Well, it is that time of year again...

My choices are I Want Revenge who was awesome in the Wood Memorial...with a great movie...and closing speed...after being trapped behind horses and getting a lousy start...

I am not a fan of Dunkirk like everyone else is...I like Randy Moss but on this issue the is all wet...he suggests that a horse no longer needs to race at 2 to win the Kentucky Derby. I would love for him to name a horse that has won it without racing at 2. There is not one. Curlin was lightly raced and we saw him finish third in the derby.

I like Chocolate Candy and they say he runs well in the slop but like Pioneer of the Nile he has not been tested on dirt yet -- though POTN had a monster work recently...on the Churchill track...

But I do not think POTN will do well in his first run on dirt with it in his face...

I like Friesan Fire...he was great in the Lousiana Derby and Larry Jones the retiring trainer of Eight Belles is training him so it would be nice his last year if he won...

Square Eddie looked great in the Lexington Stakes...

And one horse that looks really strong is Big Drama, but he will prep for the Preakness...

Quality Road is out thankfully...because of some bleeding in his quarter crack...which I am glad about because he reminded me of Unbridled Song and how ERnie Paragallo ruined his racing career by not resting him after the Derby for his feet to heel...

And then there are the two Godolphin Horses fresh off their running in the UAE Derby...and training really well...Regal Ransom and Saratoga staple Desert Party....

So let me know who you are picking...

Here are the contenders...

Colors / Silks
HorseTrainerJockey Betting Odds
Blue Yellow Dots
Pioneerof the Nile
Bob BaffertGarrett Gomez 7 to 1
White with Star

Hold Me Back
Bill MottKent Desormeaux 22 to 1
Solid Blue

Desert Party
Saeed bin SuroorRamon Dominguez 16 to 1
Black and Silver
Mine That Bird
Bennie Woolley Jr.Calvin Borel 90 to 1
Blue and Red

Summer Bird
Tim IceChris Rosier 30 to 1
White with Green Dots

General Quarters
Thomas R. McCarthyJulien Leparoux 30 to 1
Black and Yellow

Papa Clem
Gary StuteRafael Bejarano 14 to 1
White with Blue

Flying Private
D. Wayne LukasRobby Albarado 75 to 1
White with Purple

Square Eddie
Doug O'NeillCorey Nakatani 25 to 1
White with Star
Advice
Todd Pletcher 27 to 1
White with
Blue Arm Bands

Chocolate Candy
Jerry HollendorferMike Smith 12 to 1
Red and White

Friesan Fire
Larry JonesGabriel Saez 6 to 1
Solid Blue

Regal Ransom
Saeed bin SuroorAlan Garcia 15 to 1
Pink and Orange

West Side Bernie
Kelly BreenStewart Elliott 30 to 1
White with Star
Mr. Hot Stuff
Eoin HartyTBA 40 to 1
White Blue Stars and
Red Arms bands
I Want Revenge
Jeff MullinsJoe Talamo 3 to 1
Orange and Silver

Win Willy
McLean "Mac" RobertsonCliff Berry 30 to 1
Blue with Red and
White Sleeves

Musket Man
Derek RyanEibar Coa 22 to 1
Solid Navy Blue
Dunkirk
Todd PletcherEdgar Prado 11 to 2

without any horse sense I would have to say" I like Chocolate Candy". Based on the horses name this would be my $2

Hey...this is how winners are picked --

...my wife chooses the horses based on the ones that look the best...in the ring...

The post-position selection is tomorrow on ESPN...

Live Kentucky Derby POst Position Draw at 12:02


http://www.courier-journal.com/article/200...on%3C/strong%3E

Win Willy is out too...

Back at 12:17 with the actual picks...

Join The Dance is first...pick
Regal Ransom -- second
Chocolate Candy third
Papa Clem fourth

Dunkirk 6th

I want revenge - 10th...

