Welcome to year seven of the Brooklyn Backstretch Kentucky Derby charity game! We started in 2009, piggybacking on the Saratoga Special Derby fantasy league; from 2010 to 2013, we used the Road to the Roses as the base for our league play.
For the second year, Mike Dorr, who writes about racing at Up the Track, has put together our very own version, based on the points-carrying Derby prep races.
As in years past, I pledge $75 to the racing charity of the winner’s choice. There’s no entry fee, but contributions are welcome; over the years, we’ve donated $4,000 to racing charities like the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Days’ End Horse Rescue, Our Mims, Old Friends at Cabin Creek, All About Spay Neuter (which supported the care, feeding, and spay/neuter of the Belmont backstretch cats), and ReRun.
Last year’s winner was John Perotti, who won a pot of nearly $2,000, doling it out to Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue, Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, Belmont Child Care Association, The Moore Foundation (which supports the care, feeding, and spay/neuter of the cats on the Oklahoma backstretch), Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and The Exceller Fund.
In a change this year, donation money will be distributed among the top three finishers: 60% to the winner, 25% to the runner-up, 15% to whoever rounds out the trifecta.
Every dollar donated goes straight to the charities; info on pledging can be found below.
To play, you will select a fantasy stable consisting of 12 Triple Crown-nominated 3-year-old horses, and horses will earn points for the players’ stable with top-4 finishes in official Kentucky Derby qualifying races, racing in the Kentucky Derby, and a top-5 finish in the Kentucky Derby.
Points will be allocated according to the Kentucky Derby points system. Kentucky Derby starters will earn an additional 30 points each; Kentucky Derby points will be, for finishes in the top 5, 300-120-60-30-15.
Mike has divided the Triple Crown-nominated horses into three groups based on criteria including current Derby points standings, graded stakes earnings, and Derby future wagering odds. Group A consists of 14 horses, Group B 26, and Group C the remaining several hundred Triple Crown-nominated horses.
Players will choose for their stable:
- 3 Group A horses
- 4 Group B horses
- 5 Group C horses
The groups are available in this Google doc. You must select and post your stable by this Saturday, February 21, by 12:00 PM CST.
After the Sunland Park Derby on March 22, the horses will be divided into two groups (D & E, again grouped by performance criteria above) and stables will be able to add:
- 1 Group D horse
- 1 Group E horse
Round 2 of the contest will begin with the UAE Derby on March 28; supplemental horses must be selected by 6:00 PM CDT Friday, March 27. Points earned by Group D and E horses in Round 1 will not count toward the players’ total
The contest will conclude with the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2. The winning stable will have the most accumulated points. In the unlikely event of a tie, ties will be broken as follows:
- Highest # of Derby Starters in your stable
- Highest # of Points at the end of Round 1
A reminder post will go up the week before Round 2 begins.
We hope that you’ll join us again this year…and don’t forget to post the names of your horses in the comments section by noon this Saturday!
If you’re interested in contributing, please leave the amount in the comments or e-mail me at Teresa@brooklynbackstretch.com.
Questions? Contact Mike Dorr (mikedorr77@yahoo.com) or me, leave a question in the comments, find us on Twitter (@BklynBckstretch, @mikedorr77). As questions come in, we’ll post an FAQ.
Good luck, have fun, and let’s do some good for the racing community.
Brooklyn Backstretch 
thanks for doing this again — looking forward to playing! here’s my initial draft:
Group A:
Dortmund
Far From Over
Ocean Knight
Group B:
Bold Conquest
Frosted
Gorgeous Bird
Tiznow R J
Group C:
Ami’s Flatter
Keen Ice
Materiality
Private Prospect
Wisecracker
In for $100.00
Not settled on groups yet.
Group A:
American Pharoah
Upstart
Carpe Diem
Group B:
Imperia
Lord Nelson
Ocho Ocho Ocho
Competitive Edge
Group C:
Overcontrol
My Point Exactly
Leave the Light On
Souper Colossal
International Star
International Star was mistakenly listed as an A and C horse, but is rightly an A. Please feel free to add another in Group C. Sorry and thanks!
Mike, replace International Star with Condo Commando.
Excuse me Mike, make that My Point Exactly, instead of Condo Commando
Mike, could you please replace ‘Leave the Light’ On with Bolo.
Put me down for $75. Picks to come.
I’ll pledge $125 and if I win or come in last place I will 2x that amount.
