Kentucky’s biggest sporting event

Believe it or not, most of the world isn’t really that upset when the Kentucky Wildcats don’t win a championship or even make a Final Four in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

However, the sporting event that does turn everyone’s head toward our Bluegrass state is on the board for this weekend and is of course tagged the “Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” – the Kentucky Derby.

Right off the bat I’ll note that I’m not an expert of the track by any means, but I’ve had pretty good luck with my yearly picks, so once again, as an annual tradition, here goes.

I’ll also warn you here and now, if I were you and were listening to me as to which horse(s) to bet on, I wouldn’t wager more than $2 in any case, although I will probably put down a little more than that.

I used to bet using three rules – any horse that Pat Day was riding, the best horse that Bob Baffert had trained, and the horse with the catchiest name in the field.

The drawback to writing this column on Tuesday morning the week of the Derby, is that the post positions haven’t been drawn yet, and in the end, where the horse is breaking out of the gate can make or break a race.

So, for 2019’s Run for the Roses – here goes.

1. I like Bob Baffert’s Roadster – the horse he has that as of Tuesday morning, was his entry with the best odds.

With three wins in four starts, and a third place finish as well, Roadster will run with Florent Geroux up.

2. Omaha Beach – Jockey Mike Smith is my new Pat Day, he simply knows how to handle his horse. Don’t know much more about him but his resume is certainly impressive with three wins, three seconds and a third place finish in seven starts. While I’ll probably bet him to win, he might be an even better “place” bet.

3. War of Will – this one is my “best name in the field” pick for 2019. A middle of the pack horse as far as odds go, War of Will is another Kentucky born horse – there are only two this year that aren’t Kentucky born – he’s got three wins in five starts, all on the dirt. Why he has the best name in the field – some lake friends from Indiana have a toddler, their first born, who is a favorite of his “Uncle Al” and finds my lap one of his favorite boat riding spots on Dale Hollow. His name, of course, Will.

There you have it, and again, don’t bet the farm on this advice, but again, I’ve got a decent record.

Next week, we’ll take a look at how these horses did and how the race went as a whole.

Post time for this 145th Run for the Roses is 5:50 p.m, Central time.

Good luck!

In the meantime – let’s take it outside for a few months!