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Kentucky Derby Picks

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Kentucky Derby workouts
As is an annual tradition around here, my wife and I are throwing a big Kentucky Derby party and I have some picks for the race. I am boxing these three as an exacta.

If you are just a basketball fan, root for Join the Dance, owned by Rashard Lewis of the Orlando Magic.

And no, Pioneer of the Nile is not in the mix for me. I don’t think he will make the synthetic to dirt transition well, although the slop could help him some. I really liked I Want Revenge, that scratch was sad to see.

1) Friesan Fire. He would be up there anyway and the conditions make him my favorite.

2) Dunkirk. I think he is going to struggle coming from way off the pace in this one, with a crowded field, but he is simply too talented to leave out of an exotic.

3) Desert Party. Like his stalking running style for this race, and he has ran bullets in training.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Coffee is for Closers says

    The track conditions definitely throw a wrinkle in an already difficult race to handicap. I’m guessing at least one longshot comes out of nowhere to place – look for a huge trifecta/superfecta payout today.

    I have no clue however – I’ll just make myself julep with makers and enjoy the spectacle. Wish I was on the infield today – did it once – absolutely nuts.

  2. chibi says

    I know a horse veterinarian, and in her expert opinion, it’s going to be #16, Pioneer of the Nile.

  3. anon says

    any predictions on the bulls-celts game tonight?

    …my gut is telling me celts blow this one out, but im praying for another OT thriller. either way i see the celts winning tho (hopefully im wrong)

  4. "I like turtles" says

    Derrick Rose is going to put up 63 points in the Celtics but the Bulls will lose.

  5. Mimsy says

    I predict thatif this is a blow-out by the Celtics, Rajon Rondo would be wise to stay on the bench the last few minutes of the game…

  6. emh101 says

    I predict Joakim Noah will win the Derby. Did you see how fast he dribbled down the court and dunked the ball? Sheesh!

  7. Snoopy2006 says

    Ah…yes. I have absolutely nothing to contribute to this discussion at all.

    People still race horses in circles?

    On a side note (and I’m not saying I don’t agree with the point of this article)…but what percentage of Adrian Wojnarowski’s articles involving slamming/ripping NBA individuals? He’s the most sensationalistic writer I’ve ever seen. A lot of the times he’s right, but I’d bet 90% of his articles are negative criticism. As Kobe would say, perhaps he wasn’t hugged enough as a child.

    http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AkCvM1lJmX.ygjXziRmlNb.8vLYF?slug=aw-smithhawks050209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

  8. Gatinho says

    That was absolutely amazing.

    Makes me sad that they tore Bay Meadows down last year, cause that’s where I would have been today…

  12. inwit says

    Did the Bulls get cheated out of a point? They had 11, Gordon hit a 3 and the scoreboard only showed 13.

  14. inwit says

    No that was a later shot. The one I’m refering to was 2 feet beyond the line. I wastched the replay too on my DVR.

  15. aB says

    The Bulls just got robbed of 1 point. If you go back to the 8:34 mark, you can see Gordon is a good foot behind the line. I don’t know how you can review it and not see he is well behind the 3 point line.

  19. Joel says

    I actually thought that shot was well beyond the arc as well, but the refs reviewed it and ruled it a 2. Strange.

  20. inwit says

    They reviewed another shot. Oh well, it only matters if it is a close game. But real incompetence to miss that 3.

  21. inwit says

    They showed replays of Gordon hitting 3 clear 3’s but then showed his stats with only 2 3 pointers!

  22. james says

    bulls had better hope gordon stays hot, all they have is jump shots at the moment

  23. inwit says

    They don’t even have that right now. House is all over the place on defense, he is very energetic right now.

  25. james says

    bulls offence is terrible at the moment, this is starting to look like a blowout

  28. sT says

    50 – 1 looonngshot, wow… who cares what the odds are, only that you end up winning in the end.

  35. magic says

    Why is Rose always out of position on defense. Seems he’s always running around chasing someone but his man and making other people cover for him and leaving someone open.

  38. Joel says

    Wow, they finally changed that Gordon shot to a 3. Only took them about 2 hours.

  39. Snoopy2006 says

    Brad Miller’s indecision on offense has absolutely killed the Bulls. His jumpshot wouldn’t fall early, and in the 2nd half he’s lost all confidence. Rose has gotten him the ball in some great spots, but he’s no longer looking to shoot.

