Essential Quality finished a game fourth. Saez did not get his redemption. Cox had the double heartbreak of watching his other horse, Mandaloun, come up just short.

“He absolutely ran his heart out,” said his jockey, Florent Geroux. “We just got beat.”

The record will reflect the cold hard facts of a sometimes warm and squishy game of perception: Medina Spirit covered the mile and a quarter in 2 minutes 1.02 seconds and paid $26.20 on a $2 bet to win.

At the end of the day, a sport that both transfixes and repels did both again.

“This never gets old,” said Velazquez, rightfully one of the happiest men in horse racing after his victory.

Yeah, well, too often it does.

NY Times – Drape – Medina Spirit Wins the 147th Kentucky Derby

I find fault with my children because I like them and I want them to go places – uprightness and strength and courage and civil respect and anything that affects the probabilities of failure on the part of those that are closest to me, that concerns me – I find fault.

Branch Rickey

“I kept waiting for all the horses to pass him,” Baffert said. “And all of sudden, I’m thinking, ‘Wait a minute.’ … When he got to the eighth pole, I’m thinking, ‘He’s got a shot,’ and we started getting loud.”

Down the stretch there were several horses that had an opportunity to pass Medina Spirit. Hot Rod Charlie was three wide, and favored Essential Quality was tracking four wide. But Medina Spirit wouldn’t relinquish the lead.

“Every time I asked him to give more, he kept fighting on,” Velazquez said. “You couldn’t ask for more of a horse. When you ride a horse like this who is competitive, you can’t ask for anything else.”

LA Times – Cherwa – Medina Spirit gives Bob Baffert a record seventh win in Kentucky Derby

2021 Kentucky Derby

CTV News – Lachacz – Alberta horse trainer celebrates seventh place finish at Kentucky Derby

Robertino Diodoro’s Keepmeinmind finished 7th after an awkward break.

KEEPMEINMIND broke awkwardly, was unhurried into stride, made a sweeping move six wide through the second turn, came eight wide into the stretch and was making up ground.

2021 Kentucky Derby Chart

Medina Spirit was bred in Florida by Gail Rice, mother of Eclipse Award finalist Taylor Rice (apprentice jockey) and mother-in-law to top jockey Jose Ortiz, out of the Brilliant Speed mare Mongolian Changa. The mare failed to produce milk when Medina Spirit was first born, and Rice had to turn to her only other broodmare, Scribbling Sarah, for assistance. The young Medina Spirit thrived, and his own mom started producing milk several hours later.

Bloodhorse – Hovdey – ‘Johnny V’ Takes a Fitting Place in Derby Lore

Paulick Report – Hackbarth – $1,000 Medina Spirit Gives Baffert A Record Seventh Set Of Roses; Velazquez Rides Oaks-Derby Double

Bloodhorse – King – Medina Spirit Gives Baffert Record Seventh Derby Win

Brisnet – Hanson – Medina Spirit guts out record seventh Kentucky Derby win for Baffert

SportsNet – AP – Medina Spirit wins Kentucky Derby as Bob Baffert gets record seventh win

ESPN – AP – Medina Spirit gives Bob Baffert record 7th Kentucky Derby win

TDN – Sherack – Medina Spirit Gives Baffert a Record-Breaking Seventh Derby

Horse Race Insider – Pricci – A KENTUCKY DERBY PARABLE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

ESPN – AP – Trainer Bob Baffert breaks tie with D. Wayne Lukas, notching his 220th Grade 1 stakes victory

Spirits in the Sky

TDN – Frary – Dawn Approach’s Poetic Flare Prevails In Guineas Thriller

There is nothing stable in the world; uproar’s your only music.

