It's Derby day Saturday May 5th.....got your favorites yet??

[a kennedy]

I'm going with three, Creative Cause, Hansen, and Union Rags. Should be a good time as usual.

[trumad]

1. Sticking with Rags.

He rates very well which I think will be a factor in the race.

Why?

Because of a Horse called Trinniberg.

Trinniberg is a superfast front runner who changes the dymanics of the race big time.

Speed runners will be gassed leaving horse like Union Rags to blow by them.

I like twogunsids long shot Alpha because he's a great closer.

Picks:
Union Rags
Alpha
Bodemeister

[PDittie]

5. My super looks like

Bodemeister, Creative Cause, Gemologist, and Daddy Nose Best

(I know this is the second thread I have posted this on, but I wanted to kick these up so I can find them on Friday and Saturday)

[twogunsid]

2. I'm still thinking....

they drew post positions today:
1. Daddy Long Legs, Colm O’Donoghue, 30-1
2. Optimizer, Jon Court, 50-1
3. Take Charge Indy, Calvin Borel, 15-1
4. Union Rags, Julien Leparoux, 9-2
5. Dullahan, Kent Desormeaux, 8-1
6. Bodemeister, Mike Smith, 4-1
7. Rousing Sermon, Jose Lezcano, 50-1
8. Creative Cause, Joel Rosario, 12-1
9. Trinniberg, Willie Martinez, 50-1
10. Daddy Knows Best, Garrett Gomez, 15-1
11. Alpha, Rajiv Maragh, 15-1
12. Prospective, Luis Contreras, 30-1
13. Went the Day Well, John Velazquez, 20-1
14. Hansen, Ramon Dominguez, 10-1
15. Gemologist, Javier Castellano, 6-1
16. El Padrino, Rafael Bejarano, 20-1
17. Done Talking, Sheldon Russell, 50-1
18. Sabercat, Corey Nakatani, 30-1
19. I’ll Have Another, Martin Gutierrez, 12-1
20. Liaison, Martin Garcia, 50-1
AE – My Adonis, Elvis Trujillo, x-1

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69444/derby-draw-favored-bodemeister-in-post-6#ixzz1tlEeGXXY

The Irish horse drew the rail. Bad luck for Aidan.

I like Union Rags, Gemologist and Alpha. It looks like a lot of early speed like trumad says so a closer might have an edge.

a kennedy have you seen these videos of your boy Hansen?

http://origin-www.followhorseracing.com/en/the-latest/news-stories/2012/4/27/hansen-features/

[Kingofalldems]

3. 20 horse fields make handicapping difficult

Luck quite often a major factor. I say 14 horses, tops.

[twogunsid]

4. Handicapping is hard....

but with a 20 horse field you get some good prices. Hit the superfecta and you can take the week off!

[a kennedy]

6. Whew, sure would look great with those roses around his neck.....

great video. Thanks.

[a kennedy]

7. Found this article also on the white horse.....

Very interesting....

The two-year-old champion colt named Hansen will not be the favorite in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, but most eyes will unavoidably be upon him. You see, in a field of chestnuts and bays, Hansen is a brilliant white. Well, technically he's a gray, but without boring you with equine pigmentation detail, thoroughbred grays, like the great Native Dancer, turn whiter as they grow older, and Hansen is simply prematurely white -- sort of a four-legged Steve Martin. To emphasize the alabaster, his owner wanted to dye his tail blue for the Blue Grass Stakes, but the stick-in-the-mud racing officials thought that was tacky.

But as rare as white horses are -- less than eight percent -- it is amazing how they've fascinated virtually every culture. White horses are chosen to stand for good ... and for bad. One of the four horsemen of the Apolocalpyse rides a pale horse, but the unicorn -- which is invariably depicted as white -- stands for purity. Only virgins can capture unicorns. But contrariwise, in some cultures white horses represent fertility. Take your pick.

But white horses stand for power and glory, too. In the book of Revelation, not only Jesus, but all the armies of heaven will descend astride white horses. In politics, "the man on the white horse" invariably refers to the leader who is going to save us. When Peale and Trumbull famously painted George Washington with a horse, the father of our country's steed is white. For the Confederacy, Robert E. Lee's famous mount, Traveler, really was a white horse.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/frank_deford/05/02/Hansen-white-horse/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[twogunsid]

8. Hansen takes in sights during first morning at Churchill

From thoroughbredtimes.com: Hansen took in all the sights and sounds of Churchill Downs on Thursday, the champion juvenile male's first morning this week at the site of Saturday's Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

Hansen spent the early part of the week with trainer Mike Maker at his quiet barn at the Trackside Louisville Training Center, a few miles from the twin spires. The Tapit colt made the short trip to Churchill yesterday.

On Thursday morning, the gray or roan colt - who is nearly white to the eye - turned heads as he galloped on the track after schooling in the gate. Hansen returned the favor, turning his head to size up the crowd.

Afterward, while walking the shedrow, Hansen would pause and look at the crowd outside the barn, delighting photographers. Maker said Hansen has always had a lot of curiosity about his environment. He also has a sense of where the cameras are.



http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2012/05/03/hansen-takes-in-sights-during-first-morning-at-churchill.aspx

Thanks for the DeFord SI article. It's amazing to me that almost every single Thoroughbred in the world traces their lineage to the stallion Roi Herode through his son The Tetrarch or his daughter La Grisette.

I've heard it said that Native Dancer became such a fan favorite because in the days of BW TV fans could tell him from the other horses by his color.

And, of course, the greatest horse I ever seen was a gray: Spectacular Bid. Love those grays.

[a kennedy]

9. ditto to the grays....love them.

Went to our "local" race track when in operation and lost on every gray I bet 2.00 on. Oh well.... still love them the best. and in your article they are calling him a gray or roan.... and this, "He also has a sense of where the cameras are." reminds me so much of Secretariat...he just loved and would pose for the cameras. ha ha I loved him too. Gonna be a great day for racing..... Ooops, and just re-red the SI article, and it does say technically he a gray. Sorry. edit to add info.

[twogunsid]

11. One more Hansen story....

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69476/hansen-survived-his-mother-to-achieve-acclaim?source=rss

A little update for your grays: Hansen was rank this morning and almost uncontrollable. His rider had to be helped by an outrider to pull him up.

Creative Cause has a foot issue that his trainer is trying to downplay but he had problems before he shipped into Churchill and he appeared stiff this morning and his work was faster than a walk but slower than a jog. I bet he's scratched.

[a kennedy]

12. I'll have another???

Oh my....what a ride.

[twogunsid]

10. My Picks....

1. Union Rags
2. Gemologist
3. Alpha
4. Dullahan
5. Take Charge Indy