Sports
Locals Scope Out Kentucky Derby Field
At Plainview's Race Palace, bettors say the 137th Running is a wide-open affair.
They're off and running to Plainview's big betting parlor, trying to catch a winner in Saturday's 137th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Area residents offered Patch their selections, and the consensus is there is no consensus.
A field of 19 3-year-olds will go to the post at 6:24 p.m. Saturday in the first leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown: The Preakness Stakes follows in Baltimore in two weeks, followed by the Belmont Stakes here on Long Island on June 11.
Find out what's happening in Plainviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
No thoroughbred has completed the elusive Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. This year, early favorite Uncle Mo has officially been scratched with a gastrointestinal tract infection. The decision came about 40 minutes before Derby wagering began, widening an already wide-open field.
Another wild card is the weather. Rain is a possibility, slowing the track, and could change folks' betting plans.
Find out what's happening in Plainviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
So here's what local fans had to say at the OTB, and some Plainview area sports bars:
Rich Rooney from Seaford: "Midnight Interlude, it's [trainer] Bob Baffert's horse, looks like it's coming in in good form, it's also bred for the distance."
"I don't know who is running, but I know his horse isn't going to win," Rich's friend, John Mangino of Commack, adds.
Joe Santulli, from Bethpage, is going for Stay Thirsty because of "Ramon Dominguez, the jockey...it's all about the jockey."
Marc Smith of Plainview has a simple approach. "Pants on Fire, because that's what my wife wants," he said.
Steve Napolitano, of Levittown: "Twinspired - he's a late developing horse, ran second at Keeneland [track]...I don't like the Keeneland to Churchill switch, but if it comes up soft, I think it should be him."
Charlie Egan of Dix Hills is choosing Twinspired as well. "I'm an identical twin, and I look to see who [jockey] Mike Smith is riding," Egan said. "He's coming out of the 10 spot...the paper showed that [there's been] double-digit winners out of that spot."
Barry Pratcher, Amityville: "Archarcharch, caught him in the Arkansas Derby, I just like [jockey] John Court, I think it can go the distance."
To see photos of the complete Kentucky Derby field, with morning-line odds, click here to the Huffington Post's coverage.