2009 Kentucky Derby Field in Post Positon Order

1. 30-1 Kentucky Derby Odds West Side Bernie
   Trainer: Kelly Breen Jockey: Stewart Elliott
2. 20-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Mr. Hot Stuff
   Trainer: Eoin Harty Jockey: John Velazquez
3. 30-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Mine That Bird
   Trainer: Bennie Woolley Jr. Jockey: Calvin Borel
4. 30-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Advice
   Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Rene Douglas
5. 15-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Hold Me Back
   Trainer: Bill Mott Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
6. 5-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Friesan Fire
   Trainer: Larry Jones Jockey: Gabriel Saez
7. 20-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Musket Man
   Trainer: Derek Ryan Jockey: Eibar Coa
8. 50-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Join in the Dance
   Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: TBA
9. 50-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Pioneerof the Nile
   Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Garrett Gomez
10. 30-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Regal Ransom
    Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor Jockey: Alan Garcia
11. 20-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Chocolate Candy
    Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer Jockey: Mike Smith
12. 20-1 Kentucky Derby Odds General Quarters
    Trainer: Thomas R. McCarthy Jockey: Julien Leparoux
13. 3-1 Kentucky Derby Odds I Want Revenge
    Trainer: Jeff Mullins Jockey: Joe Talamo
14. 50-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Atomic Rain
    Trainer: Kelly Breen Jockey: Joe Bravo
15. 4-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Dunkirk
    Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Edgar Prado
16. 4-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Papa Clem
    Trainer: Gary Stute Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
17. 50-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Summer Bird
    Trainer: Tim Ice Jockey: Chris Rosier
18. 50-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Nowhere to Hide
    Trainer: Nick Zito Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
19. 15-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Desert Party
    Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
20. 50-1 Kentucky Derby Odds Flying Private
    Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Jockey: Robby Albarado

Thoroughbred Photography Ltd

<H1 style="COLOR: #da392c">Desert Party</H1>
2009 Prep Recap
DateTrkRaceChart DistanceTimeBSFVideo1/22DUBFord Flex TrophyN/A7 fur.1:24N/A 2/12DUBUAE 2000 Guineas (G3)N/A1 1/8m1:37N/A 3/28NADUAE Derby (G2)N/A1 1/8m1:50:1N/A


Past Performances
Workouts


Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
Future Wager : 16-1
Record: 6-4-1-0
Best Beyer: 78
Lifetime Earnings: $688,467


Dosage Profile: 5-2-5-0-0
Dosage Index: 3.80
Center of Distribution: 1.00
Auction: $425,000 yearling, $2,100,000 juvenile

Sire: Street Cry won the Dubai World Cup at 1 1/4 miles, took the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at nine furlongs with a 118 Beyer, and capped off his career with a runner-up effort in the nine-furlong Whitney Handicap with a 119 speed figure. He has already sired a Kentucky Derby winner in Street Sense, and an undefeated Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic champion in Zenyatta. Street Cry's son, Tomcito, won a pair of Group 1 races in Peru between 10 and 12 furlongs while Summer Doldrums won the Grade 3 Colonial Turf Cup at 1 3/16 miles on the grass.

Dam: Sage Cat only raced twice in her career, and never competed past six furlongs. She won her career debut at Laurel with a 60 Beyer Speed Figure. Her sire, Tabasco Cat, won the Preakness and Belmont in 1994.
Sage Cat has already foaled Elliecat, a stakes-winner at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt.
Desert Party's second dam, Lady Sage, placed third in the Maryland Million Oaks at 1 1/16 miles, but all of her wins came in sprint races.

Outlook: The female family is tilted toward speed, but Street Cry's progeny can go long, and Desert Party was slowly grinding his way to the winner at the end of the nine-furlong UAE Derby. The Derby distance is going to be testing, but not impossible for this Godolphin runner.

Tom Keyser

<H1 style="COLOR: #da392c">I Want Revenge</H1>
2009 Prep Recap
DateTrkRaceChart DistanceTimeBSFVideo2/7SARobert B Lewis (G2)Chart1 1/16m 923/7AQUGotham (G3)Chart1 1/16 m1:42.651134/4AQUWood Memorial (G1)Chart1 1/8 m1:49.49103


Past Performances
Workouts


Owners: David J. Lanzman & IEAH Stables, Puglisi Racing, Charles Winner
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Jockey: Joe Talamo
Future Wager : 9-2
Record: 8-3-1-4
Best Beyer: 113
Lifetime Earnings: $816,000


Dosage Profile: 5-8-13-0-0
Dosage Index: 3.00
Center of Distribution: 0.69
Auction: $95,000 RNA juvenile

Sire: Stephen Got Even won the nine-furlong Galleryfurniture.com Stakes in 1999 en route to finishing fourteenth on the first Saturday in May. He rebounded to take the Grade 1 Donn Handicap with an eye-opening 120 Beyer Speed Figure in his only start at four.
Stephen Got Even's sire, A.P. Indy, was one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby, but scratched on the morning of the race. He went on to win the Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles and the Breeders' Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles.
Stephen Got Even has sired Excellent Shine, the champion stayer in Puerto Rico. Excellent Shine has wins at distances up to 13 furlongs in his career. Don't Get Mad, a son of Stephen Got Even, finished fourth in the 2005 Derby.

