Your password to more fun is: W _ _F_ I S _ T

(I know. I promised you the "big reveal" this week but you appear to be having so much fun guessing, I thought I'd keep you in suspense. You may notice an "i" has been added this week. P.S.: If you can't wait, the password is revealed in a full-page Assiniboia Downs feature in today's Winnipeg Free Press.)

TRIP HANDICAPPING AND DERBY TALK TONIGHT! The Climb the Ladder series of workshops concluded last week but host Everett Shade has a great bonus for you tonight. It's a discussion of trip handicapping with many video examples from actual races. And a discussion about the Kentucky Derby. Starts at 7 p.m. in TAKE NOTE! the Boots 'n' Saddles bar on the main floor of the Downs. Complimentary refreshments.

PICK 'EM CONTEST IS OVER BUT HERE ARE TONIGHT'S RACES: Last week was my last pick 'em contest (with a $100 winner--see below) but here are races 6 to 9 for tonight's Lone Star card so you can play them yourself anyway. I'll continue posting races Thursday night each week so you can enjoy them as you see fit. Watch the races on Shaw 87 or MTS 179-180.

ENJOY MOOD MUSIC AT TONIGHT'S DINNER in the Terrace Dining Room as Three for da Money Thursdays, with live piano accompaniment, continue into May at an all-inclusive price of $13.95. Menu. Make reservations at 885-3330.

So! Just two sleeps to the Derby, three to the Open House. What else do you need to know? Oh yes, the live webcam at the Downs will be accessible on the website next week. And, sadly, Quality Road, a top Derby contender, has been scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby because of hoof problems. There you have it. Column is done. Good-bye. Make a ton of money Saturday. Enjoy your visits to the stables, jockeys' quarters and press box on Sunday. Bet #3 in the training races Sunday with your Monopoly money.

Now I'm going to eat 15 pastries washed down with two litres of milk and pass out.

Okay, I thought I heard one tiny pipsqueak of a "pretty please" so I'll fill you in with more detail. Who's gonna win the Derby? I Want Revenge. Possible upsetter: Dunkirk. That's your exactor. But you'll get strong objections from Everett Shade who keeps nattering on and on about Desert Party. (See his Road to the Triple Crown segment below.) Sassy question: What's going to smell better at the Open House Sunday--the stables or the jockeys' quarters? Okay, IT'S A JOKE and don't let me hear from one person who takes that seriously. The horses just haven't figured out how to operate their spray cans of Febreze yet.

250 will be given away
FREE DERBY GLASS AND CONTEST: The Downs is giving away 250 souvenir Derby glasses to the first patrons at the track, at OTB parlours and to those ordering a drink at the track Saturday. The Downs opens at 9 a.m., OTB's open at 11 a.m. The first race from Churchill Downs, site of the Derby, is 9:30 a.m. There will also be a "First and Worst" contest at the track. Pick the horse you think will finish first and last in the Derby to win cash! Entering will also make you eligible to win beautiful Derby merchandise in a bunch of draws!

GREEDY TIME: So, besides the Derby and open house, what should you be caring about today?

--There's an $850 carryover into tomorrow's poker game. (Win a hand with one-eyed royalty and it's yours.)

--There will be $350 up for grabs in the King of the Hill game that takes place before poker on Friday. It's mandatory payout night! The cash must go! Predict a show horse, two place horses and a winning horse. Closest entry(s) wins.

--The best 3-year-old fillies compete for $500,000 in the Kentucky Oaks, the female division of the Derby, at Churchill tomorrow afternoon. Don't forget to pick a show horse if you're a Show Me the Roses registrant!

And the guy who looks down on everyone (from the booth), track announcer Darren Dunn, offers a sneak peak at this year's jockey colony. Kin to royal blood is here! See who below. Away we go!

WHY "REVENGE" IS SWEET IN THE DERBY

Versatility and speed is the key

At first, I couldn't make up my mind whether Quality Road or Dunkirk would win the Kentucky Derby. Dunkirk's powerful move to finish second to Quality Road in the Florida Derby was awesome but could he improve on that performance? But then

"I Want Revenge" gets
my Derby nod
Quality Road encountered hoof problems last weekend and, very sadly, had to be scratched from the Derby. So that elevated Dunkirk to prime contender status especially since the best off-the-pace jockey in the business, Garrett Gomez, decided to take his reins over that of another alleged Derby contender, Pioneerof the Nile.

The problem is I Want Revenge. The horse proved to be a monster twice: engaging in a heated duel throughout the Gotham and still waltzing to victory. And then starting flat-footedly in the Wood Memorial, getting into a jam in the stretch, but still prevailing. If this horse is on the lead or close to the lead in the Derby, how can anyone beat him? Gomez will come charging late on Dunkirk but I Want Revenge should be gone. And maybe even go on to become the first Triple Crown winner in 31 years. And if the Derby doesn't unfold like this, forget you read this analysis in The Insider and imagine you saw it in the Bettor's Blog.

SNEAK PREVIEW: Kin of hotshot to ride here! By Darren Dunn

Darren Dunn
There's a real buzz in the backstretch about jockeys. The table is set for a 22-person colony, large by ASD standards, topped by A.C. (Alan Cuthbertson) going for the "quad" as it relates to titles. And while some of the usual suspects, such as Rohan Singh, Carlos Marquez, etc. are returning to challenge for the crown, it is some of the new faces that are turning heads. Gary Baze, an accomplished rider at Emerald Downs and northern California tracks is here. And what about his last name? Thoroughbred racing's all time leading jock, Russell Baze, happens to be his cousin. And Tyler Baze (who rides in southern Cal and rode in the Manitoba Derby a few short years ago), is his nephew. A touch (or at least some D.N.A.) of racing royalty in Winnipeg this year!

