I wouldn't mind getting 2-1. Odds to Win 2015 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs at Bovada as of April 15: American Pharoah 2/1 Dortmund 9/2 Carpe Diem 6/1 Materiality 9/1 Mubtaahij 9/1 Firing Line 14/1 Frosted 14/1 International Star 16/1 Upstart 16/1 El Kabeir 25/1 Itsaknockout 25/1 Ocho Ocho Ocho 25/1 One Lucky Dane 25/1 Danzig Moon 33/1 Far Right 33/1 Ocean Knight 33/1 Tencendur 33/1 Imperia 40/1 Mr Z 50/1
We got great unobstructed-view seats at the railing of the 2nd floor in the Grandstand, section 316 I think, just 2 or 3 jumps from the finish-line. We couldn't have asked for better. These images were shot by my wife from where we sat, and I've posted them in chronological order. This was 2012 when Mike Smith tried to take Bodemeister from gate-to-wire, and I'll Have Another caught him in the final furlong, very exciting finish! The only thing missing is the sound. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Considering the 2 top Horses are stable-mates, Wouldn't the odds be the same on both? How does that work or when does that come into the picture? Please explain.
IIRC coupled entries are required when two horses have the same owner, regardless of whether or not they are stable mates...T
I'll Have Another always reminds me of the world's greatest lead pony, Lava Man!! Loved that horse...T
Speaking of stable-mates, a nice article on the man who rides them both regularly: http://www.drf.com/news/when-its-time-baffert-star-work-garcia-punches
Joe, I was in a box in almost the exact same spot in 2011. I will never forget it. Absolutely unreal trip. The whole town had an unbelievable energy level the whole time I was there. I can't wait to go back!
I had a similar feeling when I finally made it to the Indianapolis 500 two years ago. Two great, iconic, American classics, both of which are worth at least one trip. Indy has the minor advantage of lasting longer than 2 minutes!
Armen, if you go, stay here Louisville Hotel | Galt House Hotel | Official Site its walking distance to the Muhammed Ali Museum, the best interactive museum Margaret & I have ever been to! Plus Galt House will shuttle you to the Derby and back.
Speaking of boxing, is it possible to see the derby and the wing it to Vegas for the fight? That would be quite a day!
It would! Back on topic, here is how AP won the Arkansas Derby: 2015 Arkansas Derby Race Sequence | Features | BloodHorse.com
The Derby is very different from an event like the Indy 500. For starters, the Derby is the oldest sporting event, dating back from 1875, and it is steeped in tradition. This means every year the horses are the same 3-year-olds Thoroughbreds, under the same conditions & format, unlike the Indy 500 where the format for the cars is always changing. Also, the Derby is not just the 2 minutes of the race. Its an all-week thing, a huge International event, parties, balls, the draw on Wednesday, breakfast at the downs the last few mornings before, betting, the last-minute news about runners, the pomp, the circumstance, the drama, the dressing-up, the mint juleps etc. Oh, and a horse-race might break out at the end.
Hanna Salmon and the American Pharaoh "I'm eating leave me alone" interview: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKWuE-7yIGA[/ame]
Anyone here wish they would prune the field to a more normal amount, say a dozen? When doing my amateur (very amateur) handicapping, I always look for horses in the DRF that have ridden in large fields before….T
You'll note that most of the TC winners raced in significantly smaller fields, and with 20 in the gate, this is why the draw and a great jockey can make a big difference.
I think I'll Have Another won from the auxiliary gate. #19 is what I recall when I looked the other date...T
Big Brown (2008) won from the 20-hole, even wider, and he made it look easy. The auxiliary gate is no bad thing IMO, in fact it almost guarantees a clear run and the horse stays out of trouble in the crush @ the Club House turn. A good rider will make the auxiliary gate work well, and besides the above-mentioned, Animal Kingdom, Fusaichi Pegasus & Gato Del Sol have all also won from the auxiliary gate. And don't be fazed by the 13-hole, its no bad omen, 4 Kentucky Derby winners have come from there! Here below see Big Brown getting a beautiful trip from the 20-post, courtesy of Kent Desormeaux. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycj9vhLGioo[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px6yCvoaPoU[/ame]
Maybe Best Derby field ever? But this reminds me of 2001, one of the strongest Derby fields when Baffert had the favorite Point Given, a very similar horse to Dortmund (huge), and he failed to show in the Derby [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMzpmR6unWE[/ame]
I miss ABC presenter Dave Johnson's legendary "and down the stretch they come!" calls including these 2 Triple Crown near-misses in 1997 & 1998. Watch from 42 mins on in each video [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRZNa1-Xn6E[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1HUCR15ED0[/ame]