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10:36

Kevin Spain, T-P - Welcome to the horse racing/Kentucky Derby chat. We'll be going live with Times-Picayune reporter Bob Fortus around 11. Please go ahead and start sending in your questions.

11:01

Kevin Spain, T-P - OK, everyone, we're going to go live with Bob in Louisville and we're taking your questions.

11:01

[Comment From KentuckChuck]
We've all seen what Friesian Fire can do in the slop. With rain likely for tomorrow's Derby, are there any long shots that might excel on a sloppy track in addition to the much talked about Louisiana Derby winner?

11:02

Bob Fortus, T-P - Chuck, Desert Party, a horse from Dubai, has won in the mud, and he appears comfortable on the sloppy track.

11:03

[Comment From Jock-E]
What do think the track conditions will be Saturday and which horse does it favor, in your opinion?

11:05

Bob Fortus, T-P -

Jock-E, That's a difficult question. The weather forecast says 70 percent chance of rain, but handicapping weather is as difficult as handicapping horses. Also, the churchill Downs track dries out quickly, like the Fair Grounds, so even if it rains, the track condition can change if the rain stops during the day. That said, Friesan Fire handles mud.

11:05

[Comment From Pony Pete]
Bob, as a person who watches a lot of racing, what do you think makes Joe Talamo a good jockey

11:07

Bob Fortus, T-P - Pony Pete, Joe Talamo, unlike other young riders, is patient. He has a good feel for the pace of a race. In the Wood, he showed that he doesn't panic when confronted with trouble.
Not only that, his upbringing, growing up around horse, gives him rapport with the animals.

11:07

[Comment From Joey from Slidell]
Looking at the PP's i do not see much of a pace in this race...i predict that it will set up a perfert trip for desert party, tracking dunkirk and overtaking him down the stretch. what do you make of to pace set up and your pick?

11:12

Bob Fortus, T-P - Joey, You might be right about the pace. Join in the Dance is the key pace element besides Regal Ransom. I'm sceptical about Join in the Dance's class, and wonder if he'll be a pace factor for long. Call me a homer if you want, but I'm picking Friesan Fire. He might get a perfect stalking trip.
He has to avoid being sucked into a fast pace - if Join in the Dance is capable of running fast early and staying in front for a while.

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