Every year the derby field is 3/4 E and E/P types.  Those are simply the types that do well enough in the qualifying races to get in.  That begs the question of why don’t more closer types win those preps.  I think it’s a combination of factors but to me the biggest factor is simply that it’s hard for them to get past the front runners in the shorter races so we never actually even see them in the derby.   I think also trainers will often take colts that maybe should be running a different style and turn them into stalkers in an effort to get in the starting gate.  The really good ones will get bred to fast mares and so it continues.

Hey bet. Hope all is well. Been a while. Yes I believe it was the correct answer. My picks have been horrible this prep season but I usually look for an upset. We are about due for another Giacamo or MTB year. Lets hope one of us gets it. Our local otb in Green Bay shut down which sucks big time but has saved me some cash :) Heading to the UP for the derby though. They just started horse racing bets and it is about an hour and a half from my home.

Hey North!  An hour and a half doesn’t sound too bad.  Might make it feel more like an event.  Believe it or not, it’s a pain to try to bet on the derby if you live in Louisville.  They turned the off track facility into some sort of casino and try to force everyone to go to CD to bet now.  I have a buddy that’s always going on Oaks Day though and he’s nice enough to place some bets for me if I can’t make it, which is almost always anymore.

I’m having that feeling too that we might be due for a big upset this year.  I was just looking at some charts (looking for closers lol) and it’s been 7 years (Orb) since the winner wasn’t within a head of the lead by the quarter pole, if they weren’t already in first.  

Giacomo won Derby and was named after rock star singer Sting's son.

What Travers winner was named after a beer ad slogan?

Regarding our conversation of finding a 2 yr old in sale. Seattle Slew as I mentioned elsewhere didn't look like much earlier as a baby. 

https://youtu.be/zwOImSrzmCg

Bambino Slew looked like a mule.

https://pin.it/1bviKzT

Hi Dogs,   was it Stay Thirsty in 2011

Lol Stay Thirsty my friend!

 Four eventual KD winner co-owners each write a potential name for their colt on pieces of paper while dining and asked their waitress to draw one name out of a cowboy hat.

Sounds like about as good a method as any.