Daniel Acker/Bloomberg News
What a race! This year it was hard to pick a clear favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Last year, Barbaro and Bernardini were the standouts. This year there were seven or eight horses who could have won. I had Curlin and Street Sense in an exacta, and Street Sense 3-way, so I had the first and third finishers, just in the wrong order. My sentimental picks were Storm in May, who is blind in his left eye and gentle as a lamb, and Teuflesberg, who sold for $9000 and has won $385K so far. They finished 16th and 17th, respectively. Curlin got banged around a little shortly after the break by Storm in May, but that's racing. The surprise for me was that Imawildandcrazyguy got up for fourth, especially since he ran on the outside pretty much the whole race. Maybe blinkers would help him.
There were a few firsts. 40-year-old jockey Calvin Borel won his first Kentucky Derby. Street Sense is the first champion two-year-old to capture the first leg of the Triple Crown since Spectacular Bid in 1979 and the first horse to win the Derby in only his third start of the year since Sunny’s Halo in 1983. He went off as the favorite, and favorites don't seem to do well at this race. Trainer Carl Nafzger won his second Derby, his first having been with Unbridled in 1990. He's only got two owners for whom he trains horses these days and he is semi-retired. Todd Pletcher, with 200 horses in his barn and five in the race, still hasn't managed to win this race. His top finisher this year was Circular Quay, who ended up sixth. He did win the Kentucky Oaks on Friday with Rags To Riches. And of course, Queen Elizabeth II was in attendance. I was surprised to learn that she had never been to the Kentucky Derby before.
What a race, though. Borel really knows his horse and is evidently a good judge of pace; he rode a very tactical race - risky, but it worked out. Tom Durkin sounded stunned when he announced that the favorite was in 19th place going up the backstretch. And finally, after years of watching lousy camera coverage, we got to see the critical parts this race from the right perspective, the blimp. It allowed everyone to watch Borel guide Street Sense up along the rail and showed what a truly impressive move it was. He was flying. Just great to see. You can watch it again here.
In less interesting news, 45-year-old Roger Clemens signed a one-year contract to play sometime this year for the NY Yankees. I guess he hasn't figured out that they aren't going to win the World Series, which is his stated goal. I'm actually relieved, I don't think the Red Sox need him and I don't know that he would have been a good fit in the clubhouse. Comradery seems to do wonders for the BoSox. Also, the Sox saved themselves $28 million. If it ain't broke, as they say...
Great review of the race. Thanks. I have never picked a winner in the Derby, so I am much impressed with your handicapping skills. I was working most of the weekend, rebuilding my PC and rearranging the office, so I missed the race. I'm looking forward to watching it using the link you provided.
ReplyDeleteI think that you're correct in saying that the Sox don't need Clemens. That applies as long as Matsuzaka lives up to his promise and they remain relatively injury free. The Yankees will benefit from Clemens no matter what happens, but if their sputtering start proves otherwise than typical I think they could provide some formidable competition. Their relief pitching will prove to be the key. It ain't over yet.
ReplyDeleteI know how much that you guys like to hear it from Yankee fans, but as a footnote to my caveat about their relief pitching, let me add that if Wang, Clemens, Pettitte and Mussina do what they usually do, ie. hold the ball for seven innings, maybe their relief may get it done for them after all. OK, I'll be quiet now.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Remember, those of us up here in the Nation always enjoy the first half of the season. It's the half after the All-Star break we dread. Pretty much the opposite of you Yanks fans.
ReplyDeleteI've no doubt Clemens will perform admirably. I'm just not sorry we didn't get him. It should make for an interesting year of baseball in the AL East.
You will definitely want to watch this race, it's a brilliant ride by Borel. You get a good look at the tactics he used, and you can see how well Street Sense rates. Borel took a chance staying on the rail with so many evenly-matched horses in the race, but he got the breaks he needed and had the horse to take advantage of them.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see isolated footage of how Imawildandcrazyguy ran, he went around the field on the outside and still ended up fourth. He ran the longest race of all! And Curlin seems to have also had a pretty good ride, he had to maneuver his way to third place in the middle of the pack.
Thanks so much for the link to the race. I too was forgetful of the time and missed it. Agreed, great review!