Dam: Meguial began her career in her native Argentina, and she was Group 1-placed at 10 furlongs on the dirt there before being imported to North America. In the United States, she was multiple stakes-placed at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Her career-best Beyer Speed Figure was the 86 earned when sixth and last behind Azeri in the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at nine furlongs.

Outlook: I Want Revenge looked strong despite a terrible trip in the Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles, and acts like the extra furlong won't trouble him. His pedigree is solid for this distance.

Benoit & Associates

<H1 style="COLOR: #da392c">Chocolate Candy</H1>
2009 Prep Recap
DateTrkRaceChart DistanceTimeBSFVideo1/17GGCalifornia DerbyChart1 1/16m1:43862/14GGEl Camino Real (G3)Chart1 1/8m1:50914/4SASanta Anita Derby (G1)Chart1 1/8m1:4994


Past Performances
Workouts


Owners: Sid and Jenny Craig Trust
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Mike Smith
Future Wager : 18-1
Record: 9-4-2-1
Best Beyer: 94
Lifetime Earnings: $532,500


Dosage Profile: 7-1-11-1-0
Dosage Index: 2.08
Center of Distribution: 0.70
Auction: Homebred

Sire - The undefeated Candy Ride was a champion miler in his native Argentina, but he really opened eyes with his facile score in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar. Candy Ride earned a monstrous 123 Beyer Speed Figure in the Pacific Classic while leaving the good handicap horse Medaglia d'Oro in the wake of his brilliance. Candy Ride won at distances ranging between six furlongs and 1 1/4 miles, and he scored on both turf and dirt.
From his first crop, Candy Ride has sired the exciting sprint prospects Capt. Candyman Can and Evita Argentina, and the solid turf miler Jack Spratt.

Dam - Crownette, a $190,000 juvenile purchase by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, won the Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. She has already foaled Crowning Storm, the third-place finisher of the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.
Chocolate Candy's second dam, the unplaced Alydar mare In Memory, is a half-sister to Alydar's eternal rival, Triple Crown champion Affirmed.

Outlook: The brilliance of Candy Ride coupled with the staying power of the female family makes Chocolate Candy's pedigree a most interesting one. Chocolate Candy has already proven himself at nine furlongs, and he acts like another eighth wouldn't hurt. He still must show he can win on dirt, but the class in the female family indicates that anything is possible.

Andrew Watkins/ Dubai Racing Club

<H1 style="COLOR: #da392c">Regal Ransom</H1>
2009 Prep Recap
DateTrkRaceChart DistanceTimeBSFVideo1/22DUBFord Flex TrophyN/A7 fur.1:24N/A 2/12DUBUAE 2000 Guineas (G3)N/A1m1:37N/A 3/28NADUAE Derby (G2)N/A1 1/8m1:50N/A


Past Performances
Workouts

Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Jockey: Alan Garcia
Future Wager : 42-1
Record: 5-2-2-0
Best Beyer: 93
Lifetime Earnings: $1,297,200


Dosage Profile: 6-3-14-0-1
Dosage Index: 2.00
Center of Distribution: 0.54
Auction: $675,000 juvenile

Sire - Distorted Humor, a son of Kentucky Derby runner-up Forty Niner, was a crack sprinter. A multiple Grade 2 winner at seven furlongs, Distorted Humor surpassed the 115 Beyer Speed Figure plateau on three occasions. Although Distorted Humor never won at distances beyond 7 1/2 furlongs, he twice placed in graded races at 1 1/8 miles.
Although mostly known as a sprinter, Distorted Humor has sired graded stakes winners at ten furlongs. Funny Cide, the plucky New York-bred gelding, earned Kentucky Derby immortality by winning the 2003 Run for the Roses. Flower Alley won the historic Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Long-winded Fourty Niners Son prevailed in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch on turf.
The classy filly, Hystericalady, scored in the 2008 Delaware Handicap. It's
No Joke took the Hawthorne Gold Cup.

