.
DERBY DAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Happy DERBY DAY! 


-Softball @ St. John


-Golf gets honors but NCAA snub


-Derby preview and picks


-Oaks recap

First off...HAPPY DERBY DAY Cardinal Couple readers! It's been a newsworthy lead up to the first Saturday in May so far. We've had Cyndi Lauper dropping "f-bombs" at the Pegasus Parade, jockey Robby Albarado beating up his girlfriend, the Infield at Churchill Downs evacuated because of potential impending weather and a female jockey named Rosie coming thru on "Pink Day" at the Downs and besting the boys by winning the "Lillies for the Fillies" Kentucky OAKS. 

With the storms that rolled through Louisville from midnight to 6 a.m. Saturday morning, chances are we'll see a muddy or sloppy track for the 138th. Kentucky Derby. Adding further confusion to one of the most evenly matched and hard-to-select-a-winner fields in recent memory. 


Throw in Cinco de Mayo celebrations and you have a recipe for a wild Saturday in Louisville. Jump in, sit down, strap up and hold on...here we go with Derby de Mayo...Cinco Churchill or Slosh for the Corona's.   


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Cardinal softball takes on St. John's for two today in the final regular season series in the BIG EAST. It's do or die time for Sandy Pearsall's sluggers. Win and you're in the #1 seed for the BIG EAST Tournament and the regular season champs. 

Louisville was picked to finish fourth in the pre-season BIG EAST Coaches Poll. Tori Collins and crew didn't buy into that and their fate now is basically in their own hands...playing three against a St John's team that will most likely grab the #6 seed in the BIG EAST tournament and is hoping to finish over .500 in BIG EAST play by upsetting the Cardinals.


Two today, one tomorrow. We'll have a post double-header report in Sunday's CARDINAL COUPLE. 


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Three UofL women's golf team members have been named to the All-BIG EAST team. Senior Anna-Karin Ljungstrom
and freshmen Katie Petrino and Emily Haas get the honors. 

Anna graduates with
three NCAA appearances
in four years of
Cardinal golf

Not so good news for the squad about a continuation of the season, though...as they were not selected to participate in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. 72 teams will play at three different regional sites...but Louisville won't be one of them. First time in four years the Cards haven't been selected. 

Would "Happy Gilmore" Adam
Sandler put some "punch" into
Uofl women's golf? 

WE have to wonder if the recent UofL decision not to renew  Coach K's contract had anything to do with the NCAA snub. The Cards were squarely on the bubble for getting selected...two BIG EAST teams did get invites...Notre Dame and South Florida. They were the top two finishers in the BIG EAST Tournament...Louisville was third. 

Katie has three more
years to drive and putt.

Hate to see Anna-Karin go out without a chance to play in golf's "Sweet 72" her final year. Good news is that with two freshmen on the all-BIG EAST team, the Cards could have steadily improving squads the next three years. Whoever the coach is. Wonder what Adam Sandler is doing these days?


Golf, like some of the other "non-revenue" sports at all major universities, doesn't get nearly the coverage that college football or hoops does...but WE continue to be amazed at how these college athletes shoot consistently in the 70's. As former "duffers" who found cause to celebrate if we shot under "the century mark." 


We're watching and cheering, ladies. Straight drives and close chips next season.


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A Derby betting tip...if Asher likes
it, stay away from it. 

Here we go...we've crunched the Beyer's figures, allowed for rain and post-positioning, thrown innumerable darts at the board to get exacta and trifecta numbers and we've had the Chimp Selection Committee sequestered away for the last 24 hours...eating banana pudding, listening non-stop to John Asher Derby talks and determining the top four finishers for the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby. All selections are for entertainment purposes only, of course. If you wager, please do so responsibly. Or, be like the chimps and just go by horse names...


PAUL


I hope that Butch Lehr and the grounds crew guys can perform their usual magic on the Churchill dirt...because that's the way I'm  picking this one. Fast track. 

HANSEN

DULLAHAN is my top choice. He's coming off a career best effort. He'll only get better.BODEMEISTER wowed them in his final drill and previous race. He falls just short today. UNION RAGS may have had excuses in his last...but he's a quality horse and a big old galoot to boot. He stays on for third today. HANSEN will contest the early pace and could be the leader with a furlong left...but speed kills today and he fills out the superfecta.