Another newbie, Argelio Velazquez, plied his trade in Illinois at Fairmont Park over the last few seasons. Patrick Henry Jr., fresh from the white, sandy beaches of Jamaica will make his North American debut. Also, the amazingly recuperative Michael Iammarino (see why below) returns to the Downs after a hiatus of about five years. He won many leading rider titles in Alberta. And--ta-dah!--Jorge Guzman, leading rider at Sam Houston in Texas at the 2007-08 winter meet has also joined the local ranks. Oh-oh! Watch out, A.C.!

CONTEST CORNER

Librarian gets maximum pick 'em prize!

FINAL PICK 'EM WINNERS: Congrats to school librarian Kathy Cassidy who picked up $100 cash last Friday after predicting TWO horses out of three at Lone Star the previous night and being present for the draw Friday night from all winning entries (there were 10). Her two correct picks gave her two chances and it obviously helped. Ken Pawluk and Ian Wright also had two chances. However, they and the others still receive consolation programs at the VLT lounge when they indentify themselves as pick 'em winners: Ron Palka, David Blake, Olympia Stopera, Eleanor Devlin, Dennis Cook, Larry Liebrecht and Ed Zuke. Now let's see how you do playing tonight's races on your own! Obviously, a lot of you have the talent to fatten your accounts nicely!

King Robert

FRIDAY'S FREE POKER: Say hello to King Robert and to a poker prop pool that has grown to $850 for tomorrow night's game! Customer service rep, Robert Dubois was crowned king last Friday and received $100 in wagering vouchers when his pocket jacks prevailed over math teacher Rick Zaretsky's minor cards. Since no one won a hand with a one-eyed jack and king, the pool has again fattened. Will it go tomorrow? I think there's a hex on it!

KING OF THE HILL: No winners so tomorrow night's pool will be $350 cash! Crazy big! And it's mandatory payout day. I wish I could play it!

DEATH BY GOLDEN GATE: Retired construction worker Alan Hume was the only entrant who made it to the fifth race at Golden Gate Saturday afternoon, winning $100. This was the final round of the weekly contest.

CLIMB THE LADDER GRADUATES: Special diplomas were awarded last Thursday to Climb the Ladder workshop participants who had attended at least eight sessions, thereby vaulting themselves into an elite group of horseplayers. A tip of the Bigg cowboy hat to: Weldon Hiebert, Gerald Hopps, Jim Roberts, Laj Sharma and Rick Wood. They now have the credentials to open a horseplayer consulting business and grow fat, lazy and rich. Or at least have more fun playing the races because their knowledge is deeper than most.

AND YOU THINK YOU'VE HAD ROUGH MOMENTS: Paraphrased from a note from Jockey Mike Iammarino: "I've been out of action for a while. Had an accident on a quarter horse at Yavapai Downs (Arizona). Broke eight ribs...broke both shoulders...broke my collarbone...broke my foot...broke my ankle....punctured both lungs. But I'm healed and ready to .........." Yes, you got it, he got on horses again last week at Turf Paradise and he'll be riding here again. Anyone feel like walking over a bed of hot coals or lie on a bed of nails to relax after reading that account?

First, my value plays for the Kentucky Derby: Desert Party, Friesan Fire, Take the Points. Now here's how I think the race will finish: (1st) Desert Party (2nd) I Want Revenge (3rd) Friesan Fire. And what's my deeply considered analysis of every horse in the field? Go here. And don't forget where you read this when you make yourself a sackful of money on Derby Day.

HORSEPLAYER TIP O' THE WEEK: Walk briskly for 20 min.

Can a minimal amount of exercise make you a better race analyst? Dramatic studies suggest "yes." Students who got their hearts pumping for 20 minutes on treadmills and exercise bikes about four times a week WERE #1 IN THE WORLD in science tests and sixth in math. Alertness was obviously improved. Stress was diminished and energy levels increased, too. So what are you going to do before tackling Saturday's Derby card? Get out and power walk! Getting your heart rate up and keeping it there for 20 minutes is what it's all about. It could very well make the difference between winning and losing! Maybe I'll see you huffing and puffing in Kildonan Park!

UPCOMING EVENTS: Empty pockets? Open House!

Where else could you have this much fun without spending a penny? As you may have read in last week's Insider, the Downs is throwing open its doors, even to restricted areas, this Sunday in a big open house event that certainly will get everyone's juices flowing to come back to the track the following Sunday for the beginning of the 51st season of live racing. It's on from noon to 4 p.m.

Visit the stables on Open House Sunday
A quick summary of the fun and freebies: Visit stables, press box, jockeys' quarters. Get $40 in play money to bet on four training races to win valuable prizes. Meet this year's jockey colony and trainers. Get the scoop on horses and their specialized equipment in the paddock. Picnic! Free hot dog, bag o' chips and canned soft drink for the first 1,000! Get an invitation worth $10 for your return visit. Get autographs, take pictures. Kids can enjoy a petting farm and pony rides. A free stripper show will follow in the Finish Line. What? Okay, not! The only stripping will be watching jockeys removing saddles and equipment from horses after their races. But I think there is consideration being given to "pole dancing" as entertainment on some days after live racing during the summer. Stay tuned, would-be oglers!

SHOW ME THE ROSES ENDS WITH DERBY: Registrants must pick a show horse tomorrow in the Kentucky Oaks, the big race for 3-year-old fillies, and then make a final selection in the Kentucky Derby the next day. Who will win the $500? The current standings are here.

See you tonight running up and down the steps

at the Downs for 20 minutes before settling in

for the discussion in Boots 'n' Saddles!