The TA Indicators for each of the Kentucky Derby Contenders have come out and have solidified some of my choices while making me more confused about others. So, I have decided to do what any confused handicapper does before the year’s biggest race. I will go through the race two furlongs at a time till I can envision one horse left holding the coveted blanket of roses.

The first quarter mile: The anticipation is brewing. You can almost feel it. Art Sherman, who has managed to stay calm the entire year is finally starting to feel the pressure. He is sweating buckets and it’s not even warm outside. Wicked Strong and Wildcat finally load. They’re off! Vicar’s in Trouble and Uncle Sigh battle for the lead but are somewhat sensible about their speed duel. There’s a break of two to California Chrome, Wildcat Red, Chitu and Samraat. Danza is thirteen back and Dance with Fate is 14 back. Things are about to get hectic!

The second quarter mile: Neither Vicar’s in Trouble nor Uncle Sigh want to back down. They each start to crank up the pressure on one another. This quarter is going to be a bit faster than the previous one. Victor Espinoza senses what is going on and drops a length and a half back from his previous spot and Martin Garcia follows suite. They are now both 3 and a half lengths back. Wildcat is still two back and then it’s a break of two more to a group of four horses. Wicked Strong is ten off the pace, Danza is maintaining position 13 back. Dance with Fate is still 14 back. The first half mile is fast but it isn’t suicidal.

The third quarter of a mile: Vicar’s in Trouble and Uncle Sigh are beginning to tire. They are holding on to the lead through sheer determination, but California Chrome is getting ready to mount his bid. Espinoza knows that he’ll have to go wide eventually and he’s biding his time. Danza is getting closer to the leaders as well. Chitu has maintained ground and isn’t showing signs of tiring. Wicked Strong has been bobbing and weaving through traffic and is now five off the lead. Dance with Fate has ten lengths to make up and Samraat is fading fast. Wildcat Red is now 6 lengths back and tiring with each stride. The contenders have begun to emerge and they are all keeping a close eye on one another. This is quickly shaping up to be a four horse race between California Chrome, Wicked Strong, Danza and Chitu.

The fourth quarter of a mile: Victor Espinoza and California Chrome strike to the lead! Chitu is right there just one length back and in an all-out drive. Wicked Strong is four back. Danza is 4 and a half back. Dance with Fate is picking off horses but not fast enough. Vicar’s in Trouble and Uncle Sigh have retreated back to the sea of also rans; the real race has begun. There’s just a quarter of a mile to go and it’s still a four horse race. Espinoza and Garcia both know they may have stalked the pace too sharply