SONJA


The "forget about the favorites" worked well for me yesterday in the OAKS -- so I'm going right back there again today. WENT THE DAY WELL gets last year's Derby winner Johnny Velasquez on board and he's been wowing them on the backside at Churchill. Wins at a nice price. HANSEN has the heart of a champion and he'll be there at the end...just short, I fear. I truly love "Big Whitey" and wouldn't mind one bit if he gets the garland of roses. TAKE CHARGE INDY is a very "live" longshot and gets Churchill legend Calvin Borel in the saddle. He'll pick up the pieces for third. GEMOLOGIST has never lost a race. Picking him fourth may be a mistake on my part, but that's where I have him.


CARDINAL COUPLE staff columnist JENNY gives us a Dullahan/Hansen exacta box as her Derby play. 

Our very special correspondent DAVID WATSON is sticking with his picks from last week. HE goes Optimizer, Gemologist, I'll Have Another and Done talking. MARK the COMMISH had his top pick from last week scratched in Mark Valeski. His next three were Sabercat, Daddy Long Legs and Creative Cause. 


Other races to watch this Derby Day:


Race 3. I like GOLDEN TICKET in this spot. Sonja agrees but is also looking at Z DAGER.


Race 5. I hestitate giving best bets after yesterday's fiasco with Plum Pretty...but MACHO MACHO certainly looks unbeatable in these conditions. Also consider BIG BLUE NATION ( for racing purposes only...we don't want any of you converting to "Cal")


Race 6. BRIDGETOWN returns to the track after a layoff and if he's fit and ready he's the best here. Sonja counters with CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE


Race 7. I absolutely love SHACKELFORD and he'll appreciate the extra distance today. Sonja agrees.


Race 10. TURALURE could be a "single" for me in the Races 10-12 Pick 3. He's that good and looked great last time out. Sonja counters with GET STORMY, who won this race last year on Derby Day. 


(The Derby is RACE 11)


Race 12. MANN drops a little in class today and that should get him to the winner's circle. Sonja agrees but will also have GOODTIMEHADBYALL, who seems to love returning to Churchill.


GOOD LUCK TODAY! 


Here's a link to Jill Byrne's Selections. She a pretty astute handicapper. 


JILL'S PICKS


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Finally, a great time had by all watching Oaks Day racing over at Churchill's simulcasting facility TRACKSIDE. We had an all-star cast of friends and handicappers with us in Tommy Boy, Norma, Brother Ron and UK football legend Doug Van Meter. 

Doug Van Meter (right) played for UK as a
defensive end in the sixties...

WE gave you some pretty nice winners as well if you played our choices yesterday. The third race exacta of YOUNG AND LOVELY and ICE CREAM SILENCE paid $42 on a $2 box. OK, PLUM PRETTY, our best bet of the day was third. It happens. (Thanks for the e-mails on that one, readers...) 


GOOD DEED ran second in the seventh and got you $6.60 back 'across the board'. STEPHANIE KITTEN won the eighth and was a $9.80 win payout. SILVER MAX wired them in the tenth and a $2 win wager brought you $24.40 from the teller. 


Then the OAKS. 

Sonja called it with BELIEVE YOU CAN with 'Rosie Nap' on board. A $2 across the board venture was worth $46.80. With her profits from earlier, she and Tommy Boy also have a #9 / ALL Oaks-Derby Double wager alive. They win, no matter who wins the Derby.


And, although we didn't give it to you...Paul and Tommy Boy hit the late Pick 3. That .50 cent wheel got them back $328. 


Hope the good fortune continues today. 


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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball Cards take on St. John this weekend


-BIG EAST Track and Field Championships


-Churchill Thursday


-OAKS picks


Louisville softball closes out the BIG EAST regular season with three games on the road against St. John's beginning Saturday. The Cards have a chance to win the BIG EAST regular season title if they can win in Queens. 


The Top 4 in the BIG EAST:


1) Louisville          17-2
2) South Florida    16-3
3) Notre Dame      13-3
4) Syracuse          15-4

Obviously, if the Cards can get the broom out on the Red Storm and sweep the series, they are the BIG EAST regular season champs. If they lose, their chances of taking the title will be determined by how the three below them do. South Florida is at Syracuse for three games this weekend. Notre Dame travels to Pitt for their final three games of the regular season. 


