Bluegrass Derby Notebook No. 3

The Simulated Louisville Police Department came by this morning and let us know that track management had filed a nuisance complaint against our BTB tent.

Something about loud music and the horses cannot sleep at night?

I’m not sure.

Last I remember, I put Dr. Dipper Lip in charge of the disc jockey detail and I was boogying down to some James Brown. 

Next thing I know, the Doc and me are out here in a Super 8 on the interstate. 

Never mind. 

Let’s see what else turns up in our Bluegrass Derby Notebook.

GETTING STARTED: With the ability in the new Sim to buy races for any week, or to buy hot races, a lot of trainers wait not at all to race their 2yos, sending their juveniles to the track early in their 2yo seasons.

But, at what cost?

One of the sharpest trainers the Sim ever has known, Given, suggested after looking at this year’s Derby field that debuting a 2yo early in its juvenile year might be detrimental to the development of a Derby horse.

So, let’s take a look. Following are the dates of the debut races of each of the 20 projected Derby starters:

2-18-12: LEFT SIDE STRONG

2-25-12: TEARS OF FIRE

2-25-12: RIVER JACK CB

3-10-12: HAACK’S DUKE

3-17-12: SIMBESTO

3-17-12: JUST GOOD ENOUGH

3-31-12: SWAGU

4-14-12: CANDY PEGASUS

4-14-12: GONNA BE TROUBLE

4-24-12: EL QUERREQUERRE

4-28-12: GIMLET NEAT

6-2-12: PRESPECTOR

6-9-12: RAM N RAID

6-30-12: THE COOLEST

8-25-12: YOU AND TEQUILA

9-15-12: PAPA JOE

9-16-12: WAY TOO COOL

9-22-12: EVIL SUNRISE

9-22-12: HUNTING BLIND

10-18-12: RECONDITE CADET

I must admit that I am a little surprised by the results of the research which Given suggested. While several of the serious contenders did not make their debut until fall, the median date falls in April.

Now, before we jump to any conclusions, let’s revisit some sage advice given to me just recently by Desperado: “Correlation does not equal causation.”

However, we can keep that scientific maxim in mind and make an observation or two, can we not?

One thing to notice is that two of the colts with the worst recent form in the Derby debuted early in their 2yo seasons. That’s LEFT SIDE STRONG, who has gone badly off form since running second in last year’s Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile. And, it’s TEARS OF FIRE, who has run 12 races and prepped for the Derby by running fifth, sixth and seventh.

Then, we see that a couple of the live horses in the Derby, namely WAY TOO COOL and EVIL SUNRISE, are among the latest debut dates on the list.

Thanks again for the suggestion, Given.

FEELING HOT, HOT HOT: Three of the Derby runners come into the first Saturday in May with multiple-race winning streaks.

These are YOU AND TEQUILA (2); WAY TOO COOL (5); EL QUERREQUERRE (5).

OZZY, OZZY, OZZY: Move over, Mint Julep. Bust a move, burgoo. Make way for the new most-popular item at the Bluegrass Derby concession stand: barbecued shrimp. Australians MasterMatt and Houseriot Pete say they’ll do the cooking this year, Queensland Racecourse style.

SAY MAN, THAT’S SOME GOOD GRASS: Three of Derby runners have made multiple starts on turf. 

Those are LEFT SIDE STRONG (2); GIMLET NEAT (6); and EL QUERREQUERRE (3).

Most of the trainers in the Derby have not touched the stuff.

FILL UP THAT INBOX: So far, our message board request has yielded replies from eight of the trainers in the Bluegrass Derby. Here’s hoping to hear from everybody. Thanks to those who have replied already.