Your best "top pick" Derby selection from the past

[philcski]

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

[stonegossard]

Easy Grades.





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




also picked Greater Good.

[flifishri]

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.

[Buffymommy]

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

Hubby's was War Emblem.

[Seattleallstar]

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

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Close calls: Victory Gallop.

I loved him too!

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Didn't he have a great battle against Behrens in the 1998 Stephen Foster?

LOVED THAT RACE! Probably one of the best IMO.

[ddthetide]

lion heart
bellamy road/afleet alex
sweetnorthernsaint

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Cardus

I picked up on him in Arkansas. I figured that any horse who won the Laurel Futurity -- which in 1997 was at 1 1/8 on the dirt -- loved longer distances.

He was awesome!

Lost in the 1998 BC Classic was his near miss (4th, one length) off of a long layoff (Travers Stakes).

Didn't he have a great battle against Behrens in the 1998 Stephen Foster?

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

[shanej974]

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.

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

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 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.