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 12th and continuing until noon on January 18th, players may choose a stable of eight 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 12th 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 Storm the Court for their stable and he goes on to win the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), that player will earn 100 points, but if Storm the Court 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 Storm the Court as their prime horse on the week of the Santa Anita Derby and Storm the Court 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 23rd and ending on March 27th. The contest will culminate with the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on May 2nd, 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 12th through noon on 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
Thanks to Quinnbt for compiling the list of entries!
Akita Girl
Chestertown
Dennis' Moment
Edge of Fire
Honor A.P.
Independence Hall
Max Player
Silver Prospector
Storm the Court
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Aluminaut
Ajaaweed
Ancient Warrior
Dennis’ Moment
Ete Indien
Finnick the Fierce
Honor AP
Storm the Court
Three Technique
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Amanda Kirk Williams
Anneau D'Or
Authentic
Halo Again
Independence Hall
Maxfield
Perfect Star
Taraz
War Stopper
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
AmyK
Ancient Warrior
Anneau D'Or
Ete Indien
Independence Hall
Lynn's Map
Maxfield
Nadal
Silver State
Thousand Words
Tiz The Law
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Anglachel
Authentic
Charlatan
Eight Rings
Independence Hall
Maxfield
Nadal
No Parole
Silver Prospector
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
arliss
As Seen On TV
Authentic
Basin
Caracaro
Major Fed
Maxfield
Three Technique
Thousand Words
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Barry Craig
Anneau D'Or
Authentic
Basin
Charlatan
Dennis' Moment
Enforceable
Gouverneur Morris
Independence Hall
Silver State
Thousand Words
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Betty S
Authentic
Gouvernor Morris
Honor AP
Independence Hall
Lynn's Map
Maxfield
Nadal
Mr. Monomoy
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Jockey : Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Chumsmo
Basin
Charlatan
Dennis’ Moment
Gouvernor Morris
Maxfield
Scabbard
Thousand Words
Tizamagician
Tiz the Law
Violent City
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Curlin08
Authentic
Charlatan
Dennis' Moment
Gouverneur Morris
Independence Hall
Maxfield
Necker Island
Scabbard
Thousand Words
Three Techniques
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Discopartner
Answer In
Authentic
Chance It
Dreams Untold
Independence Hall
King Guillermo
Shotski
Silver Prospector
Tiz The Law
Wells Bayou
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Trainer: John Servis
Eric Rickard
Authentic
Chance It
Charlatan
Devil Made Me Doit
Nadal
Premier Star
Shoplifted
Silver State
Thousand Words
Tiz The Law
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
gary26
Anneau d'Or
Authentic
Caracaro
Charlatan
Enforceable
Ete Indien
Independence Hall
Storm The Court
Tizamagician
Untitleded
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Trainer: Mark Casse
Gary365
Ajaaweed
Anneau d'Or
Authentic
Charlatan
Dennis' Moment
Independence Hall
Nadal
Storm the Court
Thousand Words
Tizamagician
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
iceman92
Ajaaweed
Answer In
Basin
Charlatan
Eight Rings
Independence Hall
Modernist
Shoplifted
Shotski
Tiz The Law
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Brad Cox
Kathy Weightman
Ajaaweed
Authentic
Basin
Chance It
Dennis' Moment
Finnick the Fierce
Independence Hall
Portos
Storm the Court
Tiz The Law
Jockey: Flavian Prat
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Keelerman
Anneau d'Or
As Seen on TV
Blackberry Wine
Dieu du Vin
Eight Rings
Scabbard
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Latenite
Ajaaweed
Authentic
Charlatan
Independence Hall
Maxfield
Nadal
Sliver State
Thousand Words
Tiz The Law
Vasariano
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Leigh
Anneau d'Or
Breithorn
Full Flat
Kingmeister
Maxfield
Storm the Court
Tiz the Law
Violent City
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Lights Out
Country Grammar
Dennis Moment
Gold Street
Honor A P
Independence Hall
Premier Star
Silver Prospector
Storm The Court
Thousand Words
Tiz The Law
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Mary Y.