ReplyDeleteRedsox offered Clemens 18 million and no more.. we can do without him, and I say this with hopes of a healthy season! Hey, he went to be with his buddy pitcher and take the money.. just like all the other yankits they have in the clubhouse. Let him wear a Y hat in the Hall of Fame, we'll all just take the photo's of him and put a big H over it! Wabbit is right about his arrogance... Another ploy by New York to try and psych us out by Clemens announcing he'll be on the winning team this year. To them that was worth 20 million by itself! Houston said good riddance and don't let the door hit you in the A**
Yup Yup,,, No offense anhaga. Sike!
I hain't got no attitude problem, ha!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt Steinbrenner is The Big Spenderof major league baseball. He wants a winner every year for Gotham City, but I don't think there's anyone on the Damned Yankees, including Rodriguez, that's doing anything that's different from what's happening all around the league. It's fine that the Sox got to hold on to some change after their Matsuzaka purchase, but there's a good fit in New York for both parties. Just google this:
"Bauman: Rocket return helps both sides"
From what I gather from all the articles written about this move it appears that Clemens straight out gave the finger to the Astros. I stand by my calling him arrogant. If he put an effort in being a team member while in Texas rather than his Casper the friendly Ghost act ... things may have been different. Here are a few statements that came from the MLB site. (Astros)
ReplyDelete"There are two kinds of people," Lance Berkman said. "Those people who aren't surprised, and morons."
As soon as Andy Pettitte signed with the Yankees last December, Berkman said, Clemens was as good as gone.
"We never counted on him being here," Berkman said. "He might have stayed retired for all we knew. We couldn't count on him coming to the rescue."
Yes, I say.... let the door hit him in the a** . It is all about getting stats. Yankits can hit, and will raise his stats and he can go out on top? Does he even like playing baseball anymore? Not once has he said... "I love this game.... retire....??? bah humbug!" Watch out Yankee's, even if you loose badly this year, looks like the Rocket is still counting on you to hit while he's on the mound! Just watch his face if you don't....
I love the RedSox.. I think the Yankits have some awsome players, hitters, pitchers.. Karma got them this year.. it's a little early in the year to count them out, but please let me feel just a little wonderful at their suffering. (( dear Lord, may it continue) (forgive me ))
Clemens is a hypocrite. Out of one side of his mouth he claims to want another World Series ring. Then he signs with the Yankees for $10 million more than anyone else was willing to pay for a part-time, 'I'll show up when I want to', 45-year-old pitcher. What a load of crap. It was all about the Benjamins, plain and simple. I think KeyDear has a point, I'm not convinced playing baseball is as important to him as are his ego and his wallet.
ReplyDeleteNo loss for us.
That replay on the Derby was much like watching NASCAR. I'm not into NASCAR but know that when a car is getting the squeeze and all eyes are looking for the possible crash and bodies tense there is always someone taking that opportunity to slip on by via the inside track!
ReplyDeleteWatching #17 Stormello, the unwitting victim, who was amazing until he let the pack overtake him, break stride in a bumperhorse situation then finally gave up had me a wreck!. All this flurry and an inside track opening??? BAM.. a clear thinking jockey and a horse with guts and the ability to grab the glory take the short route to the front and Haul A** to the finish line... That wildandcrazyguy who was back in the pack with Street went wide and finished great, he's one to watch! They really did a thread the needle on Derby Day, and it was amazing to watch. The blimp shots were great, and wabbits commentary perfect!
I'm not missing the next two for the crown!!!
I don't know about all this Clemens talk i just hope my favorite yankee stays right where he is. That man is mariano riviera, it is his last year under his contract and I just hope he resigns with the good for nothings. Why you ask, well I don't care how good of a reliefe pitcher he is i just know everytime he closes against the RED SOX he blows it and we win. So i look at him like our undercover man. He help us here in Red Sox Nation by giving us the wins whenever he tries to pitch.
ReplyDeleteExactly Peas.... He is our man@!
ReplyDeleteHe actually looks like he hates the Yankits the way he lets us win... love him! Our Sox won AGAIN tonite... homerun hitters!
Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' Keep them wins a rollin' Man.. ny....
Pa... Pi.....
Hey everyone is a star right now.. Last night when they hit Yooook again in the leg, I almost lost my mind! I thought revenge was in order after that one... tonite we gave him the night off for taking all the target practice they've put him through! where is Bronson when you need him!!!