135th Kentucky Derby Final Predictions

I have been disheveled ever since the announcement came that QUALITY ROAD would not be running in the 135th Kentucky Derby. But, it is not time to throw in the towel, instead I am going to attempt the improbable. The inconceivable!

You’ve heard of the attempt for the perfect bracket during March Madness, well here’s my attempt for the perfect Derby! From the last place horse, all the way up to the winner, here are my final Kentucky Derby 135 predicts. The entire Pinkie staff will be chiming in a little later in the week with their picks.

I WANT REVENGE, the Wood Memorial winner and 3-1 morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby, will break from post position 13 in Saturday’s fabled classic at Churchill Downs.

HOLD ME BACK will start from post position five, and jumped from 10th in my inital rundown, all the way up to sixth last week; where will he end up on Saturday?

Bobby E’s 135th Kentucky Derby Predicted Finish

20. SUMMER BIRD – PP:17 – Sorry, birds don’t belong racin’ horses.

19. MINE THAT BIRD – PP:8 – Sorry, birds don’t belong racin’ horses.

18. WEST SIDE BERNIE – PP:1 – On the rail is NOT a desirable place to be when the gates fly open and you hear “AND THEY’RE OFF!”

17. FLYING PRIVATE – PP:20 – Ditto for the 20th and final post position. Just too many bodies to try and get out in front of.

16. JOIN IN THE DANCE – PP:9 – All this horse will be doing is joining in the dance, third of Todd Pletcher’s three entries.

15. MR. HOT STUFF – PP:3 – He is COLONEL JOHN’S full brother, but with only one victory (over maidens) in seven lifetime starts, eh, not too hot.

14. ATOMIC RAIN – PP:14 – Will start in fourteenth and end up there.

13. ADVICE – PP:4 – Here’s some advice, don’t pick ADVICE.

12. REGAL RANSOM – PP:10 – One of two Godolphin horses in the race, and winner of the UAE Derby (not the Florida, Santa Anita or Arkansas derbys).

11. NOWHERE TO HIDE – PP:18 – Nick Zito did his best to hide for this year’s Run for the Roses, but a last second withdraw by WIN WILLY propelled the Z-man into the Derby once more.

10. GENERAL QUARTERS – PP:12 – A top 10 finish based solely on his jockey, Julien Leparoux.

9. PAPA CLEM – PP:16 – Not a bad pony, but his post position will hurt him in trying to get to the front.

8. MUSKET MAN – PP:2 – Like PAPA CLEM, will be hurt by his position out of the starting gate.

7. CHOCOLATE CANDY – PP:7 – Don’t like the hypocritcal nature of this horse’s name (see here), but it isn’t all in the name…

6. DESERT PARTY – PP:19 – Godolphin’s other entry, this horse is this high based solely on the recommendation of John Asher.

5. DUNKIRK – PP:15 – Never count out Todd Pletcher, UNBRIDLED’s son or gray colts.

4. PIONEEROF THE NILE – PP:7 – Not a gray colt, but a silver-haired trainer named Bob Baffert. The lack of a space between “PIONEER” and “OF” almost makes me hate this horse.

3. I WANT REVENGE – PP:13 – Lucky number 13. Nineteen-year old jockey Joe Talamo has promised to donated 25% of his purse earnings to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans if he wins. Let’s hope he does the same even with his third place showing.

2. HOLD ME BACK – PP:5 – Unfortunately for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and jockey Kent Desormeaux, this horse will be held back just a nose too much behind the winner…

1. FRIESAN FIRE – PP:6 – Larry Jones has had his share of heartbreak and heartache, and will finally taste the Winner’s Circle with this horse, ridden by Gabriel Saez. Jones, from Hop-Town, KY and currently residing in Henderson finished second in the 2007 Derby with HARD SPUN and then second again last year, this time tragically, with EIGHT BELLES. This go-round, Larry will finish second-to-none.