Who’s Your Daddy? The WirePlayers Derby Dozen (Volume 5)
Yazan: Steve | 03 May 2012 | 1 Comment
Categories: Horse Racing
After four months of preps, I’m not sure we have a better handle on what will happen in the Derby than when we started. This isn’t because we haven’t been paying attention, it’s just there’s about a dozen horses in the race that look to have a chance to win. Once you consider horses that [...]
Horseplayer Paradise – WirePlayers Derby Dozen Volume IV
Yazan: Steve | 11 April 2012 | Comments Off
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Our Derby Dozen panel is filled with astute folks that understand the game and appreciate its complex history. But we are not of one mind when it comes to the top Derby contender (i.e., the most likely winner). No sir, 6 of the 12 horses on our list received #1 votes and none more than [...]
A Cause Worth Celebrating – WirePlayers Derby Dozen Volume III
Yazan: Steve | 14 March 2012 | 3 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
New and improved, this edition of the Derby Dozen has three times more Baffert. Perhaps suffering a tongue lashing from the Mrs after being shut out of Volume II, Baffert raised his game. He came back strong to sweep both divisions of the Southwest Stakes and his BODEMEISTER finished a game 2nd in the San [...]
What’s New? It’s WirePlayers Derby Dozen Volume II
Yazan: Steve | 23 February 2012 | 2 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
Boy how time flies, the Derby preps are heating up and here we are with Volume II of our Derby Dozen. After reading this list you may notice two things: 1) Bob Baffert is not very well represented (or is he?). 2) There are a couple of dudes (and I know who they are) who [...]
Your Guide to KY Derby Glory – WirePlayers Derby Dozen Volume I
Yazan: Steve | 01 February 2012 | 6 Comments
Categories: Handicapping, Horse Racing
Yes friends, it’s here again, Derby Road. While hopeful owners, trainers, and jockeys well . . ., jockey for a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate, we’re here passing judgement with our Derby Dozen list. Sure, we offer the perfunctory 1 to 12 ranking you’ll find most anywhere, but our list offers opinions by [...]
2012 Kentucky Derby Prep Race Schedule
Yazan: Steve | 26 January 2012 | Comments Off
Categories: Horse Racing
This is my 2012 Kentucky Derby prep race schedule. There are many like it, but this one is mine. The Kentucky Derby is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. The Kentucky Derby, without me, is useless. Without the Kentucky Derby, I am useless. Ok, [...]
Gasping for the Wire – Derby Dozen Volume VI
Yazan: Steve | 04 May 2011 | 7 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
The Derby prep season is usually a war of attrition and this year holds form. In fact, we had our final vote just before Derby contender TOBY’s CORNER backed out due to an injury. What remains is a race with a rather ordinary field and few clear standouts. It looks like DIALED IN will take [...]
UNCLE MO Gets Taken to the Wood Shed – Derby Dozen Volume V
Yazan: Steve | 12 April 2011 | Comments Off
Categories: Horse Racing
A topsy turvy three weeks has muddied the Derby picture somewhat. UNCLE MO’s surprising loss to a seemingly overmatched field in the Wood Memorial last weekend had some blaming trainer Todd Pletcher for his conservative training approach. Or maybe MO just isn’t a 9 furlong horse, never mind 10. He’s by Indian Charlie after all; [...]
WirePlayers Derby Dozen Volume IV – No Spin Zone My Ass
Yazan: Steve | 23 March 2011 | 8 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
Back from a trip to Sal Sagev and still trying to find my bearings – my head is in a daze and my knees are a little wobbly. Between throwing dice, firing back irish car bombs, and stuffing my gullet with $7 steaks, I found time to watch the Rebel Stakes. THE FACTOR’s performance impressed [...]
The Golden Sheen of Derby Dozen Volume III
Yazan: Steve | 02 March 2011 | Comments Off
Categories: Horse Racing
Here’s the WirePlayers Derby Dozen shinning like a rock star in the distance. You try to reach for it, but it’s beyond the grasp of mere mortals. And if you were to fully comprehend the full power of this list, it might melt your mind. This isn’t to say it’s greatness is beyond reproach. For [...]
WirePlayers Derby Dozen Volume II – Getting DIALED IN!
Yazan: Steve | 09 February 2011 | 3 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
We know it’s dang early, but DIALED IN just demonstrated a powerful turn of foot. Not on Gulstream Park’s main track, but more importantly, in our Derby Dozen poll. What would a WirePlayers Derby Dozen poll be without insightful commentary and opinions from our esteemed panel. And for good measure, I added my own addled [...]
It’s Back – The 2011 Derby Dozen!
Yazan: Steve | 19 January 2011 | 9 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
Buckle up folks, here comes Volume I of the 2011 WirePlayers Derby Dozen. I’ve enlisted friends from the blogosphere, Twittersphere, and Facebookosphere to track the leading Kentucky Derby contenders. With so many “Derby Dozen” lists out, why is this different? Because this one is “crowd sourced” – well, kinda anyway. It’s not based on one [...]
Worth the Wait – Derby Dozen Volume VIII
Yazan: Steve | 29 April 2010 | 8 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
The time is at hand to finally see who’s the best three-year old in the land. And then the next day, they’ll run the KY Derby. (rim shot please) For bragging rights (or shame if their horse finishes last), here’s our top Derby picks: LOOKIN AT LUCKY – Geno, Carly, Rob, Jessica, Brian A. AMERICAN [...]
Down to the Nitty Gritty, Derby Dozen Volume VI Isn’t Too . . . Shabby
Yazan: Steve | 30 March 2010 | 9 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
Right now the WirePlayers Derby Dozen is a two horse race between west coast-based LOOKIN AT LUCKY and east coaster ESKENDEREYA. Charging hard is ODYSSEUS, who joins AWESOME ACT and NOBLE’S PROMISE in the second tier. Saturday’s Wood Memorial and Santa Anita Derby will prove if “Lucky” and “Esky” are truly the dominant contenders our [...]
Derby Dozen Volume V Has Arrived
Yazan: Steve | 16 March 2010 | 7 Comments
Categories: Horse Racing
After spending two weeks in second place behind ESKENDEREYA after the previous poll, LOOKIN AT LUCKY reasserted his dominance over the WirePlayers Derby Dozen. Although he only beat NOBLE’S PROMISE by a whisker, you can argue LUCKY’s victory was more impressive than ESKENDEREYA’s romp in the Fountain of Youth. LUCKY got jostled on the [...]