Thanks, everyone, and look at Scott making it interesting!
I’ll pledge $100 and double it if a Pletcher horse doesn’t win.
A: Upstart, Texas Red, Dortmund
B: Far Right, Frosted, Imperia, Ocho Ocho Ocho
C: My Point Exactly, Calculator, International Star, Easy to Say, Or So
Put me down for $100
Group A: Upstart, Dortmund, American Pharoah
Group B: Frosted, Ocho Ocho Ocho, The Great War, Firing Line
Group C: Leave the Light On, International Star, Danny Boy, Barbados, Calculator
Ooooh…smack talk?
International Star was mistakenly listed as an A and C horse, but is rightly an A. Please feel free to add another in Group C. Sorry and thanks!
One change since the original post: we decided this year to distribute the donation among the top three finishers: 60% to the winner, 25% to second place, 15% to third place. I hope that doesn’t discourage any of you from playing, but wanted to let everyone know…
Put me down for $50.
Group A: Dortmund, El Kabeir, Ocean Knight
Group B: Danzig Moon, Frosted, Gorgeous Bird, Rock Shandy
Group C: Bluegrass Singer, Super Surfer, Danish Dynaformer, Keen Ice, Prodigal
[Updated by Teresa to substitute Super Surfer for Calculator]
$75
upstart….carpe diem…dortmund
firing line…imperia…lord nelson…metaboss
maftool,mebtaahij..bolo..jacaranda…gold shield
In for $50.00
Group A: Upstart, Carpe Diem, Dortmund
Group B: Khozan, Metaboss, The Great War, Gorgeous Bird
Group C: Souper Colossal, Barbados, Bolo, Cyrus Alexander, Japan
Imperia was mistakenly listed as a B and C horse, but is for others a B. Please feel free to add another in Group C. Sorry and thanks!
Splitting the purse just like a real horse race? Hmmm….
OK, here goes nothing!
Group A: Dortmund, Far From Over, Upstart
Group B: Frosted, Khozan, Lord Nelson, Gorgeous Bird
Group C: Calculator, Bolo, Barbados, Keen Ice, Cyrus Alexander.
Oh and I’m in for $50. No doubling down or anything, I am not that confident 🙂
Major duh, and thanks to Teresa for reminding me that Calculator is off the trail. I would like to replace him with Leave the Lights on in Group C. Thanks!!
Third times the charm? How about Materiality?
Thanks for organizing, Teresa! I pledge $75 and here are my choices:
Group A: Ocean Knight, Upstart, Carpe Diem
Group B: Frosted, Khozan, Firing Line, Ocho Ocho Ocho
Group C: Gold Shield, Bolo, Mubtaahij, Cyrus Alexander, Danny Boy
I think Imperia is in both B and C…I’m guessing this must be in error?
Thank you!
Chris
Yeah, Imperia should be a B. Please feel free to choose another C horse.
Group a Carpe diem,Upstart,Texas Red Group B Bayerd ,Frosted , Ocho ocho ocho, Classy Class, Group C Danny Boy, English Approval, InfinATE mIDNIGHT, Bluegrass Singer, Union River Thanks for all you do.
[updated by Teresa to reflect substitutions for Imperia and Leave the Light On]
Thank YOU for playing, Hank! Good luck!
Group A: Carpe Diem, Prospect Park, Upstart.
Group B: Far Right, Frosted, Gorgeous Bird, Lord Nelson.
Group C: Golden Years, Imperia, Majestic Affair, Nasa, Vici.
Oh, and I pledge $75 and have given myself a headache trying figure out what horses pick.
So….I have an Imperia glitch. Move him to Group B, drop Far Right.
And add Why Two.
I’m in for $50
A: Upstart, Dortmund, Texas Red
B: Frosted, Ocho Ocho Ocho, Bold Conquest, Beyerd
C: Hashtag Bourbon, Nasa, Danny Boy, Forever Unbridled, Keen Ice
You guys are amazing! Our donation is up to $1,030!
Good luck to everyone…and now I have to pick some horses…
OK, here goes nothing:
Group A: Upstart, International Star, Far From Over
Group B: Gorgeous Bird, Far Right, Competitive Edge, Prospect Park
Group C: Keen Ice, Ostrolenka, Another Lemon Drop, Good Luck Gus, St. Joe Bay
We will donate $500 ($300, $125, and $75) in the winner, 2nd, and 3rd-place persons’ names if they are a TwinSpires.com member.
