I love the analysis from both @Dustin Korth and @Jack Price

I wish I had the time this week to look at the race but a long week of work, prepping to present at a conference next week, and my last hurrah coaching kid's sports (rugby!) started up this week.

At a quick glance I to like Mo Donegal and Creative Minister, but do see the opportunity for WTP to get loose and not look back. Should be a fun race to watch this year!

My ex-boss at work and I always joke that it is a prerequisite to be able to speak fluently in movie quotes. In fact, I give each one of my new hires a list of movies they really need to watch in order to fit in with the rest of the department, and in turn, they give me newer movies to watch too!

"Eric Stratton, Rush Chairman, damn glad to meet you."

Glad to meet all of you...

@RanchWest I love the Ross Perot reference... little known fact that in HS I played the tallest Ross Perot in a mock election add. I still remember my opening line that, due to poor editing of a VHS tape was then duplicated... "Hi, I'm Ross Perot. I'm no slicked-windbag-read-the-cue-card-politician. I'm a business man..." (second verse same as the first)

@Ken Fee I probably put Dave through heck with all the editing he had to do on that interview... but it was a lot of fun!

@Conley Thanks for your kind words in the other thread about my musings over the last six years at USR (wasn't going to name the site directly, but since you did....) I have always enjoyed writing about the mindset of handicapping and different mental approaches. Like at work... I can teach people to do what I do, but I can't teach them how to "get it".

@Dave Schwartz I only have one summer of coaching left! My run of Travel Soccer and basketball is over... but one more summer of (flag) rugby will be my swan song from making an impression on young adults unless someone wants me to take them all to the track instead of getting them out on the pitch!

Let's have some fun!!!

Congrats! That is going to be an amazing experience!

Another baseball quote I like is from Stan Musial. When asked his secret to being a great hitter, he replied, "Wait for your pitch and swing hard." — RanchWest

It is amazing how when folks integrate discipline into their handicapping, how the tides change for the better!

Love this quote!

I appreciate the kind words @Dave Schwartz ... but I am horrible at picking the Kentucky Derby (my niche has always been the Preakness). After the great Smarty Jones, I had a drought until Always Dreaming finally won to break my slump. I spend no more time on the Kentucky Derby than I do any other race (granted for the years I was paid to write about it, I had to make it sound sexy which took a little extra time and effort). I will admit that one well placed superfecta one year I didn't have the winner on top in my selections yielded a handsome payout (and the IRS agreed).

To me, "the work begins" as I set out on my new chapter of having an online presence in this great sport we love. Helping to educate, have constructive discussions, and learn a thing or two along the way (and probably turn the last 30+ years of my handicapping upside down).

Good luck to all those who have a good feeling or the data gives you an edge... I can't wait to see the discussions and points made for (and against) the contenders!

Good luck all - we are all going to need it as those horses pinball coming out of the gate!