Kentucky Derby 2010

[Thumper_Man]

I'm way out of the loop this year. I'll have to get caught up here real quick, fast and in a hurry. I'll post my thoughts when I've had time to see who's running this year.

Zephyr, have fun on your trip.

 

[PrincessV]

I'm late! Again.

Zephyr - Hope you're having a wonderful time!

Well, I've been feeling good about Paddy O'Prada all week... but the fact that he's getting a lot of attention now scares me, lol! I find it hard not to root for any horse being ridden by Calvin Borel, so I guess I'll toss Super Saver in there, too. And my name-only-based pick has to go to Devil May Care.

I've read nothing on the Oaks yet today. What's that looking like?

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

100% chance of Rain.

I could bet that and with my luck on Derby day still lose.

 

[Hillbeans]

Zephyr - I hope you're having a great time, maybe you can crash the Barnstable Brown party

I heard it's supposed to be really sloppy tomorrow...such a shame. Oh well.

 

[madge]

weather's looking a little better .. there will still be rain, but the flooding rains are forecast for Sunday. It's a shame we couldn't have today's weather, tomorrow .. it was GORGEOUS here today!

my pick is purely sentimental .. Noble's Promise, across the board. We know 3 of the owners and spent time at the barn yesterday. What a fantastic horse and a great story!

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Hope you have a great day with lots of winners and a mint julip or 2.

 

[RUDisney]

I will have my first julep in my hand around 4:00 this afternoon. Nowhere near Louisville, but our CC hosts a party each year for the derby. It's one of my favorite events each year.

The horses I will be rooting for are the ones that we select from the blind cards. We'll find out our horses close to post time. Each horse is $10.

I have my hat all ready and just have to do final pressing on my dress. I can't wait!

 

[Hillbeans]

Glad to see it was a clean race, no accidents - I always get so nervous with this many horses in the field.

I loved how the sky cleared at race time and the sun was out

 

[Duchie]

That's so exciting. I have lived here for 16 years, and it is quite an event! Most locals don't go to the Derby, but there are lots and lots of parties. Usually around the beginning of April, people start asking what are you doing for Derby? My DH is running the mini-marathon this weekend, and it goes through Churchill Downs, and last weekend we had our big fireworks and airshow to kick off the two weeks until Derby. I hope the weather is good. Spring weather in Kentucky can bring anything. We've had days in the 80's and days with a nasty cold rain, so pack for anything!

I used to live in Louisville and loved Derby time. My DH and I played in the volleyball tournament for many, many years (it was last weekend). So much fun!

We just got done watching. Each one of us picked a horse before the race. My oldest DS's horse did the best, he came in 4th I believe. It was a really good race

 

[Thumper_Man]

Calvin Borel does it again. I had to bet on Super Saver just cuz of him.

Didn't expect much from Ice Box. He was a surprise to me. He ruined my trifecta. I had Lookin At Lucky instead. I'll have to condsider Ice Box for the Preakness. I like the way he came on strong at the end.

 

[CookieGVB]

How cool was it that the guy won the Dream Bet? $900,000 in 2 minutes ain't half bad!

 

[Deb in IA]

That Dream Bet guy was one happy camper! Amazing to think that up until this year, he had never even bet a dime on the Derby!

Wow, Calvin Bor-RAIL indeed! That man sure can ride, especially at Churchill Downs, and especially at the Derby!!! Winning 3 of the last 4 Derbys! Interesting that he thinks Super Saver and win the Triple Crown. We shall see, I guess.

And how nice it is that Todd Pletcher FINALLY gets his Derby winner! Always knew it would happen someday - he's just too good a trainer to not get it - but I"m sure he's glad to have that monkey off his back.

ZephyrHawk, I'd LOVE to hear your impressions and review of your Derby trip!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

ZephyrHawk, I'd LOVE to hear your impressions and review of your Derby trip!

