Paddock to Post IV – Kentucky Derby

By Michael – Louis Ingram, Editor 

BASN

(first presented May 1, 2008)

 

LOUISVILLE, KY (BASN/BASN NEWSROOM) — Well, race day is here. And just like another race to be held later this year, two of the more pivotal story lines involve a female (make that filly), and a Black man…

While three fillies (Regret, Winning Colors and Genuine Risk) have beat the boys in the past Derby efforts, Eight Belles goes to post in the hope of being number four.

Trained by Larry Jones and bred out of Unbridled’s Song, Eight Belles seems to have similar characteristics (save gender) to Jones’ aptly named Derby contender from last year, Hard Spun, who always seemed to run his oats off whenever he competed. Rider Gabriel Saez, an up-and-coming young talent who has been Jones’ first call on many of his victories, will be on the reins.

The possibility that a Black jockey will win the Run for the Roses is a very distinct one thanks to trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. The Jamaican – born star seeks to be the first black jockey to win a Derby in 105 years.

A field of 20 – the full allowed allotment – will line up later in hopes of capturing the first and most prestigious jewel in racing’s Triple Crown. So without further ado…

IT IS NOW POST TIME!

As is our longstanding policy, our play is made with our cash – no make-believe bucks here. If we win, you win. If we don’t we come back and get ’em another day.

The Play: I could be wrong, but here’s how I see it:

With a huge field and weather up in the air, one definite thing we believe is the post-time probable favorite, Big Brown (#20) will look to get to the front. We think Recapture the Glory (#18), a Risen Star colt, will follow.

Rider Kent Desormeaux, who says Big Brown is the best hoss he ever rode, will get every chance to prove it as he’ll be on the engine with ‘Glory and possibly Colonel John (#10) with our girl Eight Belles (#5), Court Vision (#4), and Visionaire (#8) in stalking position.

Closers Tale of Ekati (#2) and Pyro (#9) will likely sit mid-pack and avoid traffic jams. As long as Pyro doesn’t have to check stride, he should be in good shape when he begins his run…

Down the stretch, Big Brown will either shake off ‘Glory, or he will be harder to get rid of than in-laws, setting it up for Pyro to apply the hoss power needed to make history as Bridgmohan and Pyro get up in time to spank the favorite and win the 134^th edition of the Kentucky Derby.

A $1 trifecta box with #4, #5, #8, #9, & 20 = $60; $20 win, place and show on #9 ($60); $1 trifecta wheel, #4, #5 & #9 with numbers, #1, #2, #4, #5, #7, #8, #9, #10, #18 and #20 = $48; $1 trifecta wheel #5, #9, #20 with numbers, #1, #2, #4, #5, #7, #8, #9, #10, and #18 = $48;

$1 superfecta partial, #9, #20 with #9, 20, with #2 #4, #5, #8, #10 with #2, #4, #5, #8, #10; $40; $1 trifecta wheel, #9 and #20 with all the horses = $36.

And a two dollar win bet on the filly Eight Belles #5 and on Pyro #9 to keep for history’s sake. Total bet = $296.00

Good luck today, and don’t forget when you see your hoss thundering down the stretch don’t be shy; scream at the top of your lungs to have your jockey…

WORK THAT NOBLE BEAST!

michaelingram@blackathlete.com/basneditor@basnnewsroom.com

 

Post Positions for Kentucky Derby 134
Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	ML Odds
1	Cool Coal Man	Julian Leparoux	Nick Zito	20-1
2	Tale of Ekati	Eibar Coa	Barclay Tagg	15-1
3	Anak Nakal	Rafael Bejarano	Nick Zito	30-1
4	Court Vision	Garrett Gomez	Bill Mott	20-1
5	Eight Belles	Gabriel Saez	Larry Jones	20-1
6	Z Fortune	Robby Albarado	Steve Asmussen	15-1
7	Big Truck	Javier Castellano	Barclay Tagg	50-1
8	Visionaire	Jose Lezcano	Micahel Matz	20-1
9	Pyro	Shawn Bridgmohan	Steve Asmussen	6-1
10	Colonel John	Corey Nakatani	Eoin Harty	4-1
11	Z Humor	Rene Douglas	Bill Mott	30-1
12	Smooth Air	Manoel Cruz	Bennie Stutts, Jr.	20-1
13	Bob Black Jack	Richard Migliorie	James Kasparoff	20-1
14	Monba	Ramon Dominguez	Todd Pletcher	15-1
15	Adriano	Edgar Prado	Graham Motion	30-1
16	Denis of Cork	Calvin Borel	David Carol	20-1
17	Cowboy Cal	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	20-1
18	Recapturetheglory	E.T. Baird	Louie Roussel III	20-1
19	Gayego	Mike Smith	Paulo Lobo	15-1
20	Big Brown	Kent Desormeaux	Rick Dutrow, Jr.	3-1