Reenactments and Horse Racing

This will be the second time I have missed the Kentucky Derby & Kentucky Oaks for a reenactment. The first time was two years ago - for the same reenactment. It was my first time going to one of these events. Last year, the event was cancelled due to rain, but it wasn't on Derby weekend and we went to the rival event in the same town instead, which wasn't nearly as fun.

Last year following Sunday's skirmishes

It's Jefferson weekend, the highlight of our reenacting year. And it will be Yance's first overnight camping weekend - two nights! We leave tonight and come back Sunday evening.

Also, I chose not to watch the Derby last year. I wasn't interested in the least in the field. In fact, only Gun Runner and Exaggerator were thought of at all by me - and they ended up finishing third and second, respectively, behind Nyquist. Exaggerator went on to beat his long-time rival Nyquist in the Preakness and Haskell before being retired after a pair of lackluster performances in the Travers and Pennsylvania Derby. Gun Runner, on the other hand, finished behind Exaggerator in the Haskell, but ahead of him in both the Travers and Pennsylvania Derby. He then hit the board in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and then won the Clark Handicap to close out his three-year-old season. He won his season debut at Oaklawn Park before running second to Arrogate in the Dubai World Cup, and is now being pointed for next month's Stephen Foster. The red son of Candy Ride is one of my favorite horses in training right now.

Gun Runner (far right) leads while Nyquist (center) pounces and Exaggerator (third from far left) makes his run

As for the Kentucky Oaks, Rachel's Valentina was my only pick. She finished off the board behind Cathryn Sophia and was retired later on last year. I did watch that race and was disappointed.

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This year, with the injury-defections of Unique Bella and Mastery from the Oaks and Derby, I find it fun to go through the oversized fields.

Miss Sky Warrior, Paradise Woods, and Abel Tasman are my Kentucky Oaks trifecta picks - in any order.

Abel Tasman

Miss Sky Warrior has proven a dominant force in the East; Paradise Woods obliterated the West. And Abel Tasman has enough quality to pick up the pieces in the end - and if one or both of the top two misfire, she could easily win. My Wild Card here is Salty.

Miss Sky Warrior

Salty

Paradise Woods

For the Derby, I have selected Irish War Cry, McCraken, and Gunnevera. Irish War Cry and McCraken both lost one start in their careers, clunkers that can easily have lines drawn through them. Gunnevera has also been consistent and will be coming on strongly at the end. My Derby Wild Card is Gormley.


Kentucky Oaks: Post time 6:12pm EDT TODAY, 1 1/8 miles dirt, Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY

3yo fillies, Grade I $1 million, NBC Sports, carrying 121 pounds each

1. Ever So Clever, 20-1
2. Lockdown, 20-1
3. Mopotism, 20-1
4. Paradise Woods, 5-2, pick
5. Jordan's Henny, 30-1
6. Vexatious, 20-1
7. Farrell, 5-1
8. Sailor's Valentine, 30-1
9. Wicked Lick, 30-1
10. Miss Sky Warrior, 9-2, pick
11. Tequilita, 20-1
12. Daddys Lil Darling, 20-1
13. Abel Tasman, 5-1, pick
14. Salty, 6-1, Wild Card

The also-eligible Summer Luck did not draw in.

Irish War Cry

Kentucky Derby: Post time 6:34pm EDT Saturday, 1 1/4 miles dirt, Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY

McCraken

3yos, Grade I $2 million, NBC Sports, males carry 126 pounds, females carry 121 pounds

No fillies were entered this year

1. Lookin At Lee, 20-1
2. Thunder Snow, 20-1
3. Fast and Accurate, 50-1
4. Untrapped, 30-1
5. Always Dreaming, 5-1
6. State of Honor, 30-1
7. Girvin, 15-1
8. Hence, 15-1
9. Irap, 20-1
10. Gunnevera, 15-1, pick
11. Battle of Midway, 30-1
12. Sonneteer, 50-1
13. J Boys Echo, 20-1
14. Classic Empire, 4-1
15. McCraken, 5-1, pick
16. Tapwrit, 20-1
17. Irish War Cry, 6-1, pick
18. Gormley, 15-1, Wild Card
19. Practical Joke, 20-1
20. Patch, 30-1

Gunnevera

The also-eligibles Royal Mo and Master Plan did not draw in.

Gormley

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If I were to rank my favorites, I would place them strictly on how I like their post positions. So here they are. I still have no actual ranking on the individual horses, except of course the wild cards.

Paradise Woods - post 4 - not too close to the rail, and should be able to get wherever she wants

McCraken - post 15 - very good placement, also should be able to get wherever he wants

Miss Sky Warrior - post 10 - perhaps a little too far out, not sure about this one

Gunnevera - post 10 - reverse: perhaps a little too far in, with nine to his inside and ten to his outside

Abel Tasman - post 13 - not too bad, would've liked to see her closer to the rail

Salty - post 14 - again, not too bad. Could still do damage from here

Gormley - post 18 - farther out than I would've liked, but not too bad a post

Irish War Cry - post 17 - no winners from here. Would've liked to see him in 16 or 14

Anyway, back to work! We have a busy, but awesome, weekend ahead. Next week I will recap our adventures over the past few weekends - from the trip to my parents' place, to the Houston supper party, to this weekend's reenactment.... and also a recap of the Derby and the Oaks!