I am not some huge horse racing fan. I tune into all the Triple Crown races, the Breeders Cup and have been to the Belmont and Saratoga multiple times. Whatever kind of level horse racing fan that is chalk me up to that level of fan. I think horses are one of the most majestic animals on the planet. I think the end of a horse race is one of the most exciting things in sports. And I absolutely love a day at the track betting on horses that you know zip about. On the eve of the Kentucky Derby this was a great extra draft to have dropped in on random notice and was a fun listen for the horse racing fan or not. On to join the Chicago guys (minus Chief due a wedding, which was disappointing because Chief is a big horse guy) was Reags for his second appearance and the Ice Man himself, El Pres’ right hand man, Elio.
Draft Order- 1. Carl 2. Bobby Reags 3. Elio 4. WSD 5. Eddie
Round 1
Pick 1: Carl, Kentucky Derby
Grade- And They’re Off
Carl said he was up against it being a novice horse racing fan compared to some experts drafting, so he went with a fastball to start things off. The reason this draft is being done is because the Kentucky Derby is today. It kicks off the Triple Crown. It is the official weekend that announces summer is here. You can’t go wrong taking the Derby first, seeing how rounds 1 and 2 play out before making your wrap around picks at 10/11.
Pick 2: Reags, The Home Stretch
Grade- Electric
There are exciting moments throughout all sports. Two minute drill with no time outs. Bases loaded in the 9th. Final possession with the shot clock off. Sudden death NHL playoff OT. All of those are phenomenal sports moments. There is something about those majestic beasts turning that corner and barreling down the home stretch that is different than all of the other moments. Heart racing. Blood pumping. Great pick from Reags.
Pick 3: Elio, American Pharaoh
Grade- GOAT
Not only did American Pharaoh win the Triple Crown, he followed it with the Breeders Cup Classic win to become the first horse to win the Grand Slam of Horse Racing. The greatest horse to ever race. Absolute first round value. Ice Man off to a hot start.
Pick 4: WSD, Winning The Triple Crown
Grade- Captivating
The idea of a horse winning the Triple Crown is one of the more captivating things in sports outside of the big four. If a horse wins the first two legs that final race grabs the sports world by the balls and becomes must watch TV. I went to the Belmont when Ill Have Another was supposed to run for the TC but withdrew the day before, was a huge bummer to not even get the shot to see history. Still a hell of a day.
Pick 5: Eddie, Creatures of the OTB
Grade- IYKYK
Creatures is the perfect word to use here. Just full of creatures. OTBs, WalMarts, Old Country Buffets. Creature havens. The OTB in my hometown had a driving range, don’t even think they had a cart that picked up balls, just think someone walked around and picked them up at the end of the day. OTBs are not your everyday scene, they are not for the faint of heart, but they are the lifeblood of horse racing.
Round 1- I don’t think there is a way to win or lose this draft this round. 5 awesome picks, different strategies on how to start their boards, a strong first round overall.
Round 2
Pick 6: Eddie, Ripped Up Tickets
Grade- Sadness
Some people just like to watch the world burn. Ed is hitting a specific side of horse racing and both picks are great. For all the big winners of any day at the track, there are a thousand losers that create a sea of ripped tickets. If you got drunk enough where your visions a little blurred you may think there was a blizzard that hit as you leave the track. Way more people can relate to tossing tickets than cashing them.
Pick 7: WSD, Infield Party
Grade- Bucket List
The infield of a horse race and a nascar race are two bucket list sport event experiences for me. They look like a hoot of a time. Beer, mud and betting horses. Ever scene from the Infield at the big races is exactly that, a scene. It is the exact opposite of what you expect horse racing to be, and that’s why it’s perfect.
Pick 8: Elio, Breeders Cup
Grade- Best Non-Triple Crown Pick Available
Carl leading off with the Derby makes it tough to take the Preakness or Belmont. Once one went off the board, the others became inferior picks, even though they aren’t inferior races by any means. Ellio went and got the other race that still will play. The Breeders Cup is like the PGA championship, the 5th major. It’s not part of the Triple Crown but a prestigious race all on its own. You need a well rounded, yet strong board, and Elio is building that so far.
