Kentucky Derby, This Saturday!

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Thu May 03, 2007 3:40 pm

I Love the Triple Crown of Horse Racing! This year I was following a horse called COBALT BLUE but he was pulled from the race yesterday do to his recent poor performance and slow work out times. Sometimes these young horses just run out of gas before the Season ends. The two horses I like that are still in the Derby are STREET SENSE and ANY GIVEN SATURDAY, with the nod going to STREET SENSE. Right now the current Derby favorite is a horse called CURLIN. Here is a picture of STREET SENSE nosing out ANY GIVEN SATURDAY at the wire in the TAMPA BAY DERBY.

So tell me which horse looks good to you RAIL BIRDS?

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Thu May 03, 2007 4:26 pm

CURLIN belongs to Jess Jackson of Kendall Jackson wines. Yep, he is a Billionaire and it only took about 15 years but with some smart moves and the right place at the right time. At one time Kendall Jackson was based along HWY 29, 2 miles out of Lakeport, CA. They had a sign on the tasting room that said future home of Chateau de Lac. (never came about).

Jess Jackson was a wealthy San Francisco attorney that had some vineyards and a tasting room off HWY 29 in Lake County. One year he could not sell his grapes, so he got a loan through my dad (Bank of America VP retired) and Kendall Jackson Wines was born. Sheesh, the rich have all the luck.

Can't sell grapes, OK build a winery. Gotta give him credit, he took a bad situation and took advantage of it. This is just part of the story. It ends up with the family's old ranch in Kelseyville being bought by Jackson's former wine maker Jed Steele. Where I grew up is now called Catfish Vineyards. They grow zinfadel there now. The first is a link to my old home.

http://www.steelewines.com/wines/srw_znc.html

http://www.steelewines.com/winery/index.html

He would more than likely have built a winery, but the situation caused Kendall Jackson to become a major player, timing is everything.

BTW, Kendall is his ex wifes maiden name.

Oh well, I hear Jess bought some horse ranches back in Kentucky. The guy has enough money to do whatever he wants.

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Thu May 03, 2007 4:41 pm

Hukk; Very interesting background story. I do have to admit that the

KENDALL-JACKSON Grand Reserve 2003 Merlot is one of my favorite red

wines!

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Thu May 03, 2007 4:44 pm

I grew up at "Catfish Vineyards," I guess that makes me a redneck!

What the story does not say on the link, is that a good sized part of that vineyard was planted with 1/4 stick of dynamite to make a plantable hole for each vine. There was a layer of surface hardpan and to crack through it, they used dynamite. These are poor farmers, at that time dynamite was much cheaper than a Bulldozer to rip the soil. No one I knew could afford a Bulldozer with a ripper. But you could buy dynamite anywhere, even downtown. I was about 8 years old in the 60's and I remember the dynamite quite well, what kid wouldn't.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:15 pm

I would much rather have a nice Merlot, or a Cosentino Cigar Zin, with a good Padron 3000, than one of those Mint freakin' Juleps.

I'm taking off the rubber band on a horse named Affirmed.

What? What do you mean I'm too late to even past post?

Oh well, back to the Racing Form.

Bill

P. S.
Hey Mitch, isn't this about were we came in?

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:26 pm

YEH! Bill; I think your right. Last time I was at Santa Anita, I thought I

saw a plaque with your picture on it in the "RAIL BIRDS HALL OF

FAME"

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:46 pm

Mitch my friend,

In another life, I spent enough $$$ there to be permanently placed on the Tote board...

One story...
We once waited for 3 months for a horse. I took some cash for me and more than a few others. He went from 15-1 to 6-1...ran around to the top of the stretch in 3rd...and bowed a tendon. I think I was in the parking lot before he crossed the finish line. Sigh.

Nothin' much beats the First Saturday in May...just none of those freakin' Juleps. Whoever dreamed that concoction up should be running in a $3500 claimer at Pleasanton in the summer meet/heat.

Sorry for the drift

Now, back to the regularly scheduled programming.

