tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166659.post-49498341391442670442008-05-04T21:32:00.014-04:002008-05-05T07:48:36.870-04:00Here are some thoughts and liner notes upon my return from Louisville:<br /><blockquote><p>--There were so many people in the Kentucky Derby winner's circle that <strong>Big Brown</strong> apparently didnt' make it into the photo since he was obscured by the entorauge.</p><p>--It looks like <strong>Dennis of Cork</strong> and <strong>Tale of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ekati</span> </strong>will be pointed to the Belmont with most other Derby contenders falling off the triple crown trail.</p><p>--<strong>Colonel John</strong> may go to the Preakness...<strong> </strong></p><p>--<strong>Proud Spell, Casino Drive</strong>, <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Behindatthebar</span></strong>, <strong>El <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gato</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Malo</span>, Harlem Rocker</strong> and <strong>Salute The Sarge</strong> are all non-Derby contenders who could be potential Triple Crown spoilers.</p><p>--It will be about 10 days before the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority gets the test results back and we will find out if <strong>Big Brown's</strong> romp was the result of ability or a syringe. Sure it's cynical, but it's not like this trainer doesn't have a track record -- and it's not like it has never happened before (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_Pass_(horse)">Forward Pass</a>).</p><p>--Churchill Downs had the genius idea to begin selling buttons of all the Kentucky Derby contenders this year for $1. On Saturday I heard several people in the grandstand and paddock area offering to buy the sold-out <strong>Eight Belles</strong> buttons for more than face value -- who knew there might be a secondary market for these things? So far none have cropped up on Ebay... </p><p>--PETA is asking for jockey Gabriel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Saez</span> to be suspended, does this group really have any credibility with anyone anymore?</p><p>--I stood next to William <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Rhoden</span> of The New York Times when Larry Jones addressed the media late Saturday night -- we've all known for a while that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/sports/othersports/04rhoden.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Rhoden</span> hates horse racing</a>, but what I found out was that the guy uses a 80s-era <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">walkman</span> to collect his quotes. He kept flipping the tape during the interview (did he only had 4 minute tapes?), so no wonder it seems like he went to a completely different interview than the one I did. Seriously, a quality digital recorder is less than $30...</p><p>--Some of the buzz last night after I left Churchill Downs for dinner was that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">CNNSi</span> had posted some AP photos of <strong>Eight Belles</strong> being euthanized. I'm now starting to see the photos everywhere...</p></blockquote><p></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06801414754458604594noreply@blogger.com