto
Omaha Beach
Roadster
Signalman
Walking Thunder
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bob Baffert
mz
Avie’s Flatter
Bourbon War
Cairo Cat
Come On Gerry
Comical Ghost
Galilean
Global Campaign
Haikal
Mihos
Moretti
Vekoma
Win Win Win
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Northbrae
Big Scott Daddy
Current
Fort Worth
Harvey Wallbanger
Improbable
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Mind Control
Network Effect
Nolo Contesto
Roadster
Signalman
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Trainer: Mark Casse
Outside Post
Admire
Anothertwistafate
Game Winner
Gunmetal Gray
Improbable
Instagrand
Hidden Scroll
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Plus Que Parfait
Signalman
Vekoma
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Patricia Jo Pulkowski
Code of Honor
Dream Maker
Game Winner
Gray Attempt
Gun It
Gunmetal Gray
Knicks Go
Maximus Mischief
Nitrous
Roadster
Tacitus
Wicked Indeed
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree Ann
Avie's Flatter
Cambier Parc
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Gunmetal Gray
Haikal
Malpais
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Mucho
Signalman
Tacitus
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Bill Mott
predict
Anothertwistafate
Award Winner
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Improbable
Kingly
Maximus Mischief
Maximum Security
Tax
Vekoma
War of Will
Whoa Nellie
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Trainer: Bob Baffert
PRO VET
Bourbon War
Game Winner
Improbable
Instagrand
Kentucky Wildcat
Maximum Mischief
Mind Control
Mr Money
Network Effect
Omaha Beach
Signalman
Tacitus
Drayden Van Dyke
Bob Baffert
Quinnbt
Coliseum
Gray Attempt
Gray Magician
Gun It
Gunmetal Gray
Intrepid Heart
Knicks Go
Nitrous
Pole Setter
Roadster
Tacitus
Wicked Indeed
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Ranagulzion
Code of Honor
Dream Maker
Galilean
Game Winner
Hidden Scroll
Instagrand
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Mucho
Omaha Beach
Uncle Benny
Vekoma
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Rik Est
By My Standards
Country House
Federal Case
Game Winner
Gray Attempt
Gunmetal Gray
Improbable
Maximus Mischief
Maximum Security
Plus Que Parfait
Signalman
So Alive
Jockey: John Valasquez
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Riskaverse
Code of Honor
Country House
Federal Case
Game Winner
Improbable
Kingly
Mihos
Network Effect
Omaha Beach
Plus Que Parfait
Tacitus
Vekoma
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
ROBBIEJOE25
Country House
Game Winner
Hidden Scroll
Improbable
Kingly
Maximus Mischief
Much Better
Signalman
Still Dreaming
Tacitus
Vekoma
War of Will
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
shelmarka
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Gunmetal Gray
Improbable
Instagrand
Knicks Go
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Mucho Gusto
Omaha Beach
Roadster
Signalman
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Sinatra Jeter
Bourbon War
Cairo Cat
Complexity
Game Winner
Harvey Wallbanger
Improbable
Instagrand
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Mucho Gusto
Signalman
Vekoma
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
smitty37
By My Standards
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Improbable
Instagram
Knicks Go
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Mucho
Network Effect
Omaha Beach
Roadster
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bob Baffert
SR Vegas
Code of Honor
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Improbable
Instagrand
Kingly
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Mucho
Omaha Beach
Super Steed
Tikhvin Flew
Jockey : Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Standby Painter
Anothertwistafate
Bourbon War
By My Standards
Galilean
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Gunmetal Gray
Improbable
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Signalman
Wicked Indeed
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
The Bid
Game Winner
Harvey Wallbanger
Improbable
Instagrand
Mucho
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Roadster
Still Dreaming
Tacitus
Tikhvin Flew
Vekoma
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Tiznowliam
Gum Tree Lane
Hidden Scroll
Kingly
Mucho
Much Better
Omaha Beach
Signalman
Still Dreaming
Super Steed
Tacitus
Tikhvin Flew
Vekoma
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Bob Baffert
tnhunter
Cave Run
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Improbable
Lucky Lee
Maximus Mischief
Mihos
Mucho Gusto
Network Effect
Outshine
So Alive
Tikhvin Flew
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Tomskid
Anothertwistafate
Call Paul
Classy John
Cutting Humor
Forty Under
Galilean
Game Winner
Improbable
Long Range Toddy
Maximus Mischief
Signalman
War of Will
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Trainer: Mark Casse
trackjack
Code of Honor
Gunmetal Gray
Game Winner
Improbable
Maximus Mischief
Mind Control
Omaha Beach
Signalman
Still Dreaming
Tikhvin Flew
Vekoma
War of Will
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Van Horn
Bourbon War
Federal Case
Final Jeopardy
Game Winner
Global Campaign
Gray Attempt
Improbable
Mihos
Mucho
Network Effect
Nolo Contesto
Signalman
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Thanks to Quinnbt for compiling the alphabetized list of stables!