John Keats

Bloodhorse – Racing Post – Scargill – Poetic Flare Gets Up to Take Two Thousand Guineas

TDN – The Santa Barbara Effect

Bloodhorse – Racing Post – Porteous – Dettori Lands One Thousand Guineas on Mother Earth

Bloodhorse – Angst – Baffert Can’t Believe Record Kentucky Derby Win

Louisville Courier-Journal – Russell – Five years after founding Zedan Racing Stables, Amr Zedan’s horse wins 2021 Kentucky Derby

There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with transform a yellow spot into the sun.

Pablo Picasso

Zedan Racing

Walking on Sunshine

Bloodhorse – 2021 Kentucky Derby Moments

Bloodhorse – 2021 Kentucky Derby – Slideshow

Pinhooker Christy Whitman snapped up Medina Spirit for $1,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale. Whitman would later offer him through the 2020 OBS July 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale (normally held in June but pushed back because of the delays in sales caused by COVID-19) where agent Gary Young bought him for $35,000 for Amr Zedan’s Zedan Racing Stables. From there, the colt went to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Bloodhorse – Eric – Mitchell – Breeder Gail Rice Catches Lightning With Medina Spirit

Phil has a question:

How many wudda, cudda, shudda, bsudda stories are spreading through the back stretches of every thoroughbred track today.

Is it 100 or 10,000 underbidders so far.

He who desires, but acts not, breeds pestilence.

William Blake

Protonico

Bloodhorse – Eric Mitchell – Aboughazale Rewarded for His Faith in Protonico

Bloodhorse – King – Derby Back in Rightful Place on First Saturday in May

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Johnson – How do you cope with the loss of a special horse? John Berry on the extraordinary Rocket Roy

Bloodhorse – Hammonds – Champion Gamine Delivers in Derby City Distaff

TDN – Gamine All The Way in Derby City Distaff

Bloodhorse – Angst – Turf Classic Ends in Thrilling Dead Heat

TDN – Carasso – A Heater In the Turf Classic

Bloodhorse – Daugherty – Flagstaff Gets Nod in Churchill Downs Stakes

TDN – Sherack – Flagstaff Takes Wild Finish In Churchill Downs

Paulick Report – Flagstaff Determined Winner In Breathtaking Churchill Downs Stakes Finish

Paulick Report – Colonel Liam, Domestic Spending Dead-Heat In A Turf Classic Thriller

Bloodhorse – Daugherty – Blowout Lives Up to Her Name in Churchill Distaff Turf

TDN – Blowout Breaks Through In Distaff Turf Mile

Paulick Report – Nevills – Jackie’s Warrior Outlasts Dream Shake In Pat Day Mile

TDN – Jackie’s Warrior All Heart In Pat Day Mile

Bloodhorse – King – Jackie’s Warrior Outduels Dream Shake in Pat Day Mile

Bloodhorse – Dr Post Returns Victorious in Westchester

Bloodhorse – Oser – Du Jour Steps Up to Capture American Turf

TDN – It’s Du Jour’s Day In the American Turf

Paulick Report – NYRA – Martin – Five-Win Day Puts Franco Atop Belmont Jockey Standings

Bloodhorse – Ehalt – Magic Attitude, Tribhuvan Win as Fans Return to Belmont

Paulick Report – NYRA – McCalmont – Magic Attitude Rallies From Last To Win Sheepshead Bay

Bloodhorse – Hall – Kentucky Derby Day Wagering Rebounds to $233 Million

Bloodhorse – Angst – No Kentucky Derby Day Strike for Churchill Downs Valets

The Churchill valets displayed class in respecting Kentucky Derby Day, but I’m sure a few had ulterior motives. How much money did JR’s (John R. not Joel Rosario) valet make in tips over the Oaks Derby weekend with JR winning 3 major stakes.

That brings us to the main point: The best moments of that show over the years haven’t had anything to do with god-tier NBA discussion. You don’t bring in Charles Barkley to delve into minutia. You bring him in because he’s charismatic, and he’s funny, and he’s good at making television and he’s good at making people pay attention. If that’s not the point of all this, what is?

