A New Season...A Look Ahead

If you've managed to ever see this blog before, you are most likely a family member or friend. Most of the stuff on this blog relates to a silly little family contest "The Annoyed Handicapper" began many years ago now. In that contest, you pick the top three horses in each of the three Triple Crown races and make an imaginary $2 wager utilizing all potential combinations.

Each Winter/Spring for the past few years, many of us have participated in a Fantasy contest sponsored by Churchill Downs called "Road to the Roses." Several years ago, The Annoyed Handicapper finished in the top 100 of this international contest out of close to 20,000 participants. Each participant selects ten Triple Crown nominated horses, two jockeys, and two trainers and collects points as their horses win, place or show in selected prep races to the Kentucky Derby. For the past two years, we've even had our own fantasy stable league called ARFTCHC (Annual Ryder Family Triple Crown Horse Challenge).


If you'd like to join us, here's the link and the numbers you'll need.

ARFTCHC
League # 3462563179
Activation Code # 2755712896

When it comes to picking your ten horses, your mind can quickly get numb to the possibilities. Here's a quick look at some of the over 300 horses that have been nominated.


A Look at a Bunch of Horses

I compiled this list by looking on various sites and simply writing down the horses that were mentioned in various publications.


As for my !Xabbu stable this year, I've settled on the following ten horses. (In no particular order)

1. D'Funnybone: Dutrow/Prado I chose this horse because he's in action this weekend in the Hutcheson at Gulfstream. I'm not a big fan of Dr. Dutrow, and I hate this horse's name.

2. Rule:Pletcher/Velazquez Pletcher has a lot of horses nominated this year. Rule may be his best. Rule is an awesome name. Simple. Dignified.

3. Ron the Greek: Amoss/Graham Ron the Greek is highly regarded. More importantly, he's running this weekend at Fairgrounds in the Risen Star. A silly name.

4. Lookin at Lucky: Baffert/Gomez Like Pletcher, Baffert has many horses nominated this year. The last couple of years he's sort of crapped out. With Gomez, however, all things are possible.

5. Connemara: Pletcher/R. Baze Anotrher Pletcher horse, and one that is running this weekend out west at Golden Gate's El Camino. It's always good to stash a few western horses in you stable. Diversify is what I say.

6. Eskendereya: Pletcher/Castelano Another Pletcher horse. One with a very unusual name.

7. Super Saver: Pletcher/Borel Another Pletcher horse. I wonder if Pletcher really has such a powerful stable or if this is all a bunch of Pletcher-hype.

8. Jackson Bend: Zito/Rose Shoeless Joe is back with a highly regarded horse. Jackson Bend is a name that reminds me of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jackson Hole, you may remember, was one of the reported secret hideaways of Vice President Dick Chaney. I dislike Dick, but I like Zito. Yang and Ying.

9. Tiz Chrome: Baffert/Gomez You can't go wrong with Baffert/Gomez, but I'm not a big fan of Tizzes.

10. Buddy's Saint: Levine/Lezcano Perhaps this is the horse. Some say he's a few races away, but his potential is indefinite[sic].


I was on the fence with a few others and ultimately left them off my initial list.

Aikenette, William's Kitten, Pulsion, A Little Warm, Noble's Promise, Maximus Ruler (Best Name in Show) American Lion, and Conveyance.

Pssst... Lentenor is one to keep an eye on despite his recent loss on turf.


There are five races that count in the fantasy contest this week/ At Gulfstream, the Hutcheson and Fountain of Youth will be contested. Turf Paradise Derby, Elcamino Derby, and Risen Star Stakes will also be run at different tracks.