just remember, rain is most likely going to be a factor.

i don't think there's an exaggerator-type here.

Fun derby story -- I was in the infield in 2004 when everyone's favorite Smarty Jones won... about an hour before the race went off, the skies opened and it poured rain -- nasty amounts of rain coming down, portions of the infield are getting flooded. There's not a lot of places to stay that are covered, so my friend and I hook up with this family that has a tarp, and they invite us to camp out under it. We're already completely soaked but happy to get out of the rain. The kid in the family, maybe 16-17, reaches into his pocket, pulls out a joint and asks if we want to light up. His mom says, "Not in front of me you don't!" He puts it back into his pocket. Next, reaches into his other pocket, pulls out a ziploc bag of whiskey and asks if we want some... we politely decline, the mom says nothing, he has a quick swig and then tells his parents he's going to go play in the mud. After about thirty minutes the rain passes, we bid our goodbyes and head out to the paddock area and then end up moving to the tunnel under the seating area. The parade of horses goes by and we are about five feet away from each horse, knowing that one of these horses is going to become a legend. Turn around and there's a men's bathroom that is about 30% filled with women trying to stay out of the rain. It was a good time.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

I got Irish War Cry. Fuck the British

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Hence this AM. giving you an idea of track conditions

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Not Classic Empire?

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

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"I honestly don't see a good bet on the board here."

An Accuweather forecast said the following about expected weather conditions tomorrow.

“While rain gear will be a good idea, [the race] does not look like a washout, and rainfall amounts should not be all that heavy,” Thompson said. “By post time for the Derby at 6:34 p.m. [EDT], there's a good chance it will be dry and the sun may even break through by then.” As a result, Thompson expects track conditions for the “Run for the Roses” to be listed as "good" or "fast."

Instead of precipitation, the wind may be a factor. “Winds will be out of the northwest at 7-14 mph [on Saturday],” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said. “Given the orientation of the track, the horses will have a bit of a head wind along the front stretch and a tail wind along the back stretch.”

Against that head wind, I would guess that the pace setters are going to tire more easily, tilting the race in favor of the deep closers. Looking at Lee, Sonneteer and Tapwrit deserve another look then. Sonneteer had the best workout for 4f of 22 horses that worked that distance on Monday. New York Post's Vic Cangialosi is surprisingly picking Looking at Lee third. His show finish in the Arkansas was indeed impressive, with the horse having to weave in and out of traffic. Add another furlong and he might have caught Classic Empire.

From what I've read there aren't any "mudders" in the field. I wouldn't be surprised if a long shot took it because of the terrain.

I have read some support for Hence even.

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

i hadn't read that; but it still leaves everything up in the air. i actually had forgotten Gormley ran on a wet track. but like the article says, not all wet tracks are equal.

classic empire could still be a safe bet.

My four are Always Dreaming, Hence, Girvin and Looking at Lee in that order.

I didn't like the way Irish War Cry finished the Wood Memorial, where he was just galloping. Going to need more tenacity to win this race. Plus, his time was slow, and he didn't beat anybody.

My side-plays are Thunder Snow, Tapwrit and Practical Joke.

Good Luck All!

like you you're approaching the game

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Good call, Walt. I didn't think Paradise Woods needed the lead and I sure didn't think Prat would ride her like that.

That's a fat exacta that wasn't that hard to have. I keyed my biggest bets with Paradise Woods up top, but I'm alive in the Double to Always Dreaming, Hence, Classic Empire, and Battle of Midway.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Don't know how much the slop played.. have the double going with Empire/McCraken/Practical Joke
have the Oaks/Woodford/Derby Bal a Baliw Empire/McCraken/Practical Joke

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Gunnevera guys....that's where I'm leaning right now.

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Anybody hear who Eddie O picked? I can't find anything on the interwebz except Eddie on a Eric & Kathy hour-long podcast. Pass.

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"This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen."

My only trip to The Downs (NOT for The Derby) was in the early 80's, and I only bet one horse, Ida's Son (my grandma was Ida). Won big.

IF they had come clean and said McCracken was purely from Kingpin, I think that sways my vote...

I'm at Arlington Park tonight. Made my bets for the Derby.

I have Girvin to win and Girvin, Classic Empire, McCracken and Thundersnow in a $1 trifecta box. The woman has McCracken to win.

Kentucky Oaks/Derby will-pays with Oaks winner Abel Tasman for $1 wager


1 Lookin At Lee $302.80
2 Thunder Snow $223.30
3 Fast and Accurate $1,195.00
4 Untrapped $799.10
5 Always Dreaming $73.00
6 State of Honor $714.90
7 Girvin $204.40
8 Hence $148.90
9 Irap $412.10
10 Gunnevera $76.00
11 Battle of Midway $387.20
12 Sonneteer $407.80
13 J Boys Echo $310.30
14 Classic Empire $73.40
15 McCraken $82.00
16 Tapwrit $235.90
17 Irish War Cry $69.90
18 Gormley $226.70
19 Practical Joke $191.90
20 Patch $668.70

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Battle of Midway.

I also have Irish War Cry & Gunnevera to win. I have trifectas with Hence, Battle of Midway, Irish War Cry and Always Dreaming, Gunnevera, & Battle of Midway.

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good luck

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

this might help out some newbies
http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170505/arlington-opens-10-tips-to-handicapping-the-horses-at-the-racetrack

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

well i don't know about eddie o, but this jody demling bloke seems to like Always Dreaming. he's had a good streak of picking past winners i guess, but this is such a wide open thing, especially because of the slop.

equibase likes frank's horse, battle of midway, and gormley.

i think speed figs and all that shit goes out the window when it comes to running in mud anyway.

The reason why Thunder Snow drifted down the stretch in the UAE is because he was distracted by the gate marks in the dirt, according to the jockey after the race. Well, he's not going to have that problem today. I still think he's one of the three best horses in the field along with Always Dreaming and Hence.

If Gunnerva runs today like he did in the Fountain of Youth, he's got a chance to win. Anything better than 10-1, let alone 15-1 would be a steal, and I will use him instead of Practical Joke and Tapwrit.

McCraken

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Exacta 5,11,14 / 5,10,11,14,18

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"I honestly don't see a good bet on the board here."

I made more bets this morning

5/8/14/15 Box with MANY other similar bets.

Wife and daughter also have bets on Thunder Snow and, of course, Patch.

There's a lot of fucking horses in this race. I guess that's better than having an overwhelming favorite.

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My brother bet on Thunder Snow. He is the luckiest person with gambling and has won nearly a grand by playing the lotto just this last month.

I remember our parent's taking us to the track when he was just a few years old and he wanted my Mom to put $20 on the 50-1 horse during the Arlington million because the horse made eye contact with him.We all laughed and thought it was cute and then the horse won.

If Thunder Snow wins this I might murder him.