Dam - Kelli's Ransom, a winless homebred, placed three times in four turf starts at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. She never raced on dirt, and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 88 sprinting. Kelli's Ransom is a half-sister to River God, a stakes-placed miler on the turf, and Minister Eric, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up that placed 16th in the 2004 Kentucky Derby. Minister Eric won the Grade 2 San Fernando Breeders' Cup at 1 1/16 miles as a four-year-old.
This female family has produced Pico Teneriffe, a multiple graded winner at nine furlongs on the grass. Pico Teneriffe is the dam of Marchfield, the winner of the Breeders' Stakes going 1 1/2 miles on turf.
Other notable runners from this family include Salmon Ladder, a Group winner at 12 furlongs on turf in England, multiple stakes-winner Aladancer, Spinaway winner Alanesian, multiple stakes-winner Middle Brother, and Test Stakes winner Alablue.

[b]Outlook[/b]: There is stamina in this pedigree, but Regal Ransom seems to have taken more after his sire in terms of racing ability. Yes, Regal Ransom did win the UAE 2000 Guineas at 1 1/8 miles but he was aided by an inside, speed-favoring course that day. This pedigree could carry him 1 1/4 miles under ideal circumstances, but whether the mad dash that is the Kentucky Derby will provide those circumstances is questionable indeed.

Skip Dickstein

<H1 style="COLOR: #da392c">Friesan Fire</H1>
2009 Prep Recap
DateTrkRaceChart DistanceTimeBSFVideo1/10FGLecomte (G3)Chart1 m 1:37.67942/7FGRisen Star (G3)Chart1 1/16m1:45.11973/14FGLouisiana Derby(G2)Chart1 1/16m1:43:46104


Past Performances
Workouts


Owners: Vinery Stables & Fox Hill Farm
Trainer: Larry Jones
Jockey: Gabriel Saez
Future Wager : 8-1
Record: 7-4-1-1
Best Beyer: 104
Lifetime Earnings: $603,265


Dosage Profile: 5-12-17-0-0
Dosage Index: 3.00
Center of Distribution: 0.65
Auction: $725,000 RNA yearling

Sire: Arguably the best sire in North America, A.P. Indy won the Belmont Stakes with a 111 Beyer Speed Figure and the Breeders' Cup Classic with a 114 during his racing career. He has sired numerous stakes winners at classic distances including Coaching Club American Oaks winners Music Note and Jilbab, Alabama winners Runup the Colors and Sweet Symphony, Horse of the Year Mineshaft, Preakness and Travers winner Bernardini, Belmont Stakes heroine Rags to Riches, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Hollywood Gold Cup winner Aptitude, and Personal Ensign winner Tomisue's Delight.
A.P. Indy is by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew out of a dam by Triple Crown winner Secretariat. He is a half-brother to Preakness winner Summer Squall.

Dam: Bollinger won the Group 1 Coolmore Classic at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf in her native Australia. Her half-brother, Mannington, won the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Friesan Fire's second dam, Bint Marscay, won the Group 1 Toomey Golden Slipper Stakes at six furlongs.
Other notable horses from the female family include Kenny's Best Pal, the winner of the Cadbury Australian Guineas at one mile, and Filante, the winner of the Caulfield Stakes at 10 furlongs.

Outlook: Friesan Fire's pedigree presents an interesting dilemma to handicappers. There is obviously plenty of stamina on top with A.P. Indy, but the female side offers tons of speed influences. Friesan Fire has yet to race past 1 1/16 miles, but the presence of A.P. Indy coupled with the foreign class of the damside bloodlines allays fears somewhat.

