Muddy Derby

The weather here in Kentucky has been anything but nice.  Rain and clouds have been never ending and some of us are wondering if it will ever stop.  We are just a little over a week before the 135th Kentucky Derby, one of the most glorious times in this state, and the picture for the Derby seems as muddy as the racetracks that these 3 year olds are training over.  No super horse has emerged to capture the public's imagination and therefore the prospect of a Triple Crown Champion seems as dim as the weather.

Uncle Mo, the 2 year old champion was poised to shoulder the mantel of greatness until he hooked and lost to a mediocre field in New York in the Wood.  Dialed In, a lightly raced winner of the Florida Derby is now the favorite but luke warm at best.  The Factor was supposed to be the next great thing until he was beaten in the Arkansas, and now he's not even going to run.  Archarcharch was the surprise winner and now looks like the sentimental favorite because of his connections,  Pants On Fire, because of the name will get some play but nothing is solid there.  Several other contenders are waiting to get their turn, hopefully in the sun, but are they contenders or pretenders?

So, the 135th Kentucky Derby is much like our weather cloudy and rainy.  However, come May 7th at around late afternoon, we all hope the clouds part, the sun shines bright, and one of these young colts will dapple in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs, and maybe that colt's future will outshine a muddy start to Derby week.