The Wire Players Dirty Dozen Volume V; March 16, 2010

Who will win the Derby? Who knows, but this sure is fun. Steve from Wireplayers.com has again released this below, the fifth version of the Top 12 poll.

Readers of The Turk know that he doesn't pay much attention to the 2 YOs. Sure I read about them a bit, but I don't bet them and I don't study them. In some ways that helps my handicapping and in other ways it hurts me: I don't get too wrapped up with the hype of great 2 YOs that don't always translate well into 3 YOs, yet I sometimes miss the excitement of great 2YOs that don't run until mid March and when they do, Wow!

There are only three more editions of this poll before the first Saturday in May. It's 55 degrees in Buffalo today. The sun is shining. Yeah, I'm excited.

The Wire Players Dirty Dozen Poll Volume V


Have Fun, Turk Out!

The Wire Players Dirty Dozen Volume III; February 17, 2010

The latest Wireplayers Dirty Dozen of Kentucky Derby contenders is out. It's a curious time on the Derby trail as so many of the top contenders have yet to get their first or second races under their tack as we approach the 3/4 mark of February. If Trainers and Connections want three starts before the Derby, well do the math, they are going to be running back on maybe 3 weeks rest somewhere along the line. How things have changed!

The Turk likes to think of himself as fairly contrarian. Generally that means as long as he doesn't say too much, wears his glasses and carries a copy of Atlas Shrugged around folks will think he's smart. I'm fairly contrarian in regards to the best of the three year old crop but don't mistake that for smart, I'm just perplexed. I'm a numbers guy who is starved for numbers. I don't want to stare at the 1/4 mile times for the Grade I Hopeful anymore. I'm a trips fella, and I want to see a real trip, not Eightyfiveinafifty's Cheech and Chong idea of a trip.

Alrighty, enough blather. Some very fine folks contribute to this pool and I suggest you follow the hyperlinks to their blogs for cutting edge opinions. You're welcome to stay here while I gaze deeply at the track, with my copy of Pablo Neruda's 20 Love Poems and wonder if I'm brilliant or just some bald nut referring to himself in the third person!

The Wire Players Dirty Dozen Kentucky Derby Contenders Volume II

Steve at Wireplayers.com has issued his second list of Derby Contenders as the Trail starts to warm up in earnest soon. It's early, but it's never too early to start talking.



Steve has assembled an eclectic group of voices to chime in every two weeks on the Derby contenders and The Turk is happy to provide my humble insights to the list. Click on the links in the chart to go to the various voters blogs, all of them are highly recommended.

Have Fun, Turk Out!