Most of jockeys I like have retired or are near to it. 
I always liked Bejarano, he has gifted hands. 
And would LOVE to see Edgar Prado ride in another Belmont Stakes. 
Garrett Gomez was brilliant. 

I always liked Calvin Borel......what's not to like?  I mean, really.   I have a soft spot for the cajuns, haivng lived among them for many years. Most generous people in the world, and good-hearted. 

------Off topic but case in point: There's "authentic cajun" and then there are the pretenders. 
When South Louisiana food became "in", you'd go to these newer restaurants w/ 4 different menus with photos, colors, tags, people laughing so you have to really go through all the bs just to find what you want.  They all have those photos like when I used to work with on Madison Ave., right?  SLICK.   So you order what they tout as a Bucket O'Shrimp with a photo of a tin bucket the size of two quarts so you think you are getting THAT bucket filled with shrimp.  Then the bucket o'shrimp comes to the table and it is not filled with shrimp....there is an insert that is like a small plastic bowl that fits inside the real bucket and holds about 12 shrimp. You are really just getting a "Small plastic bowl O'Shrimp".  Inside a real bucket.

Now, if you are used to the *real* South Louisiana, they don't cotton to that scam. I can't even imagine Breaux's in Lafayetter serving  a fake bucket of 12 shrimp when it looks like a 2 quart bucket filled with shrimp.  People  would fricking shoot ya, I mean no self-respecting authentic cajun restaurant operates like that.   Real Cajuns don't mess around when it comes to eating.  They boil up 50 lbs. of shrimp, spill 5 lbs into a REAL washtub and then pour it out on your table.  And their menu is like 4 items, typewritten on 1 piece of paper:
Shrimp    $12
Crabs      $14
Crawfish  $13
Fried fish  $13


So, Calvin is more like Breauxs.  So is Desormeaux, except he's got demons to battle.  

I believe Bejarano will be riding Hidden Stash.....into 3rd place!

Not seein' Hidden stash yet at this point but I'll upgrade him based on rider   :) 

This is an interesting post by Barbara Livingston.......his MO........

https://twitter.com/DRFLivingston/status/1383915609256206354

Did you see Midnight Bourbon got loose for a while yesterday.He seemed to enjoy himself

Hidden Stash posted a higher bris at 1 1/16 vs 1 1/8 this year. FYI we have discussed this in the past that when that happens they typically do not hit the trifecta.

Good to hear about the weather on May 1. 

Looks like the rain late April will be it. But...There is a big card on Friday and the stepping might not be totally corrected 'a machina.*

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I'm gonna start out with the notion that on a given day  about 3 Favs of a 9 card Win.

I'm taking a look back at when Ky Derby fav did not win for 20 yes.

I'm Lookin at 7 Derby winners M/L + post favorite win. *DQ +.

Last not fav 2012 I'll Have Another. 

Yet, the consecutive conundrum syndrome was would the same jock, first Derby mount on IHA scores a win; and would his next leg up in the saddle with Nyquist be..Another? And yes it was. Gotta be a record as of late.

The 2 recent long shot 50-1 Derby winners had the quintessential riders aboard Giacomo/Mike Smith and Mine That Bird/Mr Kentucky Derby Cal Borel.

And WADR. .if this Derby turns into the favorite breaking the Win streak of 7. Not  winning or worse..IN A ROW..it will be due to premise above...surgical ride by top jocks. Yet..Fav jock is top fav and did *win ridding Max Security.

To be continued.

Northof64 said...

Hidden Stash posted a higher bris at 1 1/16 vs 1 1/8 this year. FYI we have discussed this in the past that when that happens they typically do not hit the trifecta.

Yup, remember the year we started that experiment together. Who else?

What did you think about my new theory about checking sprinting speed as youngsters?   Seems like that would clue in to something, but not really sure.  LOL  Yes, they have moved on to routing......but what if they have to squeeze that last bit o' speed out at the very end?  Would not high speed sprinting abilitiy help there?