Railbird

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:57 pm

Bill; ALso in another Life, I once had an early day job and 4 days a

week almost every week on my way home from work I would stop at

Santa Anita and catch the last 3 races of the day. I know I don't need to

tell you how that was not a good thing to be doing!

RAIL BIRD SR.

stagman · Post by **stagman** » Thu May 03, 2007 11:25 pm

Hey Mitch, I am pretty much a Harness Racing
fan and bettor. On Derby Day I always make an exception
I will go with Scat Daddy in the Derby !!!
Good Luck to all on their wagers !!!

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Thu May 03, 2007 11:59 pm

..This made me think.

Hukk what is his X wifeys full name now and is she still single?
Where is she liveing now?

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:05 am

ken, you gonna get that knifey yet!

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:12 am

Oh,

One more thing...Hukk, your story gives new credence (Clearwater?) to those descriptions on the back of the wine bottle, written by the marketing department, that describe a big full, lush red...exploding with earthy flavors.

Bill

P. S. If it's wet...
Circular Quay, Any Given Saturday and Hard Spun, in a box.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri May 04, 2007 6:50 pm

justold52 wrote: ..This made me think.

Hukk what is his X wifeys full name now and is she still single?
Where is she liveing now?

Sorry Ken, I never met her. She travels in different circles than you and I.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri May 04, 2007 6:52 pm

A little more about Curlin and Jess Jackson.

http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs ... 033/NEWS01

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri May 04, 2007 6:53 pm

El Lobo wrote:Oh,

One more thing...Hukk, your story gives new credence (Clearwater?) to those descriptions on the back of the wine bottle, written by the marketing department, that describe a big full, lush red...exploding with earthy flavors.

Bill

P. S. If it's wet...
Circular Quay, Any Given Saturday and Hard Spun, in a box.

Ooops, that not lee's in the bottom of the barrel, it's dirt.

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:52 pm

Bill; That is a very Good looking Exacta Box you have there!

All three of those horses are good for that distance In the SLOP. I would

add one more horse to those three, that can also go that distance in the

Mud and that would be ANY GIVEN SATURDAY. So it should be a very

interesting Derby this year.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:06 pm

Mitch,

I am using A G Saturday in the box, especially if it's wet, as he has the highest Tomlinson WET number of 458. The last horse I threw out was Street Sense. But I was trying to keep it to just 3.

What have you decided?

Bill

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:33 pm

Bill; I checked the weather reports and they call for Rain, so because

of the weather I may just lay off betting this years Derby, because I hate

trying to pick a Mudd Duck! I will decide if I'am betting in the morning.

My brother in law works at Santa Anita and he can place my bet for me. I

really liked STREET SENSE, ANY GIVEN SATURDAY and CIRCULAR QUAY

but with a Sloopy track I'am not so sure anymore.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:48 pm

or..... you could buy a knife instead of throwing your money to the ponys.

just enjoy the race.

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:55 pm

jonet143 wrote:or..... you could buy a knife instead of throwing your money to the ponys. just enjoy the race.

YEH! but if We bet right and win, We can buy several

KNIVES!

Bryan · Post by **Bryan** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:58 pm

jonet143 wrote:or..... you could buy a knife instead of throwing your money to the ponys. just enjoy the race.

But if we hit, we can buy lots more knives

I'm going to sit this one out while I lounge around the house sipping Mint Julips! --> kidding Bill

We used to have an OTB in my small town that just recently closed

I lost plenty there, but it sure was fun. I've never been to a live track.

Bryan · Post by **Bryan** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:02 pm

MITCH RAPP wrote:
jonet143 wrote:or..... you could buy a knife instead of throwing your money to the ponys. just enjoy the race.
YEH! but if We bet right and win, We can buy several

KNIVES!

Hey. Great minds do think alike

You beat me to the punch line Mitch

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:34 pm

yeah, the racetrack can buy lots of knives, not many of the betters can.

hope you win a pile!

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:46 pm

jonet143 wrote:yeah, the racetrack can buy lots of knives, not many of the betters can. hope you win a pile!

J; Your right! I can personally vouch for that.

Bryan; Maybe our great minds are both in denial.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:51 pm