The South Florida vs. Syracuse games are ones to keep an eye on. Syracuse could actually move to second in the conference if they can win two of the three against the Bulls and Notre Dame falls in one of their games against the Panthers. 

The scheduling of BIG EAST games is a bit of a mystery. Louisville did not play either Syracuse or Notre Dame during the regular season. They did defeat South Florida twice in a double-header April 18th. at Ulmer Stadium


For the Cards...as Oakland Raiders guru Al Davis used to say:


"Just win, baby." 


Game times are noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. 


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Louisville Track and Field begins competition in the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships today. The three-day events are being held at the USF Track and Field Stadium on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa. 


The Cardinal women are looking for their fifth-straight BIG EAST Outdoor title. No one has matched this streak in the history of BIG EAST track. 


Cardinals we expect to do well:


-- Michelle Theophille in the high jump and Charachesicia Lockhart in the long jump and triple jump.


-- Chinwe Okoro, Khadija Abdullah and Amashi Kendall in the shot put and discus. 


-- Jenna Wargo in the javelin. 


-- Holly Knight in the 5000m and 10000m distance events. 


-- Ahlivia Spencer in the 800m.


-- Margret Harris in the 100m.


You can follow the action up-to-the-minute from the team's Twitter account at:


Louisville Track and Field twitter

www.twitter.com/louisvilletrack


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Brother Ron, Norma and Susan Stidham

Thursday was Turf Club Day for your intrepid CARDINAL COUPLE co-owner Paul at Churchill. Yeah, it's a dress-up kind of day and I sit at Bread Boy's table up there and watch the movers and shakers, titans of industry and posers hob-knob. The best part of the day, besides watching Bread Boy work the crowd like a politician on the campaign trail is seeing the St. Louis boys Alan and Vince. 


So, armed with Friday's racing form (yeah, I bought the wrong day's form Thursday morning) I stopped by to pick up Tommy Boy and we hit the track. Before taking the magical elevator to the third floor, we stopped in Champions to see a few people and get a Irish coffee. 


I was pleasantly surprised to run into my pal Christy in there. She's probably the closest thing I have to a sister in this world and she was working there yesterday as a mutual clerk. We caught up on things and then it was up to the third floor. 

St. Louis Vince and Tommy Boy

The boys from St. Louis were in rare form and were still chuckling about last year's meeting and the legendary time they had with Tommy Boy and I. We had a little racing luck...hitting the first Pick Three of the day and the second Pick 4. I also caught a sleeper at 8-1 when Brian Hernandez, Jr. took the field by surprise and won the 5th. race on Canook. I really liked his chances and sunk a fairly sizable wager on him to win, place and show. $18.60 was the win payout and Canook paid $29.80 on a $2 across the board venture. 

Bruce and Tommy Boy have decided they don't
need the tops of their heads anymore...(or I took the
picture wrong) Whatever. 

I also got downstairs to see my buddies Norma, her brother Ron and Susan Stidham. 


A great day at the track with good friends and another afternoon where I left with my pockets full of cash. 


The evening ended up with the boys at Mulligan's having a celebration toast and pizza. Then, home to Sonja and a recap of the day's events before happily nodding off to sleep before the 11:00 news. 


Good times.


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OK...you've waited patiently for them and now will be rewarded. Here are Sonja and Paul's picks for the Kentucky Oaks today. We've also listed a few horses that we think will do well in other races on the Friday card. Selections listed here are for entertainment purposes only and we remind you wager responsibly.


Paul


I mentioned earlier in the week that I thought this was a two-horse race and I'm still going with that statement. ON FIRE BABY and GRACE HALL will finish first and second. Their also coming out of the #1 and #2 post positions and Churchill has really been favoring horses on the rail this week. Especially in the stretch. I honestly can't choose between the two, so I'm just going to do an exacta box with them. 
Third place? That's a toughie...but I'll suggest either Summer Applause or Broadway's Alibi. Good luck


Sonja


I'm going to steer clear of Paulie "Captain Obvious" theory and try to get a price in the Oaks. Put me down for Believe You Can and Eden's Moon. I'll defer and use On Fire Baby and Grace Hall in any exotics I attempt -- but I'm going across the board on my first two picks and hope I get paid for the risk. Have a great Oaks Day, readers! Time to go to the track! 


