I will say this.....if somebody actucally has a STRONG opinion on who to key in the Derby, please inform me and tell me your reasons. This year's Derby is one of the toughest races to handicap I've ever seen, rivaling a typical BC Sprint. This is the main reason that I will not be a Harlan's Holiday fan on May 4 (or at least I won't be keying him).

I respect your opinions, Jim, despite the fact that you seem to get the goat of others in here. But it sounds like you kinda just ended up picking HH, without REALLY liking him. In fact, it almost sounds like you're trying to talk yourself into betting Essence Of Dubai, who certainly would be a bigger price and is a bit of a mystery.

Speaking of EOD, does anyone have any strong opinions regarding him, Johannesburg, or Castle Gandolfo? I do not buy into the media-driven theory that just because nobody has won the Derby without an American prep race it can't be done. It'll probably be done sometime and then we'll never hear about it again, similar to the way that Fusaichi Pegasus was being knocked heavily since favorites "never" win the Derby (and winners of the Wood Memorial, for that matter). He wins, then we don't hear any of that bullsh-- regarding Point Given or Congaree last year.

Anyway, I am interested in any strong opinions, whether they be from TG or Rag users. We all have the same goals, don't we?