We both said that was one amazing race and maybe one of the best with the story lines. So Happy finished 8 lengthens behind. We wanted so bad to see Great White. That dude is 5 feet 11 inches tall 1370 pounds. We have a really big old rescue race horse that is real big, but great white is a foot taller. Our horse sold for 350k at 1 year, then 150k at 2 (hurt), then 50k. He has bad feet, but the dude can run like any horse we ever seen. His father won races in Dubai.

$350k means he must have strong lineage.

it is funny that you go to the horse registry, and he is no longer there. There is a new Noble Commander which is strange when we looked at why his name could be reused. His father was Harlem Holiday who (from AI): Stakes Wins: 2003 Donn Handicap (G1), 2002 Pennsylvania Derby (G3), 2002 Blue Grass Stakes (G1), 2002 Florida Derby (G1), 2001 Iroquois Stakes (G3). Other Notable Performances: 2nd in the 2003 Dubai World Cup. Sire Success: He was a leading juvenile sire in North America, notably siring Into Mischief, Shanghai Bobby (Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner), Summer Applause, and Willcox Inn. Our Noble Commander we rescued. As a yearling, he was sold for 375k As a two year old, he was sold for 135 k As a three year old, he was sold for 1500 He obviously got hurt and has really flat feet. I have to take care of his feet today and he is a special needs horse but still ridable. I will repeat, he runs like the win with a nice gait. We had plenty of people ride him and they say he is so comfortable but a real locomotive since he is huge with a big belly like Great White. He is 16 3. We believe his name was reused because he never made it to an actual race. He got hurt too early in his life. ** Edited by VaTechie at 5/4/2026, 12:28:34 AM

** Edited by VaTechie at 5/3/2026, 12:18:33 PM

I should have listened to my own advice. My first comment below is something like “never bet against the Ortiz’s”. A few minutes before post time, I sent this text to my sister, “The Annoyed Handicapper”. “Ocelli is a most beautiful horse. I was watching FanDuel Thursday when they announced that Ocelli had been scratched from whatever CD race he was about to run so that he could enter the Derby. They showed him being led away to the stables. He looked like a king. Impressive looking horse.” If I followed my inner voice, I would have had the trifecta and $11,000 of imaginary money.

next to last in most of his previous races.

1-0-2 He raced at Fairgrounds (New Orleans) for all three. He’s shown to be a deep closer, as he demonstrated yesterday. Having a top jockey on him- a jockey known for his tactical prowess, should have unstuck me from my preconceived bad picks.

I didn’t stop to think how he got into the Derby if he’d been so slow. ** Edited by PhotoHokieNC at 5/3/2026, 10:17:31 AM

Go against Ortiz at your own risk. Yesterday, Irad (Renegade) and Jose (Golden Tempo) won 8 of the 11 races. The brothers are special jockeys. Other Stuff: Renegade and Further Ado had the most impressive stakes wins leading up to the Derby. Commandment seems to know how to navigate a crowd for a tough win. So Happy has Karma on his side. Tough trainer story. The greatest modern jockey (Mike Smith). I'm picking Renegade (despite the cursed post position*), Emerging Market, and Chief Wallabee for no solid reason. The top 7/8 horses all stand a decent chance of winning. Plus, I guarantee that at least one or two longer-shots will be right in the mix. That's why I also like a horse like Golden Tempo and Incredibolt (VA Derby winner). Betting on the Kentucky Derby is nothing more than a crapshoot. The horses are the best. The trainers are the best. The jockeys are the best. This year, the overall field is strong. * #1 post position-- Rarely wins. However, Churchill Downs moved their starting gates out from the rail in 2019/20. Now the #1 post horse has a better and more fair chance to enter the race on their own terms. ** Edited by Newt at 5/2/2026, 6:19:14 PM

Had no idea and was one of the most absolute nice guys I ever worked with. Pinged him earlier and he is at the Derby

Two thumbs up for Cadillac closing the gap to the midfield. Checo was mixing it up with the midfield runners before he ran out of tires and started sliding back with Aston Martin.

regulation change shaking up the order, or just racing. Let’s see what happens tomorrow I guess. Hope for rain.

McLaren and Ferrari closed the gap to Mercedes thanks to their upgrades. (RBR did too, but they are still the #4 team.) Mercedes didn't bring upgrades this weekend. They're waiting for Canada to jump back ahead of the field...lol

couple of drivers.

we're fresh outta bourbon.