The Galloping Hat Rack

The memory of fangirling over Juba is still strong in my mind, but Cigar Mile Day was the first of many instances in the Derby preps where a little voice in my head said “Perhaps you should look at the other stablemate!”

I really topped myself– perhaps unwisely in hindsight– by covering all 20 (plus the late also-eligible) Derby contenders for this year’s Run for the Roses, as opposed to the standard Derby Dozen I usually do. Many of you have also helped me learn the horses along the Derby prep trail by handicapping the races with me through the Derby Handicap Contest, which I actually didn’t totally bomb this year and made some good picks here and there while getting to watch the Remsen (II) and Wood Memorial (I) in person for the first time. All in all, I feel pretty good about my top choices for this year’s race after all that footwork, which have been unchanged since Hoppertunity’s scratch (I would have ranked Hop #6 or so), so do read on as they are ranked in order:

#5 RIDE ON CURLIN - I admitted I gave this colt next to no attention throughout the past several months, but he’s really coming together at the right time. He’s one of those diamond in the rough types who will probably be getting his photo taken a LOT MORE OFTEN after the Triple Crown races are done and over with. He could be something!

#4 DANZA - I was wishy-washy about this complete stunner of a colt for a long while, as there were so many little questions. However, I think he is a special colt and he’s been doing beautifully since that upset win in the Arkansas Derby. I don’t like using Pletcher horses, but I actually like this one a lot! Go Danza!

#3 CALIFORNIA CHROME - If Chrome wins, I will be happy. His story is so special and he’s a legitimate throwback to the old days of great racehorses coming out of figurative ashes and on to greatness. He is the picture of a happy, healthy racehorse with talent. However, as the favorite he will be watched and possibly crowded in from the #5 spot and has much to lose. If I were tuning in blindly, as I did when I was a kid and had no way of finding out about the Kentucky Derby until the day of, I would have picked him.

#2 DANCE WITH FATE - “WHO IS THAT!” I’m a heavy dissenter of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile mattering in the long run, but as soon as I saw this guy’s near-black butt on high-definition television in my living room, I was in love and have followed his career since as a believer. Dance With Fate is a multi-dimensional horse who is looking solid and ready to pop the cork in this race coming from post #12. In fact, I am scared for my #1, he is that good…

#1 WICKED STRONG - My personal bias for Wicked Strong aside, he is my Derby horse this year for overcoming all the little ifs, ands, or butts throughout the season. He closed like a freight train in the Remsen (II) and became the most under-talked-about horse of the year coming into the Holy Bull (II). It became apparent over time that Gulfstream was playing like horse dung, and couldn’t be trusted as a legitimate surface. Thus he became my Wood pick and off that big win, he looks to be chiming into true form right on schedule. His outer post doesn’t really bother me; I still picked Nehro despite getting one some years ago and didn’t understand the 15-1 on I’ll Have Another coming from the auxiliary gate. If the horse’s style matches– which it does– it doesn’t really matter. His late pace and Trakus figures put him right at the top, and he’ll be coming late and strong.

Additional “heart picks”…

SAMRAAT - I got to attend Sequel Stallions’ open house, and despite the impressive physique of his sire Noble Causeway, his dad was dismissed somewhat too readily as having done little. I say no!

TAPITURE - The first Derby contender I got to see in person before I knew it was him, squealing like a demon around the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga. Go Tapits!

UNCLE SIGH - Another horse I got to see in person, and just the cutest guy ever. And also, I drove by Gary Contessa’s barn when I got lost at Belmont Park.