By Tony Bada Bing
So we’ve come to the end of the line in the infrequent series of
Kentucky Derby Zen. We’ve practiced deep breathing, talked about the power of what we don’t know and how our beliefs can get us to see anything we truly want, like say a Kentucky Derby win by
Trinniberg. We all dismissed
Mine That Bird –who cared nothing for our opinions.
If you think hard and reflect on your Derby choices as of this moment, I would advise not to make any choices…yet. The post-position draw matters. The weather matters. If you choose to love anyone of the 20 contenders Kentucky Derby too much, right now, you’ve prematurely chosen and are bound to that choice, even if it means laying your money down on a front-runner breaking from post 1. Luck, the universe and whatever deus ex machina you believe in will have to bail you out, if the draw proves poorly.
At this stage of the game, a slow sip of a rich, fragrant liquor, a hit from a pipe of your choosing or even a hard burn at power yoga class may help you reach your final winning wager. This along with something you should definitely do – eliminate the losers. These are horses you believe have little to no shot at winning regardless of where they start, how well they’ve trained or who is or is not riding on their backs. It is just as important to narrow down your choices of who will win – the ying and yang, if you will.
Elimination means someone has to be in contention and I’ve provided this as well. Notice my little lotus leaves that there is no winner chosen just the prospect of the several left. I will revise, reflect and mediate on those I still believe have a chance to finish first through fourth. For the definite, please give me until after the draw to make my choices. For you should to…
First the weak to be separated from the strong:
Liaison – if you can’t win; you can’t win
Trinniberg – just because you can, doesn’t mean you should
Sabercat – where you win is just as important as who you beat
Rousing Sermon – slow finishes against weak foes translate into continued losses
Dullahan – the surface you win on matters, greener pastures await
I’ll Have Another – gluttony is a deadly sin and so is betting on Doug O’Neil shipping this far east
Daddy Long Legs – please see Dullahan and Sabercat
Done Talking – he will be finished before they reach the far turn
El Pardino – time doesn’t matter unless you’re trying to be the quickest to finish, which he is not
Went the Day Well – the attempt at human connections trying to repeat Derby win, means nothing to the horse
Optimizer – final entry usually doesn’t have a say in outcome
A few that still confuse:
Take Charge Indy – the mind says the horse has no chance; the heart says the jockey always has a change on Derby Day
Alpha – stirred by his latest efforts and worried about his minor setback
Creative Cause – indecision, married with a lack of vision equals blinkers on, maybe
Prospective – something most need, something most lack and shouldn’t count on
The best of the rest surely:
Bodemeister –have the feeling this is Baffert’s Derby, that and three consecutive triple-digit speed figures
Gemologist – winning breeds winning, especially if you’ve never lost
Union Rags – lots of love received, bound to give some back
Hansen – a mistake to dismiss and will give you plenty to cheer for at least 90% of the way
For those that came along thank you, for those that didn’t you never heard me.