Get ready, everyone! I would like to invite you all to join me in the seventh annual "Road to the Kentucky Derby" informal Handicapping Challenge!
Starting on Jan. 28 and continuing until post time for the Jan. 30 Holy Bull (G3), 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 Jan. 28 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 Life Is Good for their stable and he goes on to win the Santa Anita Derby (G1), that player will earn 100 points, but if Life Is Good were to instead win a race like the San Felipe (G2), 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, allowing them to earn double points only if their horse finishes first. For example, if a player were to designate Life Is Good as their prime horse on the week of the Santa Anita Derby and Life Is Goodwon 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 Mar. 21 and ending on Mar. 26. The contest will culminate with the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 1, 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 Jan. 28 through Jan. 30; 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
Akita Girl
Caddo River
Capo Kane
Concert Tour
Dynamic One
Greatest Honour
Prevalence
Senor Buscado
Waspirant
Essential Quality
Hidden Stash
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario
allatime
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Donegal Bay
Essential Quality
Highly Motivated
Life Is Good
Prevelance
Prime Factor
Dynamic One
Rombauer
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Aluminaut
Capo Kane
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Keepmeinmind
Life is Good
Medina Spirit
Midnight Bourbon
Prime Factor
Concert Tour
Hush of a Storm
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
AmyK
Brooklyn Strong
Essential Quality
Fire at Will
Greatest Honour
Life is Good
Prevalence
Senor Buscador
The Great One
Concert Tour
Helium
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Anglachel
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Fire at Will
Greatest Honor
Life is Good
Midnight Bourbon
Prime Factor
Hush of a Storm
Prevalence
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Arliss
Amount
Caddo River
Essential Quality
Got Her Number
Jaxon Traveller
Keepmeinmind
Medina Spirit
Prime Factor
Soup and Sandwich
Risk Taking
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Betty S
Brooklyn Strong
Caddo River
Essential Quality
Keepmeinmind
Life is Good
Medina spirit
Midnight Bourbon
Senor Buscador
Concert Tour
Greatest Honour
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Curlin08
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Keepinmind
Life is Good
Prevalence
Prime Factor
Roman Centurian
Collaborate
Medina Spirit
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Discopartner
Capo Kane
Hot Rod Charlie
Keepmeinmind
Life Is Good
Midnight Bourbon
Prevalence
Prime Factor
Reinvestment Risk
Essential Quality
Known Agenda
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
dustcommander5
Amount
Bezos
Capo Kane
Concert Tour
Jackies Warrior
Medina Spirit
Roman Centurian
Speakers Corner
Hozier
Weyburn
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Eric Rickard
Amount
Caddo River
Essential Quality
Keepmeinmind
Life Is Good
Medina Spirit
Roman Centurian
Senor Buscador
Concert Tour
Greatest Honour
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Fitzpony
Caddo River
Essential Quality
Jackie's Warrior
Keepmeinmind
Midnight Bourbon
Ten for Ten
Sittin On Go
Arabian Prince
Greatest Honour
Hush of a Storm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
gary26
Essential Quality
Fire At Will
Highly Motivated
Hot Rod Charlie
Keepmeinmind
Prime Factor
The Great One
Wipe The Slate
Hockey Dad
Known Agenda
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: John Velazquez
Gator Dan
Brooklyn Strong
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Prevalence
Prime Factor
Senor Buscador
The Great One
Known Agenda
Risk Taking
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
iceman92
Eagle Orb
Essential Quality
Life Is Good
Midnight Bourbon
Parnelli
Prime Factor
The Great One
Wipe The Slate
Hot Rod Charlie
Prevalence
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Jeff M
Essential Quality
Jackie's Warrior
Keepmeinmind
Parnelli
Prime Factor
Proxy
Red Flag
Spielberg
Panadol
Sainthood
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Kathy Weightman
Caddo River
Capo Kane
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Known Agenda
Medina Spirit
Midnight Bourbon
Senor Buscador
Concert Tour
Roman Centurian
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Keelerman
Caddo River
Greatest Honour
Hot Rod Charlie
Known Agenda
Life Is Good
Mandaloun
Medina Spirit
Midnight Bourbon
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
latenite
Bezos
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Life is Good
Medina Spirit
Prevalence
Risk Taking
Midnight Bourbon
Tarantino
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Leigh
By George
Fire At Will
Greatest Honour
Gwaun River Valley
Nepotism
Rombauer
Scarlet Fusion
Speaker's Corner
Nova Rags
Weyburn
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Lights Out
Caddo River
Essential Quality
Get Her Number
Jackie's Number
