Kentucky Derby 2020 Selection
Wow. The first Saturday of May September is upon us. Wait, what? I'm squeezing this year's rendition between my added Hall Monitor and Junior Techie duties where I am excelling at optimizing my kids' Zoom connections. Didn't have time to create a drinking or bingo board (kid's show) adding entertainment during NBC's Derby lead up to the fastest 2 minutes in sports. Every time "Social Distancing", "Zoom", "Shelter in Place", "Work From Home", and "Unprecedented" are muttered prompts a drink. Guaranteed hockey player turned degenerate horseman Eddie O mentions Art Collector where a recent injury forced off the Derby trail and was on Riders Up radar. Eddie will most likely go against the favorite which hasn't been a friendly play since the new points system was instituted aside from the debacle last year. Despite this year being postponed to September, Churchill Downs did accommodate the first Saturday in May with a virtual Kentucky Derby (of course they did) of all 13 Triple Crown winners. Cheesy yet they got it right.
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| Virtual Triple Crown Kentucky Derby |
As is tradition with Riders Up annual selection, an update on my end before the real business. Last year I had overdue shoulder surgery correcting a lingering injury when veteran NHLer and Michigan alum Mike Knuble destroyed me at Joe Louis Arena during the 1993 Great Lakes Invitational (yep I'm a dinosaur). Praying it cures the dreaded Ian Baker Finch (golf's most annoying announcer) curse my dear friend and newly married Mango cast on 4th tee box after I flawlessly started Eagle, Birdie, Birdie during our inaugural ND Boys Trip. Golf game has never been the same. After many years I am PhD level with punchouts given the practice. It would be a lifetime achievement if Club Pro Guy incorporated this tale into a Thursday Night Men's League presser.
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| Club Pro Guy |
My kids are my everything. Last year which feels like a decade ago along with some gray hairs we ventured to Paris and London creating lifetime memories. Still working for that book company and now hammering out a Twitch sponsorship for James as he accelerates his gaming prowess while becoming the big man on middle school virtual campus. Thanks to YouTube, he's become a food aficionado so requesting Portnoy to consider him as a substitute for "One Bite, everyone knows the rules" pizza reviews. Don't hold the Michigan/ND rivalry against his old man as we can compare trading notes and technical analysis dogmas for DDTG, Meanwhile, Elle is thriving in developing her Silicon Valley future CEO startup instincts having fired Tik Tok before it became the rage and sharing all with China. Shocked she hasn't received a quasi-exclusive Clubhouse invite, although maybe she has and I'm not aware. Her keen interior design eye that Chip and Joanna called out will be crucial in our new home search. Oh and she chuckled at my "That's Hot" moment with another Paris who I chatted pucks with pre COVID at the Rose Bowl during Upfront Summit while also helping Cube and Reese with business initiatives.
Race insight. It's ironic the US Open Tennis occurring during this running as Nadal was a leading contender before injury forced retirement (the horse not the tennis champion) yet a long shot in this field is Major Fed who edges Rafa out in my humble opinion. There is a significant tie to Riders Up 2003 massive score hitting the top 5 horses with Funny Cide beating the odds as the first gelding since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. This year Funny Cide's owners, Sackatoga Stables and its trainer Barclay Tagg return with impressive and race favorite Tiz the Law. Hmmm, Given how 2020 has unfolded, Tiz the Law's name is trumped only by the fact his dad is named Constitution. Are the stars aligning? Mindful of cancel culture and if reckless looting/riots are top of mind then longshot Storm the Court or maybe NY Traffic could tempt you. However, typically my modus operandi is to stay Authentic who most likely will shoot to the lead but may not have enough gas or should I say electric (thank you Elon) to finish. A sentimental shout out to South Bend as he seeks to find the Luck of the Irish while interestingly Sir Richard Branson takes part virtually via Necker Island.
Toss (8): 1-Finick the Fierce, 4-Storm the Court, 5-Major Fed, 9-Mr Big Moves, 11-Necker Island, 12-Solo Volante, 14-Winning Impression. Note 6-King Guillermo is scratched.
Could Factor (3): 3-Enforceable, 7-Money Moves, 13 Attachment Rate
Contenders (7): Will be part of betting strategy
2 - Max Player: Reminds me of Riders Up Selection Ice Box as deep closer
8 - South Bend: Purely Exotics. Sentimental as was home for 4 years.
10 - Thousand Words: Sneaky. Riders Up Tanqueray Long Shot
15 - NY Traffic: Exotics.
16 - Honor A.P.: Breeder's dream and may be sitting on a sizzling performance
17 - Tiz the Law: Unquestionable favorite
18 - Authentic: Pure speed, does he have enough Elon Musk electric or gas to go 10 furlongs
Let's Handicap.After My Old Kentucky Home is played keep your eyes fixated on holes 15-18 which was the old auxiliary gate and replaced this year with a new gate. I expect 18-Authentic to dart to lead as it's his best chance yet he is slightly compromised in that position. If 17-Tiz the Law is checked it could impact his chances. If not, I expect a romp. The race most likely will be determined here in the first quarter. Expect 10-Thousand Words, 15-NY Traffic, 16-Honor A.P. , and 17-Tiz the Law will fall in behind 18-Authentic with some others as they hit the quarter pole in most likely 22.8 to 23.1. with 45.8 to 46.4 half mile split and possible record in play (1:59.4 Secretariat 1973). Tiz the Law ran 2:00.95 1 1/4 in the Travers @ Saratoga. proving Tiz the Law can get the distance easily and this being his third race off a layoff. Key callout as the added four months coupled with traditionally no entrant having run 10 furlongs (1 1/4 miles) prior to Derby foundation has been added to these equine animals rendering normal Derby data points including dosage irrelevant in 2020. Sadly there will not be 150,000 fans present.
2020 Kentucky Derby Selection
Another Derby jinx will be eliminated as never has a horse from Post Position 17 won the Derby. Purely an anomaly that the Sackatoga boys and their yellow bus have a knack of overcoming. I expect a Triple Crown contender heading to Pimlico after winning Belmont Stakes in June. I am a fan of under the radar Thousand Words who benefited from the 4 months and his dad is Pionerof the Nile (former Riders Up Selection) and grandpa is Empire Maker who finished second to Funny Cide in 2003 Derby.
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| Tiz the Law |
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