Your best "top pick" Derby selection from the past
 

How many correct Derby picks did you have in the past? Since I've been playing (22 yrs.) I've only had three correct "on top" -
Spend A Buck '85 / Fusiachi Pegasus '00 / Barbaro '06
this race is the toughest to select in my opinion. :cool:

Strike the Gold '91
Silver Charm '97
Real Quiet '98
Smarty Jones '04
Barbaro '06

I've been playing the Derby for 14 yrs. I have been completely shut out with my top pick winning the Derby. The closest my top pick got winning the Derby was when Afleet Alex ran 3rd. I also agree this race is impossible to handicap.

I've only been actively betting the Derby for about four years now -- and the only one I got right was Smarty Jones.

Funny Cide in 2003 was my best "top pick".
The 3 years since then have been pretty bad. How bad you ask? Well let's just say that in '04.....I liked Friends Lake.

I have had some decent success.

Smarty Jones
Fu Peg
Thunder Gulch
Unbridled
Strike The Gold

So 5 out of 20 isnt too bad I guess.

1991 Hansel 10th- came back strong
1992 Lil E Tee 1st
1993 Sea Hero 1st - absolutely loved him
1994 Strodes Creek 2nd- believe he would have won on dry track
1995 Thunder Gulch 1st- loved him
1996 Grindstone 1s- liked the entry with Editor's Note
1997 Silver Charm 1st- very confident in this one
1998 Cape Town 5th- didn't think I'd ever lose after a recent run
1999 Cat Thief 3rd- ran big against the bias
2000 The Deputy 14th also liked More Than Ready 4th
2001 Point Given 5th - never liked one more, had him over Monarchos, Inky
2002 Perfect Drift 3rd- If I knew then what I know now
2003 Empire Maker 2nd
2004 The Cliff's Edge5th - can't believe I didn't bet Smarty
2005 Afleet Alex 3rd
2006 Sweetnorthernsaint 7th - flipped a coin over Barbaro

1995: Thunder Gulch/Tejano Run/Timber Country

2003 Funny Cide/Empire Maker/Peace Rules

2005: High Fly/Bellamy Road/Afleet Alex/Closing Argument as the 1-2-A-B with Giacomo as the Longshot Alert..

I have been picking for 17 Derbys and only have three correct.
* Lil E. Tee
* Go For Gin
* Real Quiet

I have had a tough run the last nine years.
I seem to have done better when I used to pick based off of names instead of trying to use my handicapping skills (or lack thereof).;)

My best from odds was Betting Monarchos in Feburary (before the Fla Derby) @ 30-1 odds......Matter of fact was the ONLY Debry Pool bet I ever made. Last years Exacta was a nice score with Barbarbo & Bluegrass cat!
Love to see them derby exacta pools when they cross the 20 million line...:D

Funny Cide
Barbaro

So don't pay any attention to my pick this year or next, but in 2009 look out!

Have had some very good success in the Derby.

2006: Barbaro 1st
2005: Afleet Alex 3rd
2004: Smarty Jones 1st
2003: Peace Rules 3rd
2002: Perfect Drift 3rd
2001: Congaree 3rd
2000: I don't remember who I tabbed on top, but it wasn't good
1999: Steven Got Even off the board
1998: Victory Gallop 2nd
1997: Silver Charm 1st
1996: Don't remember but it wasn't good
1995: Thunder Gulch 1st

Had Giacomo for the win, really only because the kid sitting beside us that afternoon was named Jack and I looked Giac. PPs over again and saw he had posted a pretty good Beyer at one pt. Put him in there w/ Bandini and Bellamy Rd for the exacta which didnt pan out. I guess Ive been lucky the last 3 years at the derby, handicapping the rest of the year has been mediocre

Easy Grades.





What can I say.....my derby opinion has been awful.




also picked Greater Good.

Can't remember the past but was absolutely convinced on Barbaro...had him bet to win and with Bluegrass Cat in a big exacta. He simply stood out for me based on his turn times and closing numbers in the preps.

Thunder Gulch. Got a new car with my winnings! It was a great day!

Hubby's was War Emblem.

I loved him too!

you would have lost $$ betting those 3 in 2002....

1995 Thunder Gulch
1996 Semoran
1997 Silver Charm 1st- very confident in this one
1998 Indian Charlie
1999 General Challenge
2000 Fu Peg
2001 Point Given
2002 Johannesburg...lol remeber saarland was the freakin favorite cause of breeding..lol
2003 Empire Maker
2004 lion heart
2005 Afleet Alex
2006 Barbaro

Haha nevermind, I get it... :D

LOVED THAT RACE! Probably one of the best IMO.

lion heart
bellamy road/afleet alex
sweetnorthernsaint

The great battle you're talking about was the 1999 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga and it was a terrific race. Unfortunately, VG was injured a few days later, blowing the handicap division wide-open, allowing Cat Thief to become one of the worst BC Classic winners ever three months later.

NT

I've been betting the Derby since 1990 and I'm 2 for 17.

Go For Gin - 1994
Monarchos - 2001

To save myself some embarrassment I'll refrain from posting the other 15 'top' picks.

War Emblem
Giacomo
Smarty
Barbaro

My one and only winner....Thunder Gulch - 1995...
I need to break this horrible streak!!!!!!

These are the only correct Derby winners I selected to win since 1980...

Pleasant Colony
Sunny's Halo
Swale
Alysheba
Strike the Gold

5 for 27...awesome and I'm obviously getting worse with age.

I was mad. I got tickets to that BC just so I could see VG. I still went though.

My mom was the big winner that day having Cat Thief.

We made her buy dinner on the way home. :) Spent all of her winnings.

I only 'returned' to horse racing in 2002 after a ten-year hiatus.

I picked War Emblem that year, and Smarty in 2004, and that's it. I liked Buddy Gil in 2003 (gelding angle, but the wrong gelding), Afleet Alex in 2005, and I hadn't a clue last year...This year I also expect to be clueless -- how do you pick out of this group? Heck, I don't even know which five to activate for RTTR. :confused:

I believe it was italian food. :)

spend a buck
real quiet
smarty jones