Dear Derby Diary,

To some I’m sure as if this entire week has seemed like a blur. There is so much going on and so many folks here that you can get completely lost in all of the goings on. Our trainers and owners are split between taking care of their prized horses and requests for interviews and to show up at parties and get togethers. We finally come to the big day. For some it will almost be a relief that it is coming to a close but there is still a couple of huge Sim races to be run. I’m sure that there were some sleepless nights for a few owners and trainers.

Last night was the big Fiesta at El Nopal restaurant for lots of Sim celebrities. I chased the Grand Poobah around all night trying to find out more about the re-write and some new scoop about the Sim. He kept putting me of and saying that he really had to wait until he got his “hands dirty” in the re-write before he could really release anything. I kept plying him with Margaritas but to no avail. Finally he relented with this little tidbit. He told me, “I really wish I actually HAD a tidbit for you. You can say that I’ve been really pleased with the discount breeding that occurred this week and plan on offering similar offers going forward. That’s about as juicy as I can get, unfortunately.”

Hey at least we got something. It was amazing the past few weeks how many took advantage of the half price credit breedings and I know that I picked up a few myself. It looks like we will be able to enjoy something similar down the road.

Okay, it is time for my picks. In the Bluegrass Oaks, I think that it will be crowded near the front and the winner will come from there. I have EQUIVOCATIONS down for fourth not quite able to get there in the stretch. I like Sabbath Point for third although if it were to rain, she would probably win the thing. For my final two I think that there are two horses that will be going hard at each other all the way down the stretch with Black Flag Flying getting nipped at the wire by Silent Screem who will by our filly winner.

In the Derby, it looks like it could be most anyone to win the race but I think that the cream will rise to the top here and there are four horses that will be battling it out at the end. On my card, I have TAP DANCES breaking up his four race win streak with a fourth place finish here. I think that one of Lenny’s colts TRADING JACK will be in the mix but just miss out in third place. . I really think that you could probably flip a coin between the final two because they are that close but I’ve seen both of these studs run before and I think that WIRELESS EAVESDROP will give it everything that he’s got but bit will be outfought by FOLSOM BLUES in the end. There are some amazing young colts here and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the Triple Jewel pans out.

It has been an awesome but tiring marathon week for me. I sure hope you’ve enjoyed the Diaries and the information this entire Derby Festival. I am planning on doing my annual Derby A – Z for tomorrow, don’t miss it!

Best of luck to all of the trainers, owners and especially horses today. We sure wouldn’t be here without them! I am off to grab a mint julep or two and head then head to the track for the greatest two minutes in sports!

Happy Derby Day!

Good luck to all runners!