Hey all,
Just some random thoughts on derby week so far.
First, as you can see from the time of this post, sleep isn\'t a real priority during derby week.
Yesterday was nothing short of a dream day. Backstretch from 6am to noon, followed by a burrito at the track kitchen before going to pace around in the racing office with the jocks agents waiting for them to select which undercard races they were going to use. I have 6 horses in on derby day which is insane and a topic for another post.
Anyway, after the racing office pacing, back to the house we rented this week for a quick shower and then back to CD for the post draw which was one of the most fun experiences of my life.
Then dinner, drinks and Handicapping the 6 races. 3 hours sleep and in a few hours, back to the backside for another great morning.
One of the best parts of the week so far has been hooking up with so many folks from the board. Silver Charm and I had a great chat yesterday at our barn and I got to see Danny on the backside as well. Also, there was a lovely young lady (whose name I am so sorry I forget) who checked me in at the trainers dinner on TueadaY night. That trainers dinner was another huge highlight for me this week.
In terms of the most important stuff, the horses, the ones that have made the most favorable impression during training this week to me (in no particular order), palice malice, revolutionary, overanalyze, lucky, and orb. Those will be the 5 I play in everything and I will throw in Falling Sky for good measure to add some real juice to the payouts!!!!!
Overanalyze in particular to me really floats over this track. He\'s a horse that\'s very light on his feet.
Just a quick word on the security. Starting yesterday, there is 24 hr surveliance on the derby horses with the horses every move recorded in a log. When the horse goes to train, the security guard walks with him, when he goes out back to graze, the guard goes with him. 12 hr shifts, 2 guards per day.
Will try to post more as the week goes on but it\'s goimg to get even nuttier from here. Anyone who happens to be on the backside, please stop by barn 36 to say hello.
Good luck,
Jim
Not impressed with Verazano, Jim?
Soak it up Jim ! Some Saratoga lads are in on Bourbon Courage stop by the Winners Circle tomorrow and say hello. Cant miss em\' both go about 6\'5\"... On another note, I see Johnny V had 1 mount yesterday, 1 today and another tomorrow ... its a concern for sure but how much ??? Good luck all! And for what its worth, I am on Oxbow, especially if it rains !
Good luck Jim!
Sounds like a load of FUN....
Good luck Jim, would love for you to spring an upset in the Woodford, since EVERY dollar is going to be on the 2 faves it would create some massive payoffs.
The young lady you are thinking of from the trainer dinner wasn\'t Melissa Nolan was it? She is very active on twitter and had been talking about all the work she put into that, but not sure if she actually checked people in or not.
I\'m also curious why you left Verrazano off your list after the previous reports you\'ve given about him this winter/spring
Jim, you mentioned that security has begun for the Derby horses, does this apply to the Oaks horses as well. Enjoy the weekend and good luck....Ken
I\'ll have a post on that stuff later today.
Ken, good question.
I believe it does because Tood\'s barn has 8 officers over there but I am not 100 percent sure.
Several folks have asked on the board on via private messages about whether others horses looked good or not.
Only thing I think I want to say is that those are the only ones that impressed me this week and in racing, half the battle is how you come into a particular race and horses change from week to week let alone month to month between their final preps and the derby.
Good luck to everyone.
Are those 8 guards facing out or in?