Super Saver claims Kentucky Derby crown

The 136^th Kentucky Derby was a fun race to watch, especially when the horse I picked – Super Saver - charged along the rail to claim the win.

Calvin Borel did what he is known for and was glued to the inside of the track from the get go. He did the other thing he is known for – winning the Run for the Roses. He has jockeyed the winning horse in three of the last four Kentucky Derbies.

My other horses did not fare as well. Awesome Act faded and finished 19^th. Devil May Care, the lone filly in the pack, finished 10^th behind Mission Impazible.

My sleeper pick Jackson Bend finished in the middle of the back in 12^th place behind Devil May Care and American Lion.

The excitement for me came, though, from Super Saver taking the top spot.

Now that the top horses have gotten national attention, focus turns to the Preakness. Borel already said he is going to win the Triple Crown aboard Super Saver, so the horse is certainly the one to beat. Track conditions, just like yesterday’s race, will definitely come into play.

Be sure to check back on I Am Sportacus for my pick for the Preakness before the race May 15.

Josh likes Super Saver

Every year, I like to take a look at the Kentucky Derby and pick my horses, whether I have money on the race or not. With big name horses like Zenyatta and Endorsement not participating, it’s a wide-open field.

Lookin At Lucky is the odds favorite to win the 136^th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, but the horse drew the rail. The inside post could hurt the 3-1 favorite, who took third at the Santa Anita Derby and won the Rebel Stakes and CashCall Futurity.

So I’m going to look elsewhere for my winner. Sidney’s Candy (5-1), Awesome Act (10-1), Devil May Care (10-1), Ice Box (10-1) and Super Saver (15-1) are all tempting.

I’ll pass on Sidney’s Candy, who drew the outside post. It takes a strong horse to win from the outside, am I’m not convinced Sidney’s Candy is the caliber horse that Big Brown was two years ago.

Devil May Care got a good draw at the 11 post, but I’m not sure this filly can perform at the level Rachel Alexandra did at the Preakness in 2009. Rachel Alexandra was an incredibly strong horse that could take on the males in the field.

Ice Box and Super Saver are in tight against the rail and will have to get out to good starts.

Ice Box (who is not the girl for Little Giants by the way) has been running well and won the Florida Derby in March. Awesome Act won at the Gotham Stakes in March.

Super Saver won at the Kentucky Jockey Club in November. He placed third in the Tampa Bay Derby in the March and took second at the Arkansas Derby April 10. I like Super Saver to win the Run for the Roses.

The horse has experienced jockey Calvin Borel riding him. Borel won the Derby and Preakness last year on two different horses (Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra). He’s a smart jockey who knows how to race. He’ll have to get his horse through some traffic early though and hang on.

My picks:

1. Super Saver (15-1)

2. Awesome Act (10-1)

3. Devil May Care (10-1)

Sleeper – Jackson Bend (15-1)