Although the Derby is impossible to stay away from, as a handipping race its a bad proposition. So many things can happen that is it hard to even attempt to assign reasonable percentages to the possible outcome and make intelligent bets.

Remember, its 20 three-year-old colts going ten panels in the spring carrying 126 pounds in front of 100,000 screaming bourbon tipplers! Also, CD stepped up the drug testing. Hard to predict the outcome and hard to learn much from it either.

Nevertheless, I saw three things in the Derb worth remembering:

1. BR's 7th after suicidal fractions looks creditable. Given some rest, he may yet live up to his billing.

2. Afleet Alex showed guts despite a load of trouble. With a better trip, he juast might have won. (This phrase is accurate about one or more horses almost every year.

3. Anyone who predicted the pace to fall apart completely and Giacomo have to plod home, but cleanly, for the win may spend the money I put in the pool without any grudge on my part! Just don't blow backing G again!