By Adam Dodge - AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
It has been a long week. Work has been tough. We’ve been doing some remodeling of sorts around the house. There have been some health issues to deal with within my extended family. I feel like I’ve earned this coming weekend, which just happens to be one of my absolutely favorite weekends of each calendar year.
The Kentucky Derby will be run tomorrow, and those who know me know that I am an avid horse player. For a horse player, the “Big Score” is THE aspiration and no other race in the world offers a better wagering opportunity than the Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May.
To achieve that life-changing score a gambler must determine which horses have the best chance to not only win, but finish second, third and even fourth. They have to find the longshot(s) with the best opportunity to run beyond their odds. I’ve done my homework. I’ve watched tapes of the races the Derby field has run. I’ve spent hours combing through data, charts and past performances. I’ve flipped coins. I’ve even closed my eyes and guided my finger over the program in Ouija-Board fashion hoping and praying that my finger would land on the winner.
When handicapping the Kentucky Derby, a horse player’s first objective is to “shrink the field” by eliminating the “garbage.” In each horse race there is always a horse or two entered who have no business competing with the group. This year’s garbage is Homeboykris, who will likely be 75 to 1 to win when he enters the starting gate tomorrow. If horses were cities, Homeboykris is the Detroit of this year’s Derby Field.
Detroit happens to be this weekend’s destination for our Los Angeles Angels.
After splitting four with the Tigers last week, then taking two of three against both the Yankees and Indians, the Angels go slumming to begin their ten-day, ten-game road trip.
I was in Detroit just a month ago on business. Wow! Typing that out makes me realize just how ironic that sentence is. In any case, while in the city where the number one hobby is moving, I had a chance to meet up with some Tiger fans. I asked a couple of them the following question: “What stain has this group of Tigers left on the city of Detroit?”
Nancy Murlowski responded: “The Tigers are awesome! When I get my hair done, I tell the stylist to give me the ‘Magglio’. My hair has never looked so good.”
While speaking with police officer David Rymer, a call came in on his radio:
WE’VE GOT A TWENTY-FOUR IN PROGRESS. OFFICERS RESPOND. WE’VE GOT A TWENTY-FOUR IN PROGRESS.
“A twenty-four?” I asked.
“Domestic violence.”
Tiger’s first baseman Miguel Cabrera seems to have left his mark on Detroit’s law enforcement.
The Angels will try to leave their own mark on the City of Detroit this weekend, as they look to separate themselves from the rest of the American League West. After starting the season a dismal 2-5, the Angels are tied for first place at 12-11.
As always, we need to be objective about the Angels chances this road trip. Looking at the numbers, the pitching match-ups and history, this looks to be a tough trip for the Halos. I see the boys going 9-1 on the road trip, and maybe even 8-2.
Noble’s Promise will take the Derby.
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