You might also keep an eye on:


Race 3 -- Ice Cream Silence and Young and Lovely.


Race 6 -- Plum Pretty (best pick of the day)


Race 7 -- Good Deed


Race 8 -- Stephanie's Kitten and More than Love


Race 10 -- Gung Ho and Silver Max


Finally, this classic column (courtesy of Eric Crawford - Courier Journal) from the late, great Mike Barry. 


LINK:
So you want to read the Racing form?


(We'll have Derby picks tomorrow)
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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball falls to Vols 8-1


-Wednesday at Churchill.


The University of Louisville softball team traveled to 
Knoxville Wednesday for a non-conference game 
against the Lady Vols. It's a shame someone forgot to
put the Cardinal bats on the bus, though. Louisville
managed just two hits in seven innings against junior

Sis on the left shuts down the Cards Wednesday

pitcher Ivy Renfroe and fall to the Lady Vols 8-1


#5 Tennessee (45-9) jumped on starting pitcher Tori Collins for a bottom of the first inning advantage when Lauren Gibson took a full count pitch over the center field wall to give U.T. a 1-0 lead.


Louisville kept it close briefly. In the top of the second, Alicja Wolny took first after getting plunked
by a Renfroe pitch and made it to home plate on a
Maggie Ruckenbrod single to tie it at 1-1. 

Chelsea Leonard got
roughed up in
Knoxville

After two innings, Sandy Pearsall pulled Tori Collins and put the ball in the hands of Chelsea Leonard. That strategy backfired...as the Lady Vols erupted for a four-run third inning. The Vols touched Leonard for four hits in the inning and it was 5-1 Tennessee after three innings. 


UT went on to add two runs in the fifth, off Caralisa Connell...who replaced Leonard in the fourth inning...and a additional run in the sixth for the 8-1 final. Louisville briefly threatened to score in the sixth when Whitney Arion drew a walk, stole second and streaked home on a Jennifer Esteban single up the middle...but center fielder Tory Lewis threw the freshman Arion out at the plate. 

Cards need to remember to put the
bats on the plane this weekend.
They didn't make it to Tennessee
on Wednesday...obviously.

Time to tear off the rear view mirror on this disaster and get ready for a season-ending series against the St. John's Red Storm in New York. Louisville (47-3) holds a one-game lead over USF and Notre Dame and can clinch the regular BIG EAST season championship by winning at least two out of three against the Queens residents. They'll play two on Derby Day (our coverage may be delayed) and a final on Sunday.




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Used to be, a few years back...that Wednesday was the last relatively "sane" day out at Churchill Downs on Derby week. 


It'll have to be moved to Tuesday if this keeps up. 

It took three of them to keep an eye on me Wednesday.
I did manage to get Riza (right) trained, though.

Went to the track yesterday to enjoy a few races before watching the UofL vs. UT game on-line. Figured it would be a good betting day and relatively free of "turistas" and amateurs. Wrong on all three accounts...but still a fun afternoon. 

Christie and Angie have been fully trained and are
proficient at handling my nonsense.  

The gates opened yesterday at 11:00 a.m. and that's about the time I rolled into the Longfield Avenue lot. Parking was no problem but the line to get in the gate there was 150 yards long. We're talking a football field and a half here, folks. Fortunately, I scooted over to the senior citizens gate, plunked down my dollar and slipped past the suspicious money taker within seconds. In some venues, I am considered a senior citizen. I certainly have senior moments...

Louie is "the man" when it comes to hats
and gift of gab. 

Time between the entrance and first race was spent doing a little handicapping and walking around and visiting old friends that work at Churchill. Most of them are still there and doing well. I found my favorite security guy, Louie, in a new location this year. He's guarding the trainer and owners room down on the ground-level "bricks". He has two chairs behind him, too... a sign of respect and authority at Churchill. 

Ask Jo-An about the "Gordon's Fisherman" if you stop
by and meet her. Bring a stick of butter.

I also ran into my buddy Jo-An at her normal "live meet" spot...the Paddock Bar on the first floor. She's a character...and one of the most friendly bartenders you'll meet at the Twin Spires. Jo-An "adopts" a Derby runner each year and champions the cause of that particular horse to almost obsession levels. This year, it's the white horse HANSEN and she's even made buttons to proudly display. If you go to the track this spring, make sure and stop by and say "Hi" to her and tell her Paul and Tom sent you. She might even serve you after that.  

