kentucky derby

Tracking down a historic effort from morning line favorite Bodemeister, I'll Have Another claimed the Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Derby.  Where men with an underdeveloped sense of shame and no business wearing a white suit don it proudly; where, like the feathers of a peacock, the absurdity and color scheme of your hat is used to indicate social status; and where 20 of the world's finest 3-year old horses race for their sport's greatest honor. @JoeBianchino

20 horses.  A mile and a quarter. 2 Million Dollars.  It's a lot to take in.  We try and sort through it all with a brief look at the entire Derby field. @JoeBianchino

Now.  I know what you're thinking.  "The Belmont?  Who cares?"  Well I care! And you should too!  Even though there is no chance of a Triple Crown winner emerging from Saturday's race, the rubber match between Shackleford and Animal Kingdom will certainly be a great watch.  Here are my thoughts on the race:

Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford is set to take part in next Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

The 2011 race for the Triple Crown will be renewed this weekend in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.  The grade one race at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course features five entries from the Kentucky Derby, including Derby winner Animal Kingdom.  He'll look to beat thirteen other horses to the wire Saturday, and take the second jewel of the Triple Crown. I offer you these thoughts:

It was a great day at Churchill.  The juleps were flowing.  The hats were huge.  The odds were long and the racing was intense. In a mild upset, Animal Kingdom won today's Run for the Roses.  I’m no expert handicapper, but I didn’t see that coming.  Neither, by the way, did a lot of those that you would call experts.  I offer you my post-race thoughts and a brief look forward.

Animal Kingdom pulled off the upset victory in the 137th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Animal Kingdom went off as a 20-1 long-shot but still was able to cross the finish line first. Animal Kingdom was initially a 30-1 morning line long-shot but was bet down to 20-1. So how exactly did Animal Kingdom pull off the stunner?

Uncle Mo has been ruled out of the Kentucky Derby.  It’s a sad day for the first leg of the triple crown.  It was shaping up nicely, with four or five really quality horses that would all be fighting down to the wire.  Now, the race’s biggest name is out; but the race might have just gotten better.

Say it isn't so, Mo. Uncle Mo has pulled out of Saturday's Kentucky Derby due to an stomach ailment that has reduced his appetite and energy.

It’s just about that time.  Post time (and party time?).  Time for (enchanted mornings?) the most exciting afternoon in horse racing.  Time for comically large floppy hats, mint juleps and some mile and a quarter racing.  That’s right, it’s Kentucky Derby time and I for one, am pretty excited.

On Thursday (5/5/11) on "Sound-off with Sinkoff", Brian was joined by Eric Mitchell, a Horse Racing analyst from Bloodhorse.com.