Derby Blogs

Mac McBride
West Coast

Take 19 -- The Ol' Swan Song

Saturday, May 05, 2007

So it is now Derby morning and I’m going to do this blog thing one more time.

I’ll go down on record with a Derby pick – actually picks – so anyone who wants to tell me “I told you so” or “Oy! What a dummy!” will have a chance to do so.

I’d also like to leave a thought or two behind in the run up to this very entertaining Run for the Roses:

• My Derby picks are down to Nobiz Like Shobiz (for the same reasons stated earlier here) and Scat Daddy (for turning in the most impressive training move of any of the horses I’ve seen coming into this race). They’re both in excellent hands and both have big-race riders and either could get it done. I’m glad there is an exacta bet.

• I'm actually alive in several Oaks-Derby doubles, thanks to the favorite running like a favorite Friday. I spread it a bit and will pick up a few bucks if any of the following earn some roses -- Street Sense, Hard Spun, Nobiz Like Shobiz, Scat Daddy or Great Hunter.

• If the race was a beauty contest, the hands-down winner would be Great Hunter. He has looked sparkling here all week and Doug O’Neill gets bonus points for turning out the modern-day version of The Black Stallion.

• I’ve worked here this week on the Derby Notes Team with trainers Todd Pletcher, John Shirreffs and Bob Baffert. You couldn’t find three more different guys in the game then them and it has been a wonderful mix of spice for me. The ultra-efficient Pletcher -- a virtual corporate CEO with a great feel for his horses and his people – topped off by a wonderfully sly sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. The near-cosmic Shirreffs -- seeing his horse and this race in terms much greater than the moment -- putting out a good vibe for all and any who came around. And the wise-cracking Baffert -- not playing from the top of the hill this time around -- but still funny-wise after all these years.

• The weather was an Oaks factor Friday and might be a Derby factor today. The weather handicappers told us going in that it was likely to rain all Saturday. But so far, we’ve escaped. Maybe we can stay dry for the race – and the Churchill track dries out quicker than a canteen in Death Valley – so we aren’t going to call it “off” just yet.

• Folks generally agreeing it’s fun to have The Queen (yes, her) on board for this day in the life of The Sport of Kings.

• Been great to meet some of my fellow bloggers here in Kentucky, good folks who have passion for the game and enjoy the show around it. And, without a doubt, the King of the Bloggers is my man Justin Dew.

• It has been interesting and fun doing this “blog” business this year. I want to thank the Churchill people for asking me to come on board with it. I enjoyed the back-and-forth will all you racing fans and it has helped me realize again just how many people truly do love this dynamic game of horse racing.

• Finally, good luck to each and every one of you and – if you’ve been thinking about it – some strong encouragement to just go ahead and start planning that Derby trip for next year. You’ll love the experience and tell the stories ever after. Promise.

Happy Derby 133 to one and all!

Posted by Mac McBride | Mac's Blog

6 Responses

Mike Dotsch

May 10, 2007 - 7:36am #

well mac, i picked Scat Daddy, what can i say? I don't know what the problem was, but he didn't run a lick. I am still proud of him for all his accomplishments and he will be back. Anyway hope you had a great derby. Congratulations to Street Sense and all his connections and of course, Calvin Borel. www.calvinborel.com

kevin callinan

May 8, 2007 - 8:01am #

Mac, Well, I was wrong about the odds and Scat Daddy once again showed he doesn't care for that strip. I knew we were in trouble when Borel won a stake on that golden rail earlier in the day. Glad I got a chance to say hello. Come on out to the Haskell; he'll be back!

Alejandro Licea

May 7, 2007 - 10:25am #

Good Monday Morning to you Mac and all Derby fans,
I have to say it's Monday blues for me as my top picks CQ, Nobiz & Scar Daddy are still going around the track, shhhhheshh. I guess I feel deflated as there was a tremendous build-up going into it and see to what went down was disapointing, taking no credit away from a smart jockey who rode Street Sense in a picture perfect ride again. Now for those of you who said a closer would not win and knocked CQ all week long, how about Street Sense from 19th to 1st..
Can Street Sense skim the rail any closer without fliping over it, I mean this colt is brave, I've got to give him that. For the rest who ran after Hard Spun's can't do no wrong except to lose to the BC champion, there is no excuse. It was one of the worst Derby performances I have ever seen, for at least 18 colts. Only two stood out and to me it frankly it feels like there will be no triple crown winner this year. If Street Sense can beat Hard Spun in the Preakness or Chelokee or any of the other fresh runners, I suspect he can win the Belmont, after all Street Cry was no choped liver being one of the best to run in my opinion. But Hard Spun, if healthy, will be a force to contend with at Preakness time. My heart is broken but only until Saturday the 18th where I will take my little saver exacta money and try to go from zero to hero for the office pool.

Licking my wounds,
SoCalAl

Calvin Carter

May 6, 2007 - 3:43pm #

Mac,

Thank you for all the great blog entries! I enjoy your style of writing and I've enjoyed them all.

The next time you come to the Derby City you'll have to check out the scenery over here in Hoosier Land.

I had Street Sense and Curlin but did not have Hard Spun in my exotics. I was extremely disappointed in Nobiz Like Shobiz. However, Tiago made up for Nobiz's dull effort and Albertus Maximus made a nice score earlier this week.

Congratulations to Street Sense and his connections on the Kentucky Derby win. I'll be rooting for him for the Triple Crown score. However, I believe that Calvin will need to make his move earlier if he hopes to keep Hard Spun from wiring the Preakness field.

In adddition to Street Sense, I was especially impressed with Curlin, Imawildandcrazyguy and Tiago.

For a horse with no foundation, Curlin showed and extra dimension today coming from 13th to get up for 3rd. Crazy was in 11th at the stretch and rounded out the Superfecta for 4th. Tiago was in 12th at the stretch and came home in 7th place.

Even though they were scoreless, Crazy and Tiago posted impressive stretch moves and they've been added to my watch list.

And Curlin, without a doubt, is the real deal and it will be exciting to watch him as he matures. It's a shame. though, that a fine trainer like Helen Pitts will not be able to share in his glory.

Kenneth Church

May 6, 2007 - 1:06pm #

Hi Mac! We sure have enjoyed your blogs....Dan's too. We were so happy with yesterday's results....for all concerned. Didn't bet on him though cause we figured he'd be really short odds. Our horses finished up the track. Thanks for the mail.
Nancy & Ken

joann langlinais

May 5, 2007 - 3:32pm #

Thanks for the run down. I sometimes do pick a horse for "the beauty" - like Great Hunter. Of course, i think all horses are beautiful. I'm wondering how your "Scat Daddy" pick will do.

Don't run away from the blogosphere for too long. It has been fun reading all your posts.