Joe (right) is being closely watched by security because
of his ability to sing any Beatles tune off key and with
great enthusiasm. 

It was a day for low priced favorites at Churchill to win...and since I don't play those real often...I wasn't doing so well early on. I was even hitting "Pick 3" wagers and barely getting back what I invested. As my buddy Joe kept commenting:


"Get out the erasers because there's chalk everywhere"


As I headed into the last race, I decided to change my strategy. Last moves of a desperate man. Calvin Borel, who hadn't won a race all day, was on a 4-1 shot named Red Wine and I liked a definitive longshot that I've followed for a few years named Steve's Revenge because a buddy of mine used to train him. I decided to bet "Bo-Rail" to win and worked up a .10 cent Superfecta wheel including those two and most of the rest of the field. 


Lady Luck was on my side in the 10th race. Borel danced Red Wine home five lengths in front of the rest and 28-1 shot Steve's Revenge took second by a neck. I got $10 on the winning ticket I placed on "Calvinista" and my .10 cent superfecta returned a  'shut the front door' whopping $275.90 off a $8.10 wager. 

The rally worked. I left the "most legendary race track in the world" with a pocket full of cash and got home in time to watch UofL softball on the PC. 

How will "I'LL HAVE ANOTHER" do on Derby
Day? We aren't leaving him out of the "gimmicks" 

If you go today, be prepared for a long wait on Longfield Avenue if you aren't going out super early. Last year on Thursday, I sat in traffic from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. over a half-mile stretch of the street that runs south of Churchill. Never again. Gates open at 11 a.m. and parking about an hour before that. 


We've also outlined three Derby horses that could surprise at a price and sent the article to Charlie over at Card Game. When he decides to run it, who knows...but Charlie's site is always worth a daily visit.


Linkie below: 


The Observer sees all and talks about it


(WE'LL HAVE KY OAKS picks in the FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE. You have been warned.)
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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball travels to Tennessee (and loses 8-1)


-WBB: Walz offers 6'3" Andrijana Cvitkovic


-The Kentucky Oaks: A two horse race? 


GAME FINAL...Tennessee 8 - Louisville 1


The #5 Lady Vols tag three Louisville pitchers for 10 hits and eight runs in a win at Knoxville Wednesday night.


#8 Louisville managed just two hits against junior Ivy Renfroe and sees their 18 game win streak end. Louisville goes to 47-3 with the loss.


The Cards scored in the second inning and it was 1-1 after two...but U.T. exploded for four runs in the bottom of the third, two in the fifth and a final run in the sixth for the win. 


It is the highest hit and run production against the Cards this season. 1511 in attendance tonight. 


The game was a make-up game from a rain-out back in early March. 


Wouldn't want to be on that bus headed back up I-75 tonight...


WE'LL have a full recap in the Thursday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE. 


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The University of Louisville softball team travels to Knoxville today to play the Tennessee Lady Vols in a 6 p.m. game. U.T. is ranked #5 or #7 in the nation, depending which poll you go by and Louisville is #8 or #9. We can safely say it's a top 10 match-up. 

Non-conference games like this at the end of the season usually don't account for a whole lot...but this one peaks interest for a couple of reasons. 


-- Win streaks on the line. One of these two will see their winning streak end. The Cards have won their last 18, U.T. their last 17. The streaks are the two longest right now in college softball. 


-- Cards look to end the drought. UofL is 0-4 against the Lady Vols lifetime. They last met in the NCAA Regionals back on May 23rd, 2010 in Knoxville. Extra innings until UT broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth to defeat the Cards 3-1. 

These two were scheduled to meet back on March 3rd. in Knoxville in the Tennessee Classic...but rain postponed the game. 


We wonder...


-- Will Tori Collins get the start? UofL has a very important three game, regular ending season visit to St. John's this weekend. Do you risk pitching your ace against the Lady Vols or rest her up for a series that you hopefully will sweep to win the regular season title?


-- How will the Cardinal bats fare against the first Top Ten opponent Louisville has faced this year? Kristin Austin is batting .408 for the season. Over .400 is a rarity anymore in college softball. Taner Fowler isn't too far behind at .378 and Alicja Wolny close to those two at .364. 

