Free Selections / Kentucky Derby Card / 5-4-2013

When the first note of “My Old Kentucky Home” cranks up. This big fella’ tears up like a little kid. It reminds me of days gone by and great things to come. My family has enjoyed the races, my friends go to the races, and I live for this weekend. Breeders’ Cup is all about gambling, and that is fine with me. But once a year there is a celebration of the Thoroughbred, and that is Kentucky Derby Day!

 

Churchill Downs

The weather has been up and down all week long. The projected forecast is a high of 60 degrees, and a 70% chance of rain.

Race #1 – O.C. $62,500 – 6f – 10:30 a.m. ET

#1 – Apropos (8-5) = Shaun Bridgmohan in the saddle for Al Stall. 3/3 ITM lifetime, and draws the rail on this day. If the track comes up wet or sealed. She is bred to enjoy the soft going.

Race #6 – The (G-3) Twin Spires Turf Sprint – 5f – 1:19 p.m. ET

I am playing the turf to have a bit of cut to it, and if I am wrong. All that you have to do is pull down the change of weather tab and receive a new set of E-Z Win Forms.

#3 – Regally Ready (4-1) = Corey Nakatani in the irons for Steve Asmussen. A horse-for-the-course going 3/3 with wins at CD. This gelding does well with a  soft course, and makes the second off the layoff move.

Race #7 – The (G-1) Humana Distaff – 7f – 2:08 p.m. ET

#8 – Byrama (5-1) = Joel Rosario up for Simon Callaghan, and they make the 2nd off the layoff move. Goes the poly-dirt move, and she loves a quick pace. If the timer is fast, she will come rolling like thunder.

Race #8 – The (G-2) Distaff Turf Mile – 1 mile on the turf – 2:59 p.m. ET

#5 – Hungry Island (4-1) = J.J. Castellano in the driver’s seat for Shug McGaughey. 2/2 ITM at CD, and her impressive win at Keeneland gives notice to the field. She drops down a class, and should be awfully tough down the lane.

Race #10 – The (G-1) Woodford Reserve Classic – 1 1/8 on the turf – 4:44 p.m. ET

#8 – Wise Dan (6-5) = This race won’t offer much value, but it will be an incredible event to watch. Jose Lezcano up for Charles LoPresti, and is 1/1 at CD. 6/7 with wins on the weeds, and if the track comes up soft. There should be no problem with this son of Wiseman’s Ferry.

Race #11 – The (G-1) Kentucky Derby – 1 1/4 – 6:24 p.m. ET

#16 – Orb (7-2) = Joel Rosario in the irons for Shug McGaughey. He is perfect in 2013, and the impressive win in the Florida Derby stamped his ticket. All week long he has been looking well in the morning.

#5 – Normandy Invasion (12-1) = J.J Castellano in the irons for Chad Brown. This colt by Tapit looks to outrun his breeding, and his morning works have been stellar. He is making the third off the layoff move, and his only victory has been a maiden win. But, with that being said. I love the way he travels. His late kick is the kind of action that takes over at the 1/8th pole in the Derby.

#3 – Revolutionary (10-1) = Calvin Borel in the driver’s seat for Todd Pletcher. 2nd off the layoff, and is 1/1 over a wet track. 2013 has shown great maturity, and you can bet that Borel will try to duplicate the Street Sense / Mine that Bird move down the lane.

 

It is hard to believe the Derby is already here. Kind of like Christmas for a little kid as you wake in the morning and get what you have been hoping for. Be sure to check in with Winning Ponies as they do extremely well on the big days. It can be your one-stop-shop for scratches, changes, track conditions all in real time. No more jumping from site to site as it is just one click away. The weather for this day has been dicey all week. Winning Ponies offers up a one-of-a-kind option with the change of weather tab. All you need to do is point and click, and PRESTO! A brand new set of E-Z Win Forms to keep up with the changes of the day.