More excited for the Derby or the Oaks?

[lownslow]

Im thinking the Oaks will be very interesting this year. Any thoughts?

[heavy]

The boys versus the girls, huh? I haven't even looked at the Oaks so I don't have a clue. Hell, I haven't paid much attention to the Derby for that matter. Too many distractions prepping for Biloxi and with crap going on here on the home front.

For those of you who don't know, the Oaks is for fillies only while the Derby is open to all horses, but colts usually dominate the race. The Derby is a furlong longer than the Oaks - 1/8th of a mile - because somewhere along the line someone decided the girls couldn't run as far as the boys. They also decided the girls couldn't carry as much weight as the boys so jockeys are limited to 121 pounds on the fillies - 123 pounds on colts in the Derby. Like 2 pounds is going to make a difference. Anyway, those are the big differences in the races - other than the purse, with the Derby payout being almost double that of the Oaks. Never mind. An owner or trainer would take either happily.

Okay, I'm going to go on a wild-ass 20-1 long shot call on the Derby and say the winner will be King Guillermo. He's finished in the top three in every race he's ever run, won the Tampa Bay Derby and finished second in the Arkansas Derby. How he comes off at 20-1 beats me. I guess it's the field he's up against. Definitely top 3 material with a decent post position. What the hell. $100 could win you $2000.

No idea on the Oaks.

[heavy]

Okay, I looked at the Oaks. Damn. Too close to call IMHO. Gamine looks unbeatable. Only question in my mind is whether she can last at that distance. Swiss Skydiver and Speech behind her. Could be any of those three. After that - good Lord at the longshots. LOL. Some crazy trifecta opportunities there.