It’s Thurby in Louisville, KY and the excitement is growing. Thurby is a rebranded name for the Thursday before the Kentucky Derby where Churchill Downs celebrates Kentucky’s unique culture of bourbon, bluegrass music, and thoroughbred racing,
Back at the stables, the horses are prepping every morning, running a few furlongs to stretch their legs and show their ability. All eyes are on the favorites, but the whole roster is under scrutiny. There is rain predicted for both Friday and Saturday, so I expect a muddy track and these sprints give us little help in choosing who will ultimately triumph. I loathe watching the horses run in the mud and wish they would use rain dates, but they will delay and do their best to dry the track between downpours.
Tomorrow the Filllies run. The Kentucky Oaks is a prestigious Grade 1 stakes race for 3-year-old thoroughbred girl horses held annually at Churchill Downs. The winning filly is adorned with a garland of stargazer lilies, a tradition that gives the race its nickname. Inaugurated in 1875, the race boasts a lucrative $1.5 million purse, making it a highly desirable competition.
Unlike the Derby, which sees 20 horses racing, the Oaks runs only 14, making it a little easier to choose, This year’s favorites are #7 La Cara at 6-1, #11 Good Cheer 6-5, and #14 Quietside 8-1. I like all three of those gals and will probably box them. For a little longer odds, #2 Simply Joking 10-1 looks good, as does #6 Ballerina d’Oro 10-1, and #8 5G at 12-1. Baffert has a horse in, #9 Tenma 12-1, and I know never to ignore one of his trainees, There are only a few really long shots here (30-1), but with the track being sloppy, you never know.
The Oaks Race will be televised on Peacock, starting at 1pm tomorrow. They’ll show the whole race card!
This week has been so full of more appointments and the gardening has had to be worked in between, so I’m waiting until Saturday morning to decide who’s getting my wager in the Derby and what bourbon we’ll be sipping. As an added treat, I’ll let you know who my daughter and son-in-law have picked — they are generally in the money, whilst my percentages in recent years have been declining…like me…
I’ll be back Saturday morning, rain or shine.
Peace
The News from Sonnystone Acres 