Sunny Taylor/Coady Photography

<H1 style="COLOR: #da392c">Papa Clem</H1>
2009 Prep Recap
DateTrkRaceChart DistanceTimeBSFVideo2/7SARobert B Lewis (G2)Chart1 1/16m1:41943/14FGLouisiana Derby (G2)Chart1 1/16m1:43914/11OPArkansas Derby (G2)Chart1 1/ 8m1:49101


Past Performances
Workouts


Owner: Bo Hirsch
Trainer: Gary Stute
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
Future Wager : 47-1
Record: 6-2-2-0
Best Beyer: 101
Lifetime Earnings: $790,940


Dosage Profile: 9-4-11-0-0
Dosage Index: 3.36
Center of Distribution: 0.92
Auction: Homebred

Sire: Smart Strike is a fantastic sire, but he was also a very underrated racehorse. He won six races in a row between April 28, 1995, and August 25 1996 at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. He twice earned Beyer Speed Figures of 115 or greater, and he won the Grade 1 Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth.
Smart Strike is a half-sister to the wonderful Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Dance Smartly, and hails from a powerhouse female family.

Dam: Miss Houdini was a fleet and precocious juvenile, winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs. She earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure going three-quarters of a mile in her three-year-old debut, but she finished last at 6-5 odds in her only start around two turns in the Torrey Pines Stakes at one mile.
Papa Clem's second dam, Magical Maiden, was a multiple Grade 1 winner between one mile and 1 1/16 miles. She earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure when third to the great Paseana in the Grade 2 Chula Vista Handicap at 11/16 miles.
The female family has produced Avies Copy, the third-place finisher in the 1987 Kentucky Derby

Outlook: There is a lot of speed in the female family, but Papa Clem's best race came in the nine-furlong Arkansas Derby. Ten furlongs may be pushing it just a bit, but Papa Clem should be able to stay the course.

Benoit & Associates

<H1 style="COLOR: #da392c">Pioneer of the Nile</H1>
2009 Prep Recap
DateTrkRaceChart DistanceTimeBSFVideo2/7SARobert B Lewis (G2)Chart1 1/16m1:41.90943/14SASan Felipe (G2)Chart1 1/16m1:43.35904/4SASanta Anita Derby (G1)Chart1 1/8 m1:49.1796


Past Performances
Workouts

Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Garrett Gomez
Future Wager : 9-1
Record: 8-5-0-1
Best Beyer: 96
Lifetime Earnings: $1,234,200


Dosage Profile: 8-7-5-0-2
Dosage Index: 3.89
Center of Distribution: 0.86
Auction: $290,000 yearling

Sire - Empire Maker finished second behind Funny Cide in the 2003 Kentucky Derby, but rebounded to deny that rival the Triple Crown five weeks later in the Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles.
Empire Maker's sire, Unbridled, won the Derby in 1990. Unbridled's son, Grindstone, took home the 1996 renewal. Empire Maker is out of the dominant broodmare, Toussaud, and he earned Beyers of 110 or greater in three races at distances between nine and twelve furlongs.
The Empire Maker - Lord At War breeding 'nick' has produced Icon Project, a Grade 2-placed performer at 12 furlongs on grass. Icon Project won her maiden going that distance on turf in England.

Dam - Star of Goshen, a $175,000 purchase as a juvenile, won the La Troienne Stakes at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs with a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure. She was able to stretch her speed around two turns with an entry-level allowance win at a mile at Santa Anita.
Star of Goshen has already produced Forefathers, a multiple Graded-placed sprinter/miler by Gone West. Forefathers is 1-7 at a mile or longer, and has never won around two turns.
Star of Goshen is a half-sister to Powis Castle, a multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter that finished eighth in the 1994 Kentucky Derby. His longest win came around two turns in the Oceanside Stakes on grass at one mile.
Notable stakes winners from this family include Decathlon, a 25-time winner of over $250,000 in the 1950's, and Hollywood Gold Cup winner Prince Blessed.

Outlook - Pioneerof the Nile has handled nine furlongs without a problem, and his long stride coupled with the stout top-half of the pedigree indicate that 1 1/4 miles will be within his scope. Although we don't know how he'll handle dirt, there seems to be enough main track ability in his female family to suggest he'll take to the surface.