Wow! TS members, step up!
We will follow in our sibling’s footsteps and also donate $500 in the winner, 2nd, and 3rd-place persons’ names ($300, $125, & $75, respectively) if they are an active customer of Brisnet (we’ll define active as having downloaded something this year).
Group A: American Pharoah, Carpe Diem, Upstart
Group B: Imperia, Khozan, Firing Line, The Great War
Group C: Cinco Charlie, Bad Read Sanchez, My Johnny Be Good, Why Two, General Bellamy
I pledge $100
I will donate $100.00.
Group A: American Pharoah,Dortmund, Upstart
Group B:Classy Class, Frosted, Metaboss, War Story
Group C: Danny Boy,Good Luck Gus,Hashtag Bourbon, Mawthooq, Puca,
Group A: Dortmund, Far From Over, Upstart
Group B: Danzig Moon, Gorgeous Bird, Khozan, Itsaknockout
Group C: Instant Replay, Wisecracker, Bolo, Spring Quality, Bold Conquest
$50 pledge
Group C: Swapping Nasa for Bold Conquest (BC is a Group B horse)
I’ll pledge $75 — it’s for a good cause, and I’d lose just as much playing sons and daughters of Invasor in maiden-claiming company, so here goes…
Group A
Prospect Park
Far From Over
Texas Red
Group B
Competitive Edge
Ocho Ocho Ocho
Gorgeous Bird
Imperia
Group C
Private Prospect
Cyrus Alexander
Unrivaled
Dontbetwithbruno
Keen Ice
Group A: Dortmund, Far From Over, Upstart
Group B: Competitive Edge, Imperia, Itsaknockout, Lord Nelson
Group C: Keen Ice, Madefromlucky, Maftool, Souper Colossal, Stanford
Pledge: $50 (or if I can successfully make a career change by securing a full time job in the horse racing industry by Derby Day 2015, I’ll make it $500. BTW – I’ve been trying for two years!)
I’m good for $100
A’s
American Pharoah
Upstart
Mr. Z
B’s
Ocho Ocho Ocho
Tiznow RJ
The Great War
Far Right
C’s
Stanford
Don’t Bet with Bruno
Ami’s Flatter
Bluegrass Singer
Midhmaar
$50 pledge and these fine thoroughbreds:
A – Carpe Diem, Daredevil, Upstart
B – Firing Line, Khozan, Imperia, Frosted
C – Mubtaahij, Wisecracker, Keen Ice, Gold Shield, One Lucky Dane
Okay, Teresa, here goes:
A: American Pharoah, Dortmund, Upstart;
B: Far Right, Firing Line, Frosted, Imperia;
C: Bolo, Cyrus Alexander, Danny Boy, Keen Ice, Mubtaahij.
I pledge $50, double if I win.
Thanks for doing this…it is fun, Kay Marie
$50 pledge and these fine thoroughbreds:
A – Carpe Diem, Daredevil, Upstart
B – Firing Line, Frosted, Khozan, Imperia
C – Mubtaahij, Gold Shield, Wisecracker, One Lucky Dane, Keen Ice
$100
A
Upstart
Ocean Knight
Far From Over
B
Khozan
Imperia
Itsaknockout
The Great War
C
Bolo
Materiality
Wisecracker
Cyrus Alexander
Blofeld
Can we PayPal donation, and, if so, where?
A – American Pharoah, Carpe Diem, Upstart
B – Firing Line, Khozan, Lord Nelson, Ocho Ocho Ocho
C – Cinco Charlie, Materiality, Mubtaahij, My Johnny Be Good, Sir Samson
A – Far From Over, Ocean Knight, Upstart
B – Danzig Moon, Frosted, Imperia, Tiznow R J
C – Bolo, General Bellamy, Japan, Keen Ice, Tradesman
Thanks to you both for organizing.
