[Riot]

Winning the Derby is definitely preparation meets luck. Lukas keeps saying the Derby will flat-out humble you every time.

Why is the trainer who had his horse prepared and ready to move up being dissed so badly, along with the horse? This horse was slammed and pinched back five strides out of the gate - that particular "bad luck" that has taken out many a favorite in many a race. "Lost all chance at the start" - we hear that Derby after Derby.

Similar bad luck a little outside the eight post took out Dunkirk at the start. Fresian Fire was beaten up badly.

Not only did Borel change game plans, it worked. It worked because the trainer had his horse prepared for the opportunity. The horse - racing down that canyon of screaming that's the last 1/4 mile of the Derby, obviously has guts, little fear, trust in his jock, and the deep desire to win.

If people are going to be angry, why are they not angry at and dissing the trainers who were brazenly humbled, whose horses ended up poorly prepared (couldn't even pair up) and whose horses took people's money?

Actually, as gambling is a venture best maximized by cool objectivity and reason, I don't understand why anyone lets the emotion of anger take over. This race screamed chaos, and I doubt many would have bet proportionately the same amount out of their bankrolls into the pool if it were not the Derby.

Frustration, sure - because everyone would like have a piece of those payoffs. The Derby flat-out humbles gamblers every time, too.

Yes, I won absolutely zero on the Derby this year. Whiff ....

But I'm excited to see if the Canadian 2-year-old Champion has found some three-year-old form, or if May 2 was the highlight of his career. I still want to see how 10 horses or so out of the Derby do the rest of the year. There's alot to look forward to. From a sporting fan perspective, I can root for this little gelding.