AuburnWire – Stultz – The Athletic writer wants Charles Barkley to become NHL analyst

Crazy

Paulick Report – Oaklawn – Yates – Jose Santos Revolutionizing Jockey Agent’s Role

Paulick Report – Kotulak – Fonner Files: Fans From Near And Far At Fonner Park

Crazy

Paulick Report – Santa Anita – Willman – Madone Makes Impressive Return In Senorita Stakes

National Post – Rights beyond borders: Big questions were triggered when an Indigenous American shot an elk in Canada

Phil has a question:

What if an Indigenous Canadian shot an elk in the United States.

ESPN – Kiper – NFL draft grades: Mel Kiper picks steals, sleepers and favorite 2021 classes from all 32 teams

National Observer – Fawcett-Atkinson – Mexican tomatoes can be more sustainable than local ones

NAIT – Hockey – Draft

Phil has a question:

When will horse racing start drafts that attract fans from other sports and more revenue to the industry.

Oaks Day Wrap

TDN – All Good for Oaks Runners Saturday

Bumped from each side at the start, Malathaat looked as though she’d be shuffled back to the rear of the field. Instead, her Hall of Fame jockey sent her through a narrow hole to be three-wide in sixth position around the clubhouse turn.

Hackbarth is being a tad too polite. After getting bumped from each side at the start, Malathaat bulled her way between rivals to gain position.

Paulick Report – Hackbarth – Malathaat Guts Out Emotional Victory In Kentucky Oaks

Bloodhorse – Evan Hammonds – Malathaat Stays Perfect With Determined KY Oaks Victory

TDN – Sherack – Curlin’s Undefeated Malathaat Scores Gutsy Victory in KY Oaks

Malahat Estate Winery

Bloodhorse – Daugherty – Malathaat Exits Kentucky Oaks in ‘Excellent’ Condition

Bloodhorse – Daugherty – Gift List Delivers Edgewood Stakes Upset

TDN – Gift List Dominates the Edgewood, Aunt Pearl Fifth

Paulick Report – Gift List Shows Stretch Wallop To Win Edgewood Stakes; Aunt Pearl, Fifth At 1-5 Odds, Bled

TDN – Curlin’s Obligatory Comes From the Clouds to Upset the Eight Belles

Bloodhorse – Angst – Juddmonte’s Obligatory Rallies to Win Eight Belles

Paulick Report – Obligatory Flies Late To Snatch Eight Belles Victory From Dayoutoftheoffice

TDN – Shedaresthedevil an Oaks Day Victress Once Again

Paulick Report – Shedaresthedevil Refuses To Lose In La Troienne Stakes Triumph

TDN – Maxfield Returns to Winning Ways in Alysheba

Paulick Report – Maxfield Makes It Look Easy In Alysheba

Paulick Report – Voss – Fast Boat Motors To Twin Spires Turf Sprint Win With Powerful Closing Effort

Phil has a question:

How much did the Boat Racing boys have on Fast Boat.

TDN – Zoffany Filly Romps in U.S. Debut

2021 Horse Racing Alberta Governance Project

How to Get Involved
All Albertans interested in weighing in on the future of Alberta horse racing are welcome to do so. The project team offers every Albertan an opportunity to have their voice heard through online surveys.

We will also be reaching out to a wide variety of industry stakeholders, offering opportunities to participate in online focus groups and one-on-one interviews. If you would like to be considered for a focus group, please email wade@marcommworks.ca by May 15, 2021 with your name, title, organization, and reason for wanting to get your voice heard. We will have a limited number of spots available.

When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.

PJ O’Rourke

When Phil first reported that Alberta Treasury Board and Finance had issued a RFP: Horse Racing Alberta Governance Phil felt a glimmer of hope for the resurgence of the horse racing Industry in Alberta. Then the RFP submission date was extended. Then the successful bidder was announced and there was only one bidder shown: Opportunity Notice Horse Racing Alberta Governance: Marcomm Works Inc.