A-Z Communications, Inc

<H1 style="COLOR: #da392c">General Quarters</H1>
2009 Prep Recap
DateTrkRaceChart DistanceTimeBSFVideo2/14TamSam F. Davis (G3)Chart1 1/16m1:431023/14TamTampa Bay Derby (G3)Chart1 1/16m1:43814/11KeeBlue Grass (G1)Chart1 1/8 m1:4995


Past Performances
Workouts


Owner: Thomas McCarthy
Trainer: Thomas McCarthy
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Future Wager : 17-1(f)
Record: 11-3-3-1
Best Beyer: 102
Lifetime Earnings: $641,735


Dosage Profile: 5-8-9-2-0
Dosage Index: 2.69
Center of Distribution: 0.67
Auction: $20,000 yearling

Sire: Sky Mesa won all three of his starts as a juvenile including the Grade 1 Hopeful at seven furlongs, and the Grade 2 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity at 1 1/16 miles. He didn't win at three, but earned a career-best 106 Beyer when finishing second in the Grade 1 Haskell at nine furlongs.
Sky Mesa is a son of Pulpit, the Fountain of Youth and Blue Grass Stakes winner that finished fourth in the 1997 Kentucky Derby. Pulpit's sire, A.P. Indy, prevailed in the Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic.

Dam: Ecology failed to place in two races. Her half-sister, Minimalist, was a stakes-winner at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.
General Quarters' second dam, Gdansk's Honour, won the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial at seven furlongs on grass in Ireland.
Other notable names in the female family include Honoria, a Group 3 winner in Ireland that foaled Jim Dandy hero Composer, and Targowice, a multiple Group 3 winner in France.

Outlook: It could be argued that General Quarters has already outrun his pedigree with wins in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles and the Blue Grass Stakes at nine furlongs. There is a good deal of speed on both sides of this family tree, however. The tenth, and most demanding, furlong of the Kentucky Derby could give General Quarters some problems.

My choice this year is Friesan Fire.......sorry to hear about I Want Revenge Taz. But better that he have no injury

My pick based on his name.

Pray for no injuries.

Excellent choice. He had a blazing workout on the Churchill Downs track.

And with the favorite, I Want Revenge, being scratched his chances improve a lot.

Always do!

A beautiful thoroughbred had to be euthanized yesterday....Stormatory...

The No. 13 post position did prove unlucky after all for likely betting favorite I Want Revenge in today's 135th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/200...cky+Derby+2009+

Trainer Jeff Mullins scratched the colt early today, because of a problem in his left front ankle. It was the first time that a Derby favorite was scratched since the program morning line was established in the 1940s. "The biggest dream is to get here, but the biggest nightmare is to get to race day and have to scratch," Mullins said at a news conference to announce the defection.

Rising star jockey Joe Talamo, like the rest of the I Want Revenge team, appeared devastated.

"I'm at a loss of words," he said. "I'm glad the horse is OK, it could have been worse. Something could have happened on the track. After all, it was the horse who got us here."

X-ray and ultrasound examinations did not show any bony injury to the ankle, but two veterinarians concurred that there was an inflammation in the soft tissue above and below the ankle.

Mullins said that when he arrived at his barn to begin preparations for the Derby, he felt some "touchy heat" in the ankle. Jogging I Want Revenge up and down a paved area outside the barn to test for soundness, Mullins said he looked "pretty sound."

Veterinarian Dr. Foster Northrop arrived soon afterwards, and watched another jog, but the colt took one or two unusual steps, indicating possible lameness, "which is unacceptable in any race," he said.

Northrop said, "He X-rayed perfectly normal and an ultrasound was fine."

Dr. Larry Bramlage, the on-call veterinarian who represents the American Association of Equine Practitioners for the Derby, also said I Want Revenge jogged normally.

"He didn't look that bad, but this close to the Derby you cannot determine" the potential severity of the problem, Bramlage said. "If this was not a Derby horse, you'd keep an eye on him," and go on with normal training.

Mullins said that given the weather with the racing surface sealed tight after Oaks Day racing in preparation for expected overnight rains, he feared that the track surface would be hard, which might have aggravated his colt's problem.

"We felt it was in the best interest of the horse to scratch him," Mullins said about the Wood Memorial winner.

For 19-year-old jockey Talamo, the bitter disappointment was evident.

“This game pretty much is a big roller-coaster, up one day, down the next," he said later as Derby Day racing was under way. "I mean, you know it’s very unfortunate. I feel so bad, not only for the horse, owners and trainers alike. … I’m just very grateful the horse is OK. “

Northrop said indications were that it was a soft-tissue injury, but called it "a high-risk area in being injured." He said, "Further diagnostics will be done."

Both Northrop and Bramlage commended the trainer and owners for deciding to look out for the colt's well-being. Co-owner David Lanzman was on hand for the press conference.