-- Which Renfroe will the Cards face in the pitching circle? It's been a sister act this year for Tennessee when it comes to hurlers. Sophomore Ellen Renfroe is 26-3 on the year and Junior Ivy Renfroe is 18-6. They hail from Jackson, TN. and Trinity Christian Academy. 

Good barbecue in Jackson. Been a few years since we've been down there. Wonder if Brooksie's Barn is still as fantastic as it was last time we were there? It's a "must stop" if you're ever in the area...go hungry.

Should be a good one. CARDINAL COUPLE will try to post the final tonight as soon as the contest ends.


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Add another name to the 2013 UofL women's basketball recruit watch-list. 6'3" Andrijana Cvitkovic is a junior post player at Culver (IN) Girls Academy. This one is ironic...because we were taking a look at BIG 10 recruiting the other night and her name seemed to appear on about half the schools' wish list. Add Louisville to the suitors...Walz offered her yesterday. 


Originally from Croatia, "A.C." is expected to probably play at power forward in college. She does possess a nice outside jumper and is said to be able to punish teams from the high post. 


CARDINAL COUPLE writer and recruiting expert Jenny O' Bryan muses:

this picture is Stephanie, not Jenny...

Does this mean that the Cards are lessening up on efforts to land Stephanie Mavunga?


The 6'3" junior forward from Brownsburg, IN is on just about everyone's "got to get her" list and was the 2012 P.O.Y. in Indiana Girls' High School basketball, according to ESPN.


WE don't think that this is a sign that Louisville has lost interest in Stephanie. Instead, we see it as a sign that Walz is looking to add even more depth and skill to the Cards that will be back to patrol the paint in 2013-14. Remember, Asia Taylor will have graduated by then. Vails and Slaughter will be seniors that year. Hammond and Dyer juniors and Walton a sophomore. 


Depth is good. Height is great. Go after the big girls, Jeff. Get as many as you can. 


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We've given you a lot of Derby coverage so far (hope you're reading Darren Rogers) but we're going to look at the 138th running of the Kentucky Oaks today. The "Lillies for the Fillies" takes place on Friday, May 4th. 

The post position drawing was held yesterday and it looks like a full field of 14 three year old fillies, plus one 'also eligible', will compete over the Churchill track at a mile and one eighth. 


We'll make no bones about it. WE see this as a two horse race. On Fire Baby and Grace Hall have distanced themselves from the rest of this field, in our opinion, and will most likely be bet down to 5-2 odds or lower. 


Just for argument's sake...or in case you're looking to fill out a trifecta...who might be there if these two fall apart? 


We'll offer Broadway's Alibi, Summer Applause and Jemima's Pearl as choices to contend for third place.


I got into a bit of a "discussion" about the two Bob Baffert horses in the Oaks last night with a Churchill "regular". He's thinking Jemima's Pearl and Eden's Moon both hit the board at a big price. Honestly, I just don't see it...but a "back-up" wager on the two might not be a bad idea. 

For once...(Oh, Lord...it's a miracle!) Sonja and I are in complete agreement on a horse race. We only differ on who we think will finish third. Give me Broadway's Alibi...she's looking at long-shot Karlovy Vary. As far as who we think will win between Grace Hall and On Fire Baby...we'll wait until Oaks Day to decide that. 


Honestly, it's just too close to call right now...we'll look for developments over the next few days and give them a close scrutiny in the paddock before the race. 


Take a look for yourself. We've got links for the two in their most recent races. 


On Fire Baby


Grace Hall
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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Tori Collins corrals opposing batters for Cards


-Can Dullahan do Derby?

As one of the three seniors on the current UofL Softball team, Tori Collins is looked to for leadership, advice and experience. Opponents aren't too excited, though, about having to look out in the pitching circle and see the lefty lined up to pitch against them.


She's on pace to catch Catherine Bishop (2004-07) as the second all-time strikeout leader in Louisville softball history. Tori has sent 572 batters muttering back to the dugout in four years....168 of those coming this season. She needs 13 more "punch-outs" to pass Bishop. Kristen Wadwell (2008-10) leads Louisville with 696 career strikeouts. With a Wednesday game at Tennessee and three left to close out the regular season at St John's...it is possible she'll climb into second before Louisville starts BIG EAST Tournament Play.

