I don’t know if there has been a time in which I didn’t know who was running in the Kentucky Derby until Oaks Day.
There have been plenty of years I haven’t been immersed in it, but even then I still had a clue.
2017? I have no clue so I am handicapping like a newbie. Finding horses I think might have a chance and finding a theme I can get behind.
So, here we go:
I am an avid reader and recently finished reading and listening to a book called Himself by Jess Kidd. A good ghost story that was wonderfully narrated by an Irishman Aiden Kelly.
I am now reading Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume. I had not realized it was set in Ireland until I started listening to the accompanying Audible book. This is also narrated by an Irishman, John Keating. The latter a story about a broken down middle aged man and his new yet older broken down dog. I am only about 30% in but so far it really is a lovely story about two wonderful souls.
Add to all this, just two weeks ago Stacy and I went into the city to see Sunset Boulevard for what became the single greatest Broadway experience of my life. Norma Desmond is not Irish, no. But we had lunch at Langan’s Irish Pub beforehand, the two guys sitting next to us played French Horn in the show’s 40-piece orchestra and our waitress was a lovely young dark haired Irish woman named Jane who hailed from Cork, Ireland. She had been in the US four months and depending on who you speak to, I may or may not have embarrassed myself a little with my gushing.
All of this points to one thing only – I am going with the luck of the Irish in the 143 Kentucky Derby. Here are my bets:
$2 Win Bets on 15 – McCraken & 17 – Irish War Cry
$4 Irish Exacta Box: 15 – McCraken with 17 – Irish War Cry
$0.50 Irish Trifecta Box: 2 – Thunder Snow (bred in Ireland) with 15 – McCraken and 17 – Irish War Cry.
I will also put this in black and white seven hours before post time. I did read the DRF and studied the form. I like Irish War Cry in this. I do. I am hoping that the pace is slow and he doesn’t spit the bit in the stretch on me. I also fear the #5, Always Dreaming. My father-in-law (to be) has keyed him and for good reason.
Stace just called out to me as I am finishing this up and said “Just put $10 to win on Irish War Cry for me.”
God, I love this woman.
Happy Kentucky Derby Day friends. Win lose or draw one thing is for sure … Stace and I have plenty of Bourbon on hand so we have already won the day!!!
Stacy & her Dad, the 2016 Derby glass, Bulleit Bourbon, Eagle Rare (thank you MOB), Woodford Reserve (thank you, GMT) and a personalized bottle of Woodford I got Stacy in Louisville when driving back east from Oregon for good. The bottle is old but the bourbon in “new.” Below the booze, Dad and I at Saratoga in 1977.
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