Don’t have a dressy hat? Take that one you wear in the garden, cut the top off and voilà, instant hat, ala Lady Gaga.
Men, the mint julep ain’t so bad. Just ask the bartender to hold the mint and sugar. What’s left? Bourbon!
Just in case you haven’t figured this out yet, Saturday is The Kentucky Derby.
For those of you going to the Great Plains Theatre to watch the horse race, and you know nothing about horse racing, this is for you.
And, for those of you that know terms like Beyer Speed Figure or the distance of a furlong, this is for you too because it’s, after all, the Kentucky Derby.
There is no race like it. Twenty young horses, a few with just four trips out of the gate, the most with only 13, line up for the two-gate start. Folks, anything can happen.
Many handicappers like the long shots. Mine That Bird and Giacoma both cashed in at odds greater than 50-1. Do the math. A winning trifecta can be in the thousands.
Another thing that makes the Kentucky Derby so interesting is the distance.
The term derby, often pronounced darbi, refers to a distance race and the Kentucky Derby is 1-1/4 miles. None of the 20 horses have raced at that distance.
Uncle Mo (gate 18) was the pre-Derby favorite when he clocked a 108 speed figure winning the Breeder Cup Juvenile last October. That was at 1-1/16 miles. But in the Wood Memorial last month he folded like a cheap tent in the homestretch over the 1-1/8 mile course and Toby’s Corner won the race.
Many would say, that’s racing and throw that race out. Mo is 4-1-0 in five starts and already has $1.4 million in earnings. He will probably be the betting favorite.
Toby’s Corner was a late scratch in the race.
Dialed In (gate 8) went from last to first in the Florida Derby, a grade 1 race that paid $1 million will be among the favorites. But his speed rating was a low 93. The question, can he race his way through 19 other horses because he will probably break last? (Break means come out of the gate).
Another horse to watch is Archarcharch, pronounced arch arch arch. He won the Arkansas Derby from the nine post (not 10 as listed in my program). Archarcharch has the inside post and should be a factor.
I like Nehro who was closing strong in the Arkansas Derby and would have easily caught Archarcharch with an extra 1/8 mile to go. But, Nehro has the 19 slot which is not a good spot.
If you like to bet jockeys, Calvin Borel, who rode Rachel Alexandra, is on Twice the Appeal. Mike Smith, who rode Zenyatta, is on Twinspired. Two-time Eclipse Award-winning rider Garrett Gomez is on Master of Hounds. Victor Espinoza is on Midnight Interlude.
So, there you have it. The winner of the Kentucky Derby is as clear as Columbian coffee. And I didn’t even mention Mucho Macho Man.
Uncle Mo or Comma to the Top will lead early but won’t hold on. Nehro and Dialed In won’t overcome the outside posts but Nehro will be a factor in the next two Triple Crown races, especially the Belmont (1-1/2 miles).
Watch Archarcharch take advantage of the inside gate to win. Borel on Twice the Appeal will run second. Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude will run third.
The Derby, in postposition, morning line odds:
1. Archarcharch 10-1
2. Brilliant Speed 30-1
3. Twice the Appeal 20-1
4. Stay Thirsty 20-1
5. Decisive Moment 30-1
6. Comma to the Top 30-1
7. Pants On Fire 20-1
8. Dialed In 4-1
9. Derby Kitten 30-1
10. Twinspired 30-1
11. Master of Hounds 30-1
12. Santiva 30-1
13. Mucho Macho Man 12-1
14. Shackleford 12-1
15. Midnight Interlude 10-1
16. Animal Kingtom 30-1
17. Soldat 12-1
18. Uncle Mo 9-2
19. Nehro 6-1
20. Watch Me Go 50-1