Similarly, there is some level of pride that goes along with being the first to tab a particular horse as his generation's Kentucky Derby winner. It's hard enough to pick a winner on race day, let alone weeks or months in advance, but it's always a fun exercise.
I've never picked a Derby winner any earlier than Derby day itself, but I did tab Dreaming of Anna as the 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner after she won her career debut in May at Arlington Park.
On November 11, I told my Twitter followers that my 2010 Derby pick returned to the work tab the previous day at Fair Grounds. On Sunday, in the eighth race at Fair Grounds, he makes his three-year-old debut and first start since finishing second in a Saratoga maiden race on August 26.
My current 2010 Kentucky Derby pick is Tiz Brian, a Tiznow colt bred in Kentucky by Peter Van Andel and acquired by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables for $410,000 at the 2009 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. two-year-olds in training sale.
It's a lark, of course, but I really liked what I saw in the debut as Tiz Brian dueled another horse into submission before giving up the lead late to Wildcat Nation. The horse Tiz Brian dueled with came back to win gate-to-wire.
Steve Asmussen trains for Jackson, so another wrinkle to this is I'm keen to see if these powerhouse connections can produce a classic winner rather than buying a previous winner as they did with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in '09.
Even if Tiz Brian tanks, it was still a fun few weeks getting the workout reports and getting to write about the excitement of picking a horse out in August and finally seeing him run with entry onto the Triple Crown trail hanging in the balance.
Interesting. I'll be rooting for Tiz Brian (KY).
ReplyDeleteHe's the 3/1 ML favorite. Mr. Asmussen has two in that race and they are uncoupled for wagering.
"Al Barado" assumes the mount and should be in the thick of it with a clean break. Another second place finish would make me put him on my "Horses to Beat" list. I have a feeling that this one might turn out to be an effective one turn sprinter. We shall see.
I love the name Tiz Brian, I'll be following him now just for that!
ReplyDeleteI've only picked one Derby winner, Big Brown a month or so before the Florida Derby. Also chose Mine that Bird for third in the 2009 Derby, but that was just becuase I loved the odds!!
Brian Appleton
Hey Ed...checkout a horse named WILDCAT FRANKIE.....hopefully you will like what you see of him in his debut.....trackman
ReplyDelete