$50 pledge
Group A:
Carpe Diem
Dortmund
Upstart
Group B:
Frosted
Imperia
Khozan
Ocho Ocho Ocho
Group C:
Bolo
Nasa
One Lucky Dane
War Dispatch
Wisecracker
Upstart
Daredevil
American Pharoah
Khozan
Far Right
Imperia
War Story
Bluegrass Singer
Cinco Charlie
Daddy DT
Private Prospect
Danish Dynaformer
Group A
American Pharoah
Dortmund
Texas Red
Group B
Frosted
Imperial
Ochoa Ochoa Ochoa
Lord Nelson
Group C
Barbados
Crittenden
Element
Majestic Affair
Mawthook
$100 pledge
A: Far From Over, Mr. Z, Upstart
B: Firing Line, Imperia, Itsaknockout, The Great War
C: Danny Boy, Island Town, Maftool, Souper Colossal, Veneto
Group A: Dortmund, Upstart, Prospect Park
Group B: Bold Conquest, Imperia, Tiznow RJ, War Story
Group C: Forever Unbridled, General Bellamy, Hashtag Bourbon, Big Big Easy, Indianaughty
$100
A: Far From Over, Texas Red, Upstart
B: Classy Class, Danzig Moon, Metaboss, War Story
C: Big Big Easy, Dukin With Dale, King of New York, Punctuate, Tennessee
A: Carpe Diem, Dortmund, Upstart
B: Bold Conquest, Khozan, Ocho Ocho Ocho, JS Bach
C: Bolo, Hero Ten All, Shook Up, Blofeld, March
$75 pledge
I’m in for $50.
Group A
Carpe Diem
Dortmund
Upstart
Group B
Firing Line
Frosted
Imperia
War Story
Group C
Eh Cumpari
Equilibrium
Mawthooq
Summer Hawk
Wisecracker
$75 pledge and I’m defending my title with:
Group A: American Pharoah, Carpe Diem, Upstart
Group B: Firing Line, Frosted, Imperia, Khozan
Group C: Bolo, Cyrus Alexander, Madefromlucky, Materiality, Punctuate
Teaming up with John Perotti and picking an ALL Pletcher barn for $25. If both John Perotti and I finish in the top 5, we will double our total pledge from $100 to $200.
Group A: Carpe Diem, Daredevil, Far From Over
Group B: Competitive Edge, Itsaknockout, JS Bach, Khozan
Group C: Blofeld, Madefromlucky, Materiality, Ostrolenka, Overcontrol
Group A: American Pharaoh, Dortmund, Upstart
Group B: War Story, Khozan, Frosted, Itsaknockout
Group C: Aldrin, Calculator, Puca, Flashaway, Mubtaahij
*I’m also pledging $25 for charity purposes
$50 pledged
A – Carpe Diem, Upstart, Dortmunc
B – Bold Conquest, Firing Line, Frosted, Imperia, The Great War
C – Conquest Harlanday, Cyrus Alexander, Gold Shield, Keen Ice, Madefromlucky
Whoops, too many in B….
$50 pledged
A – Carpe Diem, Upstart, Dortmunc
B – Bold Conquest, Frosted, Imperia, The Great War
C – Conquest Harlanday, Cyrus Alexander, Gold Shield, Keen Ice, Madefromlucky
Count this TS member in for $50. My picks:
A)
American Pharoah
Dortmund
Upstart
B)
Lord Nelson
Ocho Ocho Ocho
Metaboss
The Great War
C)
Bolo
Souper Colossal
Danny Boy
Maftool
Mubtaahij
Pledging $50
Upstart, El Kabeir, Ocean Knight
Gorgeous Bird, Frosted, Imperia, Ocho Ocho Ocho
General Bellamy, Majestic Affair, Private Prospect, Mischief Clem, Keen Ice
I promise that these stables were sent to me before 1pm ET today…got them via e-mail and posting now! Ditto for some of the corrections people needed to make because Mike and I screwed up.
Mark Hennig: $75 pledge
A:
American Pharoah
Carpe Diem
Upstart
B:
Bold Conquest
Imperia
Frosted
Khozan
C:
Blame Jim
Bluegrass Singer
Gold Shield
Keen Ice
On Tap
Wynne Dudley: $50 pledge
Hi I’d like to participate in this year’s derby charity game. My picks are below.
Group A: Dortmund Texas Red Upstart
Group B: Imperia Ochoa Ochoa Ocho Gorgeous Bird The Great War
Group C: Blame Jim Puctuate Power Jam Mubtaahj Maftool
Entries closed with $2,430 in pledges (which we’ll bump up to an even $2,500 by the end), plus another $1,000 in available bonuses for TwinSpires and Brisnet customers.
Thank you all — your generosity is overwhelming! Good luck to everyone–
Just read Mike’s post about International Star not being a C so replace him with Souper Colossal for my Picks-many thanks