    The Bulls have an ugly, ugly offense. I’m not sure if that can be said enough. When their jumpshots aren’t falling like tonight, they won’t win.

    My impression of Noah has drastically improved this series. Someone compared him to Tyson Chandler – I don’t think so. He’s not athletic enough. He’s an irritant, and although he has defensive lapses, he’s soon glimpses of lockdown potential. I see him somewhere closer to Varejao.

  40. wondahbap says

    How the hell do the refs screw that 3 pointer up? How does that not get corrected at the end of the 1st quarter? They wait until the 4th with 5+ minutes?

  41. Joel says

    37

    He’s more athletic than Varejao though. Right now he’s basically giving them the kind of production they were expecting from Ben Wallace.

  42. christopher marc says

    thanks for posting about the derby on a lakers off day. POTNile was my horse, gotta represent the winners from Santa Anita. Glad to see you include, and viewers respond to posts about other things than basketball. It helps make a good site about X, a good site to visit period. Just as long as the politics and religion is left out. that starts too many arguments. lakers in 5.
    ~cmh

  45. james says

    celtics leaving the door open, bulls have had several chances to get it down to one possesion but havent been able to do it

  53. sT says

    Fine, the Celtics advance to the next round, I kinda wanted them to be one and done, but anyway.

  55. Snoopy2006 says

    It was great in terms of entertainment, but I agree, the basketball itself was awful at times. The Bulls offense, when jumpers aren’t falling, is painful to watch.

    Derrick Rose doesn’t strike as a verbal leader, more of a leader by example. The guy is so level-headed, which is good in a PG. But he’s not fiery. The Bulls will need someone to be that vocal leader in the future. Noah could get there, if his on court play continues to grow – his passion is definitely there, he just needs more maturity.

  56. Mico says

    The Kentucky Derby showed an underdog winning.

    The Pacquiao – Hatton match showed that favorites are favored for a reason…

    Let’s hope the latter rings true for the Houston vs. LA series

  58. Zephid says

    Seriously, I believe when Vinny Del Negro is drawing up plays, he has the inbounder, 3 dudes huddled around the free throw line, then a random squiggle, which determines Ben Gordon’s path as he runs around trying to get the ball.

    Then, when the Bulls are in the half-court, their one play consists of Rose at the point, two guys standing still in the pinch post area, then two random squiggles around them, which are Ben Gordon and John Salmons running around like mad.

    Oh, and they have the one play from Phoenix, where the inbounder gets the ball back running along the three point line after inbounding it to the post, which they managed to run three times in the 4th quarter last night.

  61. Coffee is for Closers says

    Wait, yup, I think Friesan Fire just crossed the finish line….

  62. Snoopy2006 says

    This studio crew’s chemistry is so off. Magic looked afraid to make the joke about Chauncey’s old haircut, then looked nervously to the others to see if they had realized it was a joke. All 4 started laughing on cue as if someone had held up a cue card, and the laughter went on a bit too long to not be creepy. Jon Barry looked confused, he might not know what a hightop fade is.

    Wade looks so hobbled. He’s fighting through it, but when healthy he’s so much better than this.

    It was good to hear Wade call Beasley out. The guy has coasted by on his pre-NBA rep for too long. He’ll get there, but for someone that cocky (who multiple times has stated he feels like the best player on the floor everytime he steps onto an NBA court) he needs to back up his talk.

  64. Joel says

    I’m so glad this series is finally ending. How the hell can you have a playoff series with 7 straight blowouts?

    Terrible charging call on Wade.

  65. Snoopy2006 says

    Not to be a nitpicker…but why is Michael Beasley laughing and goofing off on the bench while being blown out of a Game 7?

    Does this kid not get it at all? Does he get it, and not care? Does he honestly believe he’s the best basketball player even on his own team? What is wrong with this kid’s head?

    Yes, he’s incredibly young, but it’s so incredibly frustrating. Get it together, dude. I can’t stand players who coast by on pure talent and physical gifts.

  66. Snoopy2006 says

    Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson are trading some odd middle-aged form of Yo Momma jokes. Why are these people still employed?

  67. Joel says

    Well there have been questions about how seriously Beasley takes his job for a good while now. Playing alongside a competitor like Wade, he won’t last long if he doesn’t have the requisite professionalism and work ethic.

  68. Snoopy2006 says

    At least Udonis Haslem (Beasley’s “mentor”) is showing Beez an example of how to care.