Ete Indien
Excession
Gouverneur Morris
Green Light Go
Mr. Monomoy
Nadal
Silver Prospector
Sole Volante
Thousand Words
Tiz The Law
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Matthew W
Anneau d'Or
Azul Coast
Dennis' Moment
Express Train
Gouverneur Morris
Honor A P
Independence Hall
Nadal
Thousand Words
War Stopper
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
MDG
Ancient Warrior
Anneau D Or
Chance It
Halo Again
No Parole
Thousand Words
Three Technique
Tiz The Law
Jockey:Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
mz
Ajaaweed
Anneau d"or
Chester-town
Contrail
King Guillermo
Maxfield
Muskoka Gold
Storm the Court
Taraz
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Brad Cox
nanzyb4
Anneau d'Or
Authentic
Dennis' Moment
Green Light Go
Honor A P
Independence Hall
Scabbard
Tizamagician
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Outside Post
Anneau d'Or
Authentic
Basin
Charlatan
Club Aspen
Denni' Moment
Eight Rings
Nadal
Irish Mias
Thousand Words
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Brad Cox
Panty Raid
Alpha Sixty Six
Common Courtesy
Cost Basis
Country Grammer
Pine Knoll
Portos
South Bend
Telephone Talker
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Chad Brown
Patti Pulkowski
American Theorum
Chestertown
Embolden
Enforceable
Gouverneur Morris
Honor A P
Independence Hall
Portos
Silver Prospector
Three Techniques
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Penguin
Answer In
Candy Tycoon
Eight Rings
Enforceable
Excession
Max Player
Meru
Silver Prospector
Storm the Court
Wrecking Crew
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Professor M
Ancient Warrior
Authentic
Charlatan
Dennis Moment
Independence Hall
Nadal
No Parole
Palm Springs
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Quinnbt
Scabbard
Shoplifted
Shotski
Silver Prospector
Silver State
Sir Rick
Sole Volante
Storm The Court
Structor
Sycamore Run
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Ranagulizon
Chance It
Dennis' Moment
Eight Rings
Green Light Go
Independence Hall
King Guillermo
Shotski
Silver Prospector
Sole Volante
Thousand Words
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
Rik Est
Authentic
Dennis' Moment
King Guillermo
Maxfield
Mystic Guide
No Parole
Premier Star
Storm The Court
Thousand Words
Three Technique
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Riskaverse
Ajaaweed
Dennis's Moment
Eight Rings
Gouverneur Morris
Honor A P
Mystic Guide
Nadal
Silver State
Thousand Words
Three Technique
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Secretariat
Authentic
Dennis' Moment
Gouverneur Morris
Green Light
Honor AP
Independence Hall
Maxfield
Nadal
Thousand Words
Tiz The Law
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
shelmarka
Anneau d'Or
Authentic
Charlatan
Dennis' Moment
Independence Hall
Maxfield
Storm the Court
Structor
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Sinatra Jetter
Anneau d'Or
Basin
Dennis' Moment
Eight Rings
Independence Hall
Silver Prospector
Shivaree
Storm the Court
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Steve M. Asmussen
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
smitty37
Basin
Dennis' Moment
Gouverneur Morris
Honor AP
Independence Hall
Major Fed
Maxfield
Structor
Three Technique
Tiz The Law
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Brad Cox
SR Vegas
Anneau d'Or
American Theorem
Ajaaweed
Candy Tycoon
Charlatan
Dennis' Moment
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Untitled
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Standby Painter
Ajaaweed
Anneau d’Or
Authentic
Basin
Enforceable
Finnick the Fierce
Independence Hall
Maxfield
Nadal
Thousand Words
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
The Bid
Ancient Warrior
Authentic
Charlatan
Dennis' Moment
Farmington Road
Gouverneur Morris
Independence Hall
Maxfield
Thousand Words
Three Technique
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Tomskid
Anneau D’Or
Ancient Warrior
Authentic
Caracaro
Chance It
Finnick The Fierce
Modernist
Silver State
Storm the Court
Thousand Words
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
trackjack
Ajaaweed
American Theorem
Anneau d’Or
Charlatan
Gouverneur Morris
Independence Hall
Nadal
Silver Prospector
Thousand Words
Tiz the Law
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Van Horn
Ajaaweed
Authentic
Azul Coast
Charlatan
Dennis' Moment
Independence Hall
Maxfield
Nadal
Shared Sense
Tiz the Law
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
