2023 Kentucky Derby Selection
2023 commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the greatest equine ever, Secretariat's Triple Crown. He kicked it off with a record setting 1:59.2 romp in the Kentucky Derby defeating Sham. He would later go on to win the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths and another record that still stands today. Secretariat is on par with Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan (loved the movie Air), Tom Brady, Babe Ruth, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Serena Williams, Usain Bolt, and Michael Phelps for dominance in sport.
Coincidentally this year marks my 50th circle around the sun and is off to a magical start. My kids, James and Elle, continue to grow up way too fast. Love watching them trailblaze their own path while filled with laughs along the journey. Time is so precious with them as in a few short years James will graduate HS with Elle not far behind. 50 suits me well and excited see what the next 10 years hold for me and my kids. I will certainly enjoy the journey. Time is the most precious asset all of us have, use it wisely and for things you love such as Family, Friends, Passions.
I continue expanding my comfort zone in Web3 industry writing my career story. When I read the Bitcoin White Paper in December 2013 and made my first purchase in February 2014, I knew there was something pulling me towards that world. Working for a "book company" the past 6 years I've relished the autonomy when I see a blank page to be the author, not the reader when I founded and continue buidling our blockchain, crypto, and now Web3 business from scratch. Quite humbling to see it become a significant business for AWS serving 1000s of customers globally. Most people looked at me like I had 9 heads in 2017/2018 and I continue to inform internal naysayers with data while seeing around corners and being the other Jeff at Amazon taking us from Web2 to Web3. It's so fun helping the two girls in a hoodie to the most influential Web3 businesses who are redefining the internet using blockchain technology. Multiple times weekly I am educating the largest banks, media & entertainment, gaming companies and more on their Web3 strategies. I've lived through 8+ crypto winters and the last 12 months certainly qualifies with FTX (Sam Bankman Fraud), Terra Luna, and currently dealing with Gary Gensler the clueless SEC Chair seeking political fame while allowing US innovative talent and companies to move to new locales like Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Dubai, Paris, and many others. Crypto and Web3 is my professional calling and I will always be a BUIDLer and a HODLer. It has afforded me the ability to travel the world seeing cultures and learning every single day. Paris earlier this year was a highlight when we closed the Louvre to the 500 of the most influential people in Web3. Unforgettable to have a lengthy 1:1 with an ageless woman named Mona, riveting how she seemed to be frozen in time. Who knows, maybe there will be a new challenge to bring crypto to billions of people.
Before moving on to the race, I'd like to close with an early Happy Mother's Day to my Mom. She has always been the glue in our family. Funny story, my dad bought her a race horse, Super Count, which sparked a deeper passion for me in horse racing when I was 13/14 years old. Love you Mom! Speaking of my Dad, Next week he hits 80 years old. Quite the run with many more years to go. He has always been my role model. Keep it in the short grass Dad. Happy Birthday.
RACE ANALYSIS
This year's Run for the Roses has seen the difficult side of racing as a rash of deaths at Churchill and other illnesses have crept into this year's rendition. Four Five Horses (Forte, Skinner, Practical Move, Lord Miles, and Continuar) have scratched since the Post Positions were drawn on Monday meaning all 3 Also Eligible are drawn in. Riders Up Selection was going to be PRACTICAL MOVE. This 2 minutes to glory is loaded with viable, highly credentialed candidates to be dressed in the Garland of Roses. Homage to Secretariat as 22 of 23 horses entered have him in their pedigree with only the Japanese shipper Derma Sotogake missing his bloodlines. The morning line favorite, FORTE, was scratched the morning of the race and was going to be the next choice. Fingers crossed my next choice does not scratch.
In my thorough examination, I key on 12 factors when determining my winner and ultimately betting strategy. 1/Pedigree, 2/ Beyer Analysis, 3/ Timeform (Early/Late/Style), 4/ John White Strikes 5/ Days since last race, 6/ Speed Rating/Track Variant, 7/ 3rd Race off Layoff, 8/ Workout Blowout?, 9/ Dosage (albeit less of a factor these days), 10/ Churchill History, 11/ Mike Welsch Derby Clocker insights, 12/ Prep Race Review/Results.
TOSS (6): 1 Hit Show (35-1), 11 Disarm (26-1), 12 Jace's Road (41-1), 13 Sun Thunder (37-1), 21 Cyclone Mischief, 23 King Russell (41-1)
FACTORS - Need to Cut Down (4): 4 Confidence Game (20-1), 7 Reincarnate (16-1), 16 Raise Cain (38-1), 18 Rocket Can (36-1)
CONTENDERS (8)
2 Verifying (15-1): T: Cox J: Gaffalione O: Magnier/Tabor
Sire: Hard Spun (Danzig) Dam: Diva Delite (Repent) BB 99
3 Two Phil's (12-1) T: Rivelli J: Loveberry O: Patricia's Hope LLC
Sire: Hard Spun ( Danzig) Dam: Mia Torri (General Quarters) BB: 101
5 Tapit Trice (5-1) T: Pletcher J: Saez O: Whisper Hill Farm
Sire: Tapit (Pulpit) Dam: Danzatrice (Dunkirk) BB 99
6 Kingsbarns (12-1) T: Pletcher J: Ortiz O: Spendthrift Farm LLC
Sire: Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) Dam: Lady Tapit (Tapit) BB 95
8 Mage (15-1) T: Delgado J: Castellano O: OGMA Investments
Sire: Good Magic (Curlin) Dam: Puca (Big Brown) BB 94
14 Angel of Empire (8-1) T: Cox J: Prat O: Albaugh Family Stables LLC
Sire: Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) Dam: Armony's Angel (To Honor and Serve) BB 94
15 Forte (3-1) T: Pletcher J: Ortiz Jr O: Repole Stable
Sire: Violence (Medaglia d'Oro) Dam: Queen Caroline (Blame) BB 100
17 Derma Sotogake (10-1) T: Otonashi J: Lemaire O: Hiroyuki Asanuma
Sire: Mind Your Biscuits (Posse) Dam: Amour Poesie (Neo Universe) BB -
22 Mandarin Hero (30-1) T: Fujita J: Kimura O: Hiroaki Arai
Sire: Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday) Dam: Namura Nadeshiko (Fuji Kiseki) BB 100
2023 RIDERS UP SELECTION
6 KINGSBARNS
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