"I commend Mr. Lanzman and the trainer, that they didn't get swept up in the Derby and acted in the best interest of the horse," Northrop said.

"We got these cards dealt, and have to carry on," said Lanzman, owner of the colt with Michael Iavarone's IEAH Stables, Jeff Puglisi, Charles Winner, Michael Dubb and Steven Marshall. "I think we have hired the best people in the world" and he accepted their decision.

"If you walk by his stall, you're not going to know anything is wrong with him," Northrop said.

Mullins was asked if this meant that I Want Revenge would miss the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in two weeks, and he said, "At this point, I'd have to say yes."

In early Derby wagering at Churchill Downs on Friday, I Want Revenge was the 6-1 third choice, behind 9/2 favorite Friesan Fire and 5-1 General Quarters, a local favorite because of his Louisville ownership. From the $542,255 wagered, $49,222 was bet on I Want Revenge.

Fellow horsemen on the backstretch knew the pain that Mullins and the others were feeling.

“For a horseman, you work, you wait to get to this point -- I’m sure it’s gut-wrenching for them," trainer Kenny McPeek said. "I feel really bad for them. It’s a tough game.”

But McPeek said he was happy they scratched rather than take a chance.

“I’d rather see them scratch him now than for him to get hurt in the race,” McPeek said.

Larry Jones, trainer of early Derby betting favorite Friesan Fire, said he knows the emotional drain that the I Want Revenge team is feeling, because similarly he had to put Old Fashioned on the shelf less than a month before today's race.

Jones said he's all too familiar with that stomach-churning ride -- what it's like to think that you'll be in the Derby and then not be. He had to take Old Fashioned out of the hunt because of a knee injury.

"I hate it for them," he said at his barn this morning.

Jones noted that the scratch also would change the complexion of the race later in the day.

"I thought if anybody could outfinish me," Jones said, "it could very well be him."

Courier-Journal reporters Gregory A. Hall and Jennie Rees contributed to this story.

Thanks Snuffy...a darn shame.

At least they scratched him.

Mullins has been involved in doping scandals...for a while now...and I am just thankful they didn't push the horse...

I just hope I Want Revenge is OK...he is such a sweet horse. His groom has one hand...now that has to be one sweet horse if his groom has one hand and no problem working with him...

What a race...

Mine that Bird was incredible. His speed was very impressive. He passed the second place horse Pioneer of the Nile like he was standing still.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv8x9x5A49s

Can't wait to see them in the Preakness Stakes...

What a Preakness.

Did anyone watch?

Quite exciting. Rachel Alexandra was all she was advertised.

However, I think it was foolish to run her on two weeks rest.

She was bred for the Belmont. I think she would have lost to Mine That Bird in the Derby. I do not think she could get the distance.

She was tiring and Mine That Bird would have caught her if the race was another 16th longer.

I hope she does not go in the Belmont as much as I would like to see the two horses meet again.

And -- people do not realize that at least one of her raises was on artificial turf...and maybe as many as four...so she needs to be saved for the Breeders Cup and not exhausted...

She is just a horse after all...despite being a beauty...

And Mine That Bird deserves accolades.

After the race, his groom came by us with him and while accepting the applause after hosing him off said "he's no fluke".

Indeed, he is not.

I look forward to him running in the Belmont.

I worry he will be exhausted.

Just think -- we might have a gelding Triple Crown winner if Rachel had not been sold.

And so we are on to the Belmont Stakes!

Go Mine That Bird!

Should be a nice day.

Cannot wait to see him run!!!

He is a special little horse.

I hope he has it in him.

However, if I have a choice I just want a safe race for all the colts.

Nothing more important than that.

Interesting looking horse.

So, another Birdstone horse wins the Belmost Stakes....

Mine That Bird's half brother...Summer Bird...

Great race.

Nice connections. I had a chance to speak with Mark Allen and Chip Wolley and they were both very nice.

Nick Zito was a class act saying if his horses could not win he was cheering for Mine That Bird.

Time for the summer racing season...

Saratoga!

He is gorgeous.

After the race, he was in total distress. Because of the grey coloring he was turning red because he was overheating.

I have not been a big fan of his...but he is impressive.

I just felt that everyone was giving this horse a lot of credit when he had not shown anything and I just did not see it.

The horse has yet to win a graded stakes race.