Pick 9: Reags, Horse Names
Grade- Handsome Hank
You don’t have to be a fan of horse racing in any way to have thought about what you would name your horse. As long as you know horse racing exists, you have thought of this sentiment. Horse Names are so powerful and influential. A good name will make you jump on a bet you have no business taking, but look at that name. You never know what name you will see on a race card on any given day. Reags crushing his first two picks.
Pick 10: Carl, Photo Finish
Grade- Electric
The excitement surrounding a photo finish is next level. No idea which horse one the race. Horses marching around the track waiting for a result. A fever pitch at the track not knowing what the outcome was. Two horses, or maybe more, separated by such a small margin after nearly a mile or more of racing, you need a freeze frame image to determine who wins. Talk about an underrated moment in sports.
Round 2- 10 for 10 across the board for these 5 so far. Each guy nailed their first two picks. They are neck and neck through 2 rounds.
Round 3
Pick 11: Carl, Bob Baffert
Grade- Legend
I am a less than novice horse racing fan, and I still know this Ashely Shaffer BWM looking mf-er. The straight white hair, always seems to have sunglasses on, always in the mix of every big horse racing weekend. Bob Baffert is a synonymous name in horse racing.
Pick 12: Reags, Track Program Person
Grade- Above My Head
This is a pick for a much bigger fan of horse racing than me. I have not been to nearly enough races for this to be a thing but I very much understood the premise of it by Reags explanation. I think of a baseball program guy, quick transaction on the way through the gates. This kind of relationship sounds like a great one and a cool and unique thing for the big time race goer.
Pick 13: Elio, TED Racing
Grade- Early
If Ellio wanted this on his board he should have just penciled it in for the 5th round. Does he care? No. But I do think that this is too early for such a niched pick like this, and a pick that was not going to come off the board from anyone beside Ellio. If there is one thing that could get Portnoy back into TED Racing it would be the prospect of WSD taking over the D in TED racing.
Pick 14: WSD, Acting Like You Know How To Read The Program
Grade- Acting Like You Know How To Draft
Can I read a program? No. Would I expect Dave to know how to? Yes. This is one of the picks that just kills a good start to the draft for Dave. Reags just took a program related pick. This is easily available in the 5th round like Ellios pick. There were so many better picks available here.
Pick 15: Eddie, TVG
Grade- Standard Def.
Everything on TVG looks like it’s on an old school 12inch TV with an antenna. TVG and Horse Betting go together like lamb and tuna fish. If you are tuned into to TVG and got money on some random race you are deep into horse betting. Ed is staying course to the theme of his draft.
Round 3- Elio and WSD dropped to the back of the pack in this round. Can they crack the whip and make up ground in rounds 4 and 5? Most definitely, but this is the first round we can see some separation.
Round 4
Pick 16: Eddie, Race Announcers
Grade- Out of Breathe
There are different styles of announcing throughout sports. Baseball is a marathon, you need someone who can tell stories, explain a scene. NHL is a relay race, non-stop action for an extended period of time, constant focus on the action going on. A horse racing announcer is the 100m. A dead sprint. Spewing the call like an auctioneer. It’s a different call then you get in other sports. That seems to be the case for a lot of things in horse racing.
Pick 17: WSD, Yelling At The TV
Grade- Too Vague
You yell at the TV during any sporting event, that isnt horse specific. Sure, I get the way you yell at a TV during the finish of a horse race is much different than other sports, first thing I think of is Kramer at the OTB, but it happens across the board. Need a pick more honed in on horse racing.
Pick 18: Elio, TVG Bet The Quarters
Grade- Over My Head
Now I know what TVG is, but am I ever tuned into it on a regular basis? Not at all. Bet the Quarters sounds like a progrum for avid horse bettors so it could very well be a great 4th round pick, I just can’t comment on it.