Collins is 23-1 on the season and has two no-hitters and two one-hitters to her credit this year. She pitched five strong innings in her most recent outing against Georgetown -- giving up just two hits and striking out five Hoya batters. 


Collins came to Louisville as a freshman in 2009 after leading her McCutcheon, IN high school team to the state championship in 2008. She was Miss Indiana Softball and was selected to the 2008 Indiana All-Star team. With strong-arm Kristin Wadwell on the mound for the Cards, Collins' appearances were limited her first year..but she posted a 7-1 record in 81 innings of work. She struck out 57 batters her first year and had shut out wins against Rutgers and Eastern Kentucky. She was also named to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star team. 

Collins numbers picked up her sophomore year...going 18-6 and recording 163 strikeouts. Three shutouts and she was named to the All-Big East First team and Tournament team. She set a then career record with 11 strikeouts against Houston. Things looked bright for her and the Cards going into the 2011 season. 


She began the season as the Cards 'ace' in the circle. Unfortunately, she missed three weeks with a stress fracture and wasn't able to return to the Cardinal rotation until mid-April. With a 16-12 record and 184 strikeouts, she was key for the Cards in the BIG EAST Tournament...pitching back-to-back complete game shutouts in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the tournament at Ulmer Stadium. She was a BIG EAST All-Tournament selection and was posed to have a great senior year. 

And, she has. With several very good and dominating pitchers in the BIG EAST this year, naming Collins the best in the league might draw some protest in Tampa and Syracuse...but Louisville's one game lead in BIG EAST regular-season play going into the final weekend wouldn't have been remotely possible if she hadn't done what she's done this season.

Along with sophomores Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard, she gives the Cards the strongest pitching staff in the BIG EAST and they've combined for 340 strikeouts this year. No one has scored more than seven runs on them this season in a game or gotten more than nine hits (DePaul...back on March 31st.)


Collins' major is elementary education with a emphasis in English.


It's been far from elementary for opposing batters to reach base and score on her this year, though.


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One of the most impressive wins on the Road to the Roses has come from Dullahan this spring. He flew down the stretch at Keeneland back on April 14th., and passed Hansen to win the Blue Grass Stakes by one and one fourth lengths. 

Owned by Donegal Racing, trained by Dale Romans and getting Kent Desormeaux in the saddle, Dullahan has had an interesting preparation for the 138th Kentucky Derby...with races on the polytrack and turf.


He's also had three trips over the Churchill surface -- the last one coming in the Breeders Cup Juvenile -- where he finished a closing fourth after being last in the backstretch -- behind Hansen, Union Rags and Creative Cause. All three of these are expected to run Saturday. 


Dullahan had no chance to win back in November..but has made strides since then and impressed more than a few with the way he relished the extra distance of the Blue Grass Stakes and ran down Hansen two weeks ago. His 1:47.94 winning time was the fastest win time ever in the Blue Grass Stakes since it's been run on Polytrack. 

A "dullahan" is translated in Irish mythology as "being without a head." A dullahan is a mystical fairie and rides a black horse with his head under his arm.


Kent Desormeaux would be best advised to have his head about him and his wits keen and sharp if the duo are going to weave their way through the 19 other expected runners in Derby 138. Backers at the window may see 10-1 or better odds on the late-charger...and we'll be watching in the deep stretch at Churchill to see if he comes flying late as he did at Keeneland. 


PAUL: The way he dismantled Hansen at Keeneland shows me he's going to love the longer stretch at Churchill. Rain and a sloppy track shouldn't hurt him at all. As of Tuesday, he's my pick to win the Derby. Desormeaux is called "Superman" by racing fans...and he'll have this one flying faster than a speeding bullet down the stretch in front of the Twin Spires 


SONJA: I'm afraid it's going to be "too little, too late" for the closer. Weaving through 19 horses is a little different than nine. Still, I like him in the exotics and see a third or fourth place finish for him. If the speed should somehow completely fall apart (and I don't think it will) I wouldn't be surprised if he wins or gets close trying. The big knock against him is this...a horse has never won on the poly-track at Keeneland and then won the Kentucky Derby next time out. It's been since 1991 when a horse winning the Blue Grass Stakes (then on dirt) has won the Derby (Strike the Gold).
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