Thanks so much to everyone for your birthday wishes and kind words. I appreciate it. As for Mr. Byk posting that it was my birthday, I will have to escort him to the wood shed the next time I see him.

One other matter that needs correcting. Although I appreciate Steve's words regarding my contributions to his becoming a racing journalist, it was his extreme passion, hard work, and knowledge of every aspect of the sport that got him to where he is now. I may have opened the door a crack, but he knocked it off its hinges busting in. OK, that's enough mush for one day.

Hope your birthday was a good one! I agree about Steve... he's very dedicated to this sport. We need more like him.

Happy Birthday. I enjoy your writing. Just one question though, why don't you do some type of list for the Kentucky Oaks and the fillies? Obviously it wouldn't get as many hits, but maybe an Oaks Dozen?

Unfortunately, you pretty much answered your own question -- not enough hits. Our editors want to concentrate their weekly features on the Derby, but I do agree with you that the Oaks seems to get forgotten every year. If Rags to Riches and Magnificence both wind up going, you'll see a major surge of interest for sure. But Magnificence is pretty far behind, so I wouldn't think that's going to happen, although you never know.

if coboult blue wins at hawthorne..in a good time or rather impressive..would he jump up in your top 10..pretty weak group this year..

He probably wouldn't move up that much, if at all. Not so much because of his performance and who he's running against, but because the ones ahead of him keep on running well. The only way he'd move up is if someone else runs poorly, or he shows that he can win from off the pace and come home in fast time. The horses he'll be running against do not appear to be of the caliber of those in the Top 10, so we still won't know how good he really is.

Happy Birthday ,Steve.....God knows you've always been there for me.

thanks..as everyone around here knows if chelokee gets in he will be my play

I have? I'm not sure how, but it's good to know.

He'll need some luck to get in, and if he does get in, he'll need a lot more luck than he's been getting. Terrible trip last time, as well as the race before, but he sure looked strong in the final furlong in both races.

Thanks so much, Cardus. I really appreciate it. Ah, the good old Friday column. The final commitment. But it is a fun column to write. It's always good to put the previous two weeks of observations into some kind of perspective and hope what you're seeing reflects on how the horses will run on Derby Day. It's just too bad so many horses ship in so late nowadays. Times certainly have changed from when most everyone was at the Downs two weeks out.

Oh come on now ,Steve.





DailyDoubleDave???

Don't you remember ?



Last year at Jacobs Field ..Indians/Orioles....seats right by the Tribe dugout with a tie game in the top of the ninth...bases loaded with 2 out and that easy bouncer nailed Pheralta right between the eyes?








Oh my God.



I'm sorry.



That was OffTrackEddie I was with.






I apologize.

I have no idea who you are....but a heartfelt wish for a most Happy Birthday to you....sir.