The Japanese runner Derma Sotagake is owned by a …wait for it…dermatologist!  Sotogake is a sumo wrestling move. And somehow, those two things melded for the owners of the winner of the U.A.E. Derby. Unfortunately,  winners of that race have not fared well, or even hit the board in the Kentucky Derby. And, to add insult to injury, Derma Sotagake drew post #17. No horse has ever won from post #17. Ouch. However,  I believe he is the best horse the Japanese have ever brought to the Derby. 

 

I like Two Phil’s. He has given a decent account of himself on several different surfaces and at several tracks this side of the Mississippi. He has the highest distance Tomlinson number (400) in the race, which bodes well for him to get the grueling mile and a quarter.  And, he is in good form. He is coming in off a win in the Jeff Ruby over the synthetic at Turfway where Rich Strike ran his last prep for Derby last year.  But his name is an error at best and a grammatical insult to those of us who attempt to play by the rules. Two Phil’s? Did they mean Two Phils as in two people named Phil are owners? I know at least one is Phillip Sagan. Or did they mean Two Phils’ horse? Either way, the presence and/or positioning of the apostrophe is ALL WRONG! Luckily, the horse does not know or care. He will line up in post position #3 for Chicago-based trainer Larry Rivelli on Saturday with Jareth Loveberry up and apostrophes will not be a concern! Two Phil’s is a bit of a Cinderella horse. 

 

There is a sweet story behind the #9 Skinner’s name.  He drew into the race when Wild On Ice was injured last week and had to be euthanized. Not at all the way owners Lee and Susan Searing wanted to become eligible for the first Saturday in May. The Searings named their horse after one of their retired salesmen, Don Skinner. They hope he will be able to attend and see his namesake run. Skinner is trained by John Shireffs, who stunned the racing world in 2005 with Giacomo. Hmmm…

 

Kingsbarns is a village and an exclusive golf course in Scotland. It is a bit pricey to play, but I am told well worth the money. Kingsbarns the Derby contender is lightly raced but undefeated in his three careers starts. One of three Derby hopefuls for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Kingsbarns drew the dreaded post #6, which has the worst record per number of starts for any number in the race.

 

Finally, what is a mage? Well, it’s a magician, sorcerer, or someone with supernatural powers. Mage the Derby contender happens to be sired by Good Magic, hence the name! Mage drew an ideal spot at post position #8. Much like Kingsbarns, he is also lightly raced for trainer Gustavo Delgado. with two wins in three career starts. Mage may need a little help from the supernatural to win this one…but trip matters and he is sitting in the catbord seat. 

 

R.I.P. beautiful Wild On Ice. We will quietly whisper your name and toast your memory with ice-filled glasses of Mint Juleps as “My Old Kentucky Home” plays in the background.