2011 Kentucky Derby - The Derby Gods
(see all of our 2011 Kentucky Derby articles)
I believe that somewhere in the great beyond lives a group of men, women, horses, cats & goats known collectively as the Derby Gods. These past icons of the sport, at their capricious whim, help determine the Derby winner.
Last year, the Derby wasn't decided by pace, post position or the rider. The winner was determined the second that the slightly schlumpy Glen Fullerton put his $100,000 bet on Super Saver. The Derby Gods were determined to give the Texan close to a million dollars. You can't fight the Derby Gods.
Last year, we couldn't predict the Fullerton Factor, but who might the Gods favor this year? There are a few contenders:
- A victory by Pants On Fire would make Anna Napravnik the first female jockey to win the race, which I think the Gods would appreciate.
- Archarcharch is ridden by Jon Court, who won the Arkansas Derby last year on Line of David and then was promptly replaced with a bigger name jockey. He's trained by Court's father-in-law "Jinks" Fires, the kind of old-time trainer the Gods would probably like to reward.
- Mucho Macho Man would make his trainer, Kathy Ritvo, the first woman trainer to win the Derby.
- Likewise, Watch Me Go would make his trainer, Kathleen O' Connell, the first woman to win.
So there's nothing super compelling about any of the entrants. I feel like Calvin Borel (riding Twice The Appeal) has lost the favor of the Derby Gods due to his fight at last year's Breeders Cup and that Todd Pletcher (trainer of Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo) may feel the wrath of the Gods for his own Breeders Cup failure with poor Life At Ten.
Or maybe, just maybe, the Derby Gods are going to throw all of the human interest stories out the window this year and just let the best horse win and maybe even take us on another magical ride toward the Triple Crown.
A girl can dream.
Posted by kris at May 3, 2011 09:26 AM
The trackback entry for this page is : http://www.inthehat.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2001
| Trackback Entries |
Comments
| # May 3rd, 2011 1:48 PM kris |
| Oh dear, two of the owners of Mucho Macho Man are going to get married this week in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs.
That probably clinches it. |
| # May 3rd, 2011 2:14 PM SaratogaJim |
| ..or gives it the kiss of death.. |
| # May 5th, 2011 7:02 PM kris |
| this is the guy that has the $100,00 bet. From the looks of him, I don't think the Derby gods will get too involved. |