Say What?

- I know that the White House has already settled on Tony Snow to be their new press secretary, but perhaps they should consider Steve Haskin as an expert in talking out of both sides of his mouth. I read his Derby analysis, and I still don’t really know who he likes. He’s going to have a saver on Private Vow; he likes AP Warrior, Barbaro, Sweetnorthernsaint, and Laywer Ron in an exacta box. But he’ll also box Bob and John, AP Warrior, Point Determined, and Sinister Minister. He said that Jazil is worth a win wager. As is Bob and John if he’s over 10 or 12-1 (I think he will be). He tabs AP Warrior for the betting angle, and then concedes that he may be overbet. He likes Barbaro and SNS for their workouts, and Lawyer Ron because he knows how to win. Then he says that SNS is the one horse who is dominant in works and in the handicapping angle. And then, he concludes with what is basically a disclaimer saying that none of this might mean anything because Sinister Minister might just run away with the race.

This is a man who has just spent FAR too much time on this, and it shows. He's a nice guy I'm sure, but he's downright delirious! I just hope he can chill and relax a little and enjoy the race. After all, he'll have a bet on half the field!

As far as Sin Min goes, wouldn’t it be a riot if he does indeed run away with this race? Imagine all the sweat and tears that we’ve all gone into handicapping and betting this thing going down the drain. There were rumors about his soundness earlier in the week, and Baffert admitted today that he had popped an abscess in a foot last Tuesday.

"But everything's OK now. He's back on it now. Man, is he back on it."

The high-strung Sinister Minister had been on the muscle for his gallop and appears ready - and then some - for his Derby ramble, where he is expected to either set the pace or be among the leaders. [Bloodhorse]

One thing I must say – I do respect everyone’s opinion on who they like in the race; there are no “wrong” opinions (except maybe mine). Steve Klein in the Form picks Sin Min to win. I disagree, but that's fine. But he also claims flatly that there was “no speed bias” at Keeneland the day of the Blue Grass, and I would say that that’s just a bunch of baloney that's not worth the paper it's written on. And I’m not even going to waste my time explaining why, again.

- Last year’s two-year old filly champ Folklore has been retired due to a fractured knee. One of her rivals last year was Pletcher’s Adieu (El Corredor), who had beaten the champ twice before running poorly in the Juvenile Fillies. Adieu makes her first start since that race tomorrow in the 7 1/2 furlong G3 La Troienne on the Derby undercard. We know how Pletcher can bring these horses back off layoffs, and she seems to stack up well against this field. One filly who does look tough though is Darley Stable’s Beholden (Cat Thief). She was a $700K two-year old in training purchase who has never run poorly, and put it all together in her last race when rated for the first time; she came on to win at the Gulf despite being four wide. Sweet Belle was up the track against Balance in the SA Oaks, but had shown fine form in her three starts up until then.

Man, there’s a lot of racing tomorrow around the country; but why? Wouldn’t it be cool if the only racing was at Churchill, and the other tracks just threw Derby parties? There’s a million dollar pick 4 and a pick 3 for a half million tomorrow; but if everyone was betting only on the Churchill races, imagine how big those pools could be.