Kentucky Derby in review

Another Kentucky Derby has come and gone, and again, I’ve got a little pocket change left from my bets. Not much, mind you, but a little.

Last week I noted that I was going to go with International Star to win the Kentucky Derby, with a strong nod toward American Pharoah and Dortmond as possible top finishers, rounded out with a “best name” pick for Itsaknockout to go along with the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight scheduled for Saturday night.

I did, in fact, send small wagers for those four horses up the road later in the week, betting on Star, Pharoah and Dortmund to win, and Itsaknockout to Show.

As it turned out, I pocketed a little change from those small wagers – not enough to brag much about, but I did in fact come out on top. By race time, only three of my four horses were still headed to the Derby Gate, with International Star having scratched earlier in the day, leaving me with three bets down. Had Itsaknockout scratched also, I would have been even further ahead. In fact, I’m not sure but what that horse might still be headed toward the finish line at the time of this week’s writing.

Of course American Pharoah won Saturday’s race, paying $7.80 on a $2 bet, meaning with my three remaining bets, based on $2 wagers ($6 total), I put $1.80 in my pocket.

Guess I’ll splurge and go for the large coffee – that is if and when my winnings are ever delivered.

On to the next leg of the Triple Crown and word this week that Pharoah is headed to Baltimore to run in the May 16 Preakness, along with the other two top finishers from Saturday’s race, Firing Line and Dortmund.

While I don’t care as much about the Preakness, I’ll go ahead and put a wager down on Pharoah to win, in hopes that he does and is able to move on to the third leg and eventually capture the Triple Crown with a third straight win in the June 6 running of the Belmont Stakes.

A Triple Crown winner would be nice.

No real action in the ring

As for last Saturday’s second big sporting event, the boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, well – let’s just say that while I did watch the 12 rounds that can’t be described as “action”, I at least enjoyed the company of several close friends who agreed that we would have been better off to have watched a replay of Rocky II.

At least the snacks were good.

Ansley’s big day

Lady Bulldog Ansley Stalcup put her “John Hancock” on the papers last week to accept the scholarship offer that will take her basketball career to the next level and now she will don the Asbury University uniform to play for the Eagles.

I’ve been to several of these signings over the past three decades to watch our young athletes go to the next level, but I’ll have to say that the crowd of folks on hand to watch, hug and congratulate Ansley was the largest and happiest group I’ve ever seen at a college signing.

That speaks for two points. First, the love that everyone who knows her has for Ansley and what she has meant for the Lady Dawg program for the past few years. Myself, I’ve certainly enjoyed covering her both on the roundball court as well as on the golf course but what makes it the most fun is not necessarily her athletic abilities, which are great, but her atitude and outlook.

If you look up the word “smile” in the dictionary, Ansley’s picture should be right there. She’s been one of the most enjoyable young ladies I’ve ever followed wearing the blue and white for Clinton County.

The crowd on hand also points to the close-knit, family atmosphere this group of young ladies had as a team – along with all of the parents. Watching Ansley reach this goal was clearly one of the highlights of the season for the Lady Bulldogs – players, coaches, parents and fans.

Again, congrats to Ansley, as well as to Mom and Dad – Trish and J.R.