Pick 19: Reags, Track Outfits
Grade- Johnny Weir Likes
Track outfits are just as much a part of horse racing as the race itself. The hats, the suits, the dresses. There is no sport where you are getting dolled up for the event like you do for a horse race. They have features on peoples outfits during the broadcast. Fashion and horse racing go hand in hand.
Pick 20: Carl, Betting The Longshot
Grade- Like Betting WSD to Win a Draft
Carl said all that needed to be said about this pick. There is no other bet in sports where you can get the instant gratification of nailing a long shot. Other sports you have to wait for a future to hit and even the biggest upsets are not a huge long shot. When you sprinkle a long shot at the track and it’s in contention down the stretch it is as exciting as betting gets.
Round 4- I dont know if it’s because I am not a huge horse racing guy too, but im leaning Carl right now. I do love Eds draft and think Reags and Elio are both having a great draft that will play to the big time fans. But I really like Carl through 4.
Round 5
Pick 21: Carl, Jockeys
Grade- Need Em
Carl started off with a fastball and closed with a fast ball. Jockeys are quite a large part of horse racing, seeing as they ride the horses. Jockeys are also one of the more unique athletes in sports. They are little guys, on a huge creature, in a dangerous race. Jockeys are bad ass. This is a strong 5th round pick from Carl.
Pick 22: Reags, Keeneland Burgoo
Grade- Sounds Good
I have never been to Keeneland but I won’t question Reags that the Burgoo is delicious. I also won’t question using the 5th round for a personal pick. Something out of the box, give your board some character. Im just not sure Keeneland Burgoo is going to do Reags any favors on the vote. Take Keeneland over (Which he did say he regretted not doing) and you can encompass the Burgoo within the pick. Reags may have needed more here.
Pick 23: Elio, Saratoga Racetrack
Grade- SAR. UH. TOE. GAH.
Saratoga is the track I have most frequented. It is a beautiful place. A hell of a time no matter what the race is. It is very cool to have a track close to home that gets national recognition in the horse racing world. Without Saratoga I am probably oblivious to horse racing. A true horse racing guy getting Toga in the 5th really pulls at the heartstrings.
Pick 24: WSD, Match Races
Grade- Seems Cool
I am not nearly into horse racing enough to have seen any match races. They seem awesome, but they are not going to help Dave win this draft. Dave did not have a strong 3rd or 4th round and this pick, while it may be great for some big horse racing fans, is not going to play enough to get Dave the extra votes he will need. Dave may not even be on the poll.
Pick 25(Mr. Irrelevant): Eddie, Limo Gate
Grade- Truly Mr. Irrelevant
I am honestly not too sure what Ed was referring to here. He mentioned chariot racing which I know nothing about, but it may just be the gates the horses come out of? I am surprised I knew the majority of these picks as is so I just gotta call it as it is for me personally, and this pick is truly irrelevant.
I was coming into this draft thinking I was going to be a little out of the loop, but I really enjoyed this draft. I knew more than expected, learned some things about horse racing, got very excited for the derby today and any week with 2 drafts is a good week. Just like Monday’s draft, I thought everyone had a very good draft. I think when it comes down to it, it is a 3 horse race between Reags, Carl and Ed. Elio had a good draft but I think his 3rd and 4th rounds might leave him a furlong behind. If Ed went generic, broad pick in the 5th round I think he really could have won this draft, I’m just not sure his Mr. Irrelevant is going to play. So I think it comes down to Reags and Carl. I love both their boards. Reags is built for someone deeper into the horse racing world, and Carl played more to the masses, which I think could land him a W. I have no dislike for WSD. WSD is a funny dude who is himself through and through. I judge these drafts with no bias. But WSD is most likely once again off the poll. His final 3 picks are not great and it just takes a better board to get on the poll and give yourself a shot at winning. I dont want to keep making WSD the low man on the totem poll, but that is just how it plays out each week. Call me a lemming.