A little bit of research, clicking on their website, Marcomm Works Inc. shows that Marcomm has provided service to the province of Alberta and more particularly and most troubling to Horse Racing Alberta.

Phil has a question:

Was the RFP designed in such a manner to give a preference to any bidder or groups of bidders.

Was the RFP sufficiently publicized to attract the best available bidders.

Was there sufficient time given for prospective bidders to prepare and submit their bids.

Were there conflict of interest guidelines in the RFP and if there were we they sufficient.

Is there such a dearth of talent in Alberta, Canada, North America and the world that an RFP that ends up paying $397,385.00CDN attracts only 1 bidder during desperate economic times.

If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?

John Wooden

Does anyone in the entitled UCP or their Tory cronies understand what a conflict of interest is and what its ramifications for the best performance of a project are.

The RFP requires :

The vendor shall exercise their expertise in governance and stakeholder engagement to prepare a strategy for bringing key government and industry partners to the table to develop and implement a governance plan for Alberta’s horse racing industry and an appeals process to hear appeals of the decisions of racing officials.

The fact that a RFP was issued to set up a new model for horse racing governance in Alberta tells one that the government is not happy with the present structure and the manner that the variuos parties over the years have managed it. The vendor will have to research and report on what it perceives are the problems with the current Horse Racing Alberta structure and how that structure was managed and manipulated during its lifespan.

Phil has a question:

How can Marcomm give an critical unbiased report on the workings of Horse Racing Alberta when Marcomm has been part and parcel of the workings of Horse Racing Alberta and Marcomm has a vested interest in not finding fault with the work they provided to Horse Racing Alberta.

How can Marcomm give an critical unbiased report on the workings of Horse Racing Alberta when Marcomm has developed business and personal relationships with members of Horse Racing Alberta and Marcomm has a vested interest in maintaining those business relationships.

How can Marcomm give an critical unbiased report on the workings of Horse Racing Alberta when the government may decide to retain the current structure of Horse Racing Alberta and Marcomm has a vested interest in providing future work to Horse Racing Alberta if that structure is maintained.

Do you have confidence in Marcomm giving a critical unbiased report on the workings of Horse Racing Alberta.

Why is Marcomm limiting the participants to All Albertans. Shouldn’t other Canadian and US residents who want to participate in the horse racing industry in Alberta be given a say.

Do you need to belong to an organization before you can be placed on a focus group or have a one-on-one interview. Shouldn’t all participants in horse racing whether or not they belong to or represent an organization be given a chance to be on a focus group or have a one-on-one interview.

Why is Marcomm limiting the number of spots available. If Marcomm wants to do the best possible wouldn’t speaking to as many persons as possible be more appropriate than limiting the number of spots available. Are they using a cherry picked list of persons qualified by Clark Kent or the QKB.

Can you stop at one salted peanut.

Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.

Benjamin Franklin

Stay tuned for updates.

While we’re on the topic of Horse Racing Alberta

Phil has a question:

Is the Horse Racing Alberta Appeals Tribunal deliberately trying to make Alberta the laughing stock of horse racing.

Standardbred Canada – Don Byrne Finish Order Restored

Phil has a question:

Where are the reasons for the initial disqualification posted.

Where are the reasons for the Appeal Tribunal decision posted.

Ontario Horse Racing Appeal Panel – All Decisions and Orders

If they aren’t posted why not.

Why was the starting gate so far off the rail.

If it was the fault of the driver on the starting gate, should the whole race not be declared a no contest.

Is the Appeals Tribunal entitled to make up its own rules as it goes along.

Is Serge Masse entitled to a half a length head start on the other horses.

Is Serge Masse entitled to have his horses head ahead of the starting gate.

Is Serge Masse entitled to be one lane closer to the rail than his post.

Is Serge Masse entitled to bring his horse to the start without its head being on its assigned number.

Do Serge’s entitlements stem from the fact that he’s such an upstanding honest horseman.

Does the Appeals Tribunal really understand what an appeal is.

Phil M Stockmen

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