Well, I'm still wet, if that tells you anything. In all honesty, it turned out to be not as nice as I had hoped. The weather, of course, hurt things...and my DH was sick all week...but we really had some bad experiences with the people we were sitting near that made us decide if we ever go again we'll spring for the really good seats. The worst part was my camera broke right before the race!!!! I'm not sure why, I think it may have been all the humidity. I rented a big lens and everything just to get perfect pictures and it all had to go to waste. I did get these shots with DH's little point and shoot:

At the break-

First time past the stands. You can see Super Saver by the rail with the speedy grey Conveyance moving up to take the lead.

And second time past the stands, Super Saver is again in front (considerably more mud spattered) with Noble's Promise currently in second.

The Oaks was a lot more fun. DH was miserable all day, but the weather was beautiful, and I got some great shots. I'm kinda bummed that Rachel Alexandra lost the La Troienne. I was going to frame a shot of her with a winning ticket. Alas.

 

[Deb in IA]

So sorry about your camera, and the people sitting next to you. They must be from out of town, because Louisville folks are all super nice!!!

Hopefully, the weather will be nicer when you go back again. Really, Churchill Downs and Louisville in general are really scenic places.

Those were still great shots. Funny how all the horses look like the same color (mud) at the finish!

I heard that the only races that Super Saver has lost were ones where he was in the lead from the begining, and Borel, knowing that, deliberately held him back for the first half of the race. Again, a great ride from a really smart jockey.

 

[PrincessV]

Well, I'm still wet, if that tells you anything. In all honesty, it turned out to be not as nice as I had hoped.

Aw, I'm sorry Zephyr!

But thank you for posting your pics - it made my day!

Look at my Paddy, looking so handsome! Did you see his profile pic on the Derby's Contenders page? The only horse in there with a glamor head shot! I've concluded Paddy has his eyes on becoming a Hollywood horse; the Derby was just a means of getting his name and face out there to the masses.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Look at my Paddy, looking so handsome! Did you see his profile pic on the Derby's Contenders page? The only horse in there with a glamor head shot! I've concluded Paddy has his eyes on becoming a Hollywood horse; the Derby was just a means of getting his name and face out there to the masses.

I do have to agree, Paddy was the prettiest horse in the field. He's such an odd color for a racehorse. He gets it from his daddy, of course, but it's still neat to see.

 

[madge]

great shots! I LOVE how the sun came out just as the race was starting

I live 40 miles south of Louisville, and we never saw a break in the rain. bah. Thankfully, when we were at Churchill on Thursday, the weather was gorgeous!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

It was kinda weird how the sun suddenly came out right before they loaded in the gate. The weather was beautiful for most of the week. Just so you don't all think we had a horrible time the entire time, here's some nicer photos of the track from the days before the Derby.

Here's Rachel Alexandra and Unbridled Belle at the top of the stretch in the La Troienne.

Going to the post for the Oaks.

Coming around the final turn (that the eventual Oaks winner Blind Luck on the far left).

And here is just my favorite photo from the whole weekend. It's just a random turf race that went off directly across from my section.

 

[SDFgirl]

So sorry about your camera, and the people sitting next to you. They must be from out of town, because Louisville folks are all super nice!!!

Hopefully, the weather will be nicer when you go back again. Really, Churchill Downs and Louisville in general are really scenic places.

I'm sorry too! I live here in Louisville and I thought of you several times over the weekend and was so bummed that it had to rain for your big trip.

Sounds like it was the perfect storm (pun intended) with your DH's illness, the people next to you, and the weather. That's too bad, because Louisville is such a great place, I want other people to love it as much as I do!

Hope DH is feeling better soon.

 

[Rose&Mike]

ZephyrHawk--Oh, you got such rotten weather on Saturday. I can't believe how much it rained over the weekend. And I'm so sorry you had not so nice people beside you on Derby--they were probably at 4thStreetLive Friday night. Couldn't believe how many not so friendly people were out and about. Anyhow, hope you come back and visit us again!