Recent Derby Winners

Giacomo
Smarty Jones
Funny Cide
War Emblem
Monarchos
Fusaichi Pegasus
Charismatic
Real Quiet
Silver Charm
Grindstone
Thunder Gulch
Go For Gin
Sea Hero
Lil E. Tee
Strike the Gold
Unbridled

In reviewing that list its hard to point to a Derby winner and say "He doesnt belong." Giacomo would make that "He doesn't belong list" in my opinion. Second might be Go For Gin, but he certainly was a fast hard knocking horse that year. Charismatic was a bit of an enigma, he certainly jumped up Derby time and maybe he was hard to come up with. I still believe Lemon Drop Kid was a far better horse. Beaten five lengths, he proved it with a clearer run.

However with a couple exceptions, I don't think you can look at those Derby winners and not realize in retrospect, "Sure, he made sense." Granted some were erratic after their Derby wins, but they certainly fit and were not complete surprises with the exception of Giacomo. Which brings me to the value question. Theres always value in the Derby. The key is picking your winner, you can almost always eliminate over half the field. Except for last year...lol

Afleet Alex -3rd
Smarty Jones -1st
Funny Cide -1st
War Emblem -1st
Point Given/Monarchos Box
Anees -Also Ran
Menifee -2nd
Indian Charlie -3rd
Captain Bodgit -2nd
Cavonnier -2nd
Southern Rhythm-Also Ran
Jumron -4th
Sea Hero -1st
Lil E. Tee -1st
Strike the Gold-1st
Summer Squall -2nd
Easy Goer -2nd
Forty Niner -2nd