Keepmeinmind
Known Agenda
Life Is Good
Prime Factor
Concert Tour
Proxy
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Matthew W
Essential Quality
Keepmeinmind
Mandaloun
Prevalence
Roman Centurian
Rombauer
Senor Buscador
Wipe the Slate
Dream Shake
France Go de Ina
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez
Melanie Thompson
Capo Kane
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Hot Rod Charlie
Medina Spirit
Proxy
Tarantino
The Great One
Concert Tour
Risk Taking
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Joel Rosario
My Takeout
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Life is Good
Medina Spirit
Papetu
Prevalence
Prime Factor
Hot Rod Charlie
Known Agenda
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
mz64
Amount
Helium
Highly Motivated
Lemon Pop
Prevalence
Prime Factor
Stephen
Vittorio
Gretzky the Great
Weyburn
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Pedigree Ann
Caddo River
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Hot Rod Charlie
Keepmeinmind
Medina Spirit
Midnight Bourbon
Speaker's Corner
Concert Tour
Risk Taking
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
predict
Bezos
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Known Agenda
Prevalence
Prime Factor
Weyburn
Collaborate
Speight'spercomete
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Quinnbt
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Hot Rod Charlie
Keepmeinmind
Medina Spirit
Proxy
Senor Buscador
Sainthood
Weyburn
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Ranagulzion
Essential Quality
Caddo River
Prime Factor
Fire At Will
Capo Kane
Nova Rags
Roman Centurian
Senor Buscador
Greatest Honour
Risk Taking
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Rik Est
Bezos
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Medina Spirit
Prevalence
Prime Factor
The Great One
Collaborate
Helium
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Riskaverse
Amount
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Highly Motivated
Medina Spirit
Olympiad
Known Agenda
Risk Taking
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
ROBBIEJOE25
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Fire At Will
Prevalence
Prime Factor
Senor Buscador
Smiley Sobotka
NO ADDITIONS
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Rose T
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Hot Rod Charlie
Life Is Good
Medina Spirit
Papetu
Spielberg
The Great One
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
SeaTheStars
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Life Is Good
Medina Spirit
Spielberg
The Great One
Bezos
Prime Factor
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Secretariat
Brooklyn Strong
Capo Kane
Essential Quality
Highly Motivated
Keep Me In Mind
Life Is Good
Medina Spirit
Prime Factor
Concert Tour
Hot Rod Charlie
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Shaggy O
Big Fish
Caddo River
Capo Kane
Essential Quality
Jackie's Warrior
Medina Spirit
Midnight Bourbon
Prime Factor
NO ADDITIONS
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Shelmarka
Capo Kane
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Fire at Will
Keepmeinmind
Life is Good
Midnight Bourbon
Prime Factor
Greatest Honour
Risk Taking
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
smitty37
Caddo River
Fire at Will
Highly Motivated
Keepmeinmind
Life is Good
Medina Spirit
Rombauer
Spielberg
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario
SRVegas
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Life Is Good
Greatest Honour
Medina Spirit
Prime Factor
Senor Buscador
Prevalence
Risk Taking
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Standby Painter
Amount
Brooklyn Strong
Caddo River
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Medina Spirit
Midnight Bourbon
Prime Factor
Hot Rod Charlie
Known Agenda
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
thedragonlady59
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Life is Good
Keepmeinmind
Medina Spirit
Midnight Bourbon
Prime Factor
The Great One
Concert Tour
Spielberg
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Thomas McDonald
Caddo River
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Highly Motivated
Medina Spirit
Prevalence
Prime Factor
Speakers Corner
Greatest Honour
Risk Taking
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Tomskid
Caddo River
Cazadero
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Highly Motivated
Hot Rod Charlie
Keepmeinmind
Senor Buscador
Concert Tour
Risk Taking
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana
TnT
Battleground
Caddo River
Essential Quality
Helium
Life is Good
Prevalence
Prime Factor
Rock Your World
Greatest Honour
Risk Taking
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Trackjack
Caddo River
Capo Kane
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Known Agenda
Life is Good
Medina Spirit
Midnight Bourbon
Concert Tour
Risk Taking
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Van Horn
Concert Tour
Essential Quality
Greatest Honour
Hot Rod Charlie
Keepmeinmind
Life is Good
Prevalance
Prime Factor
Medina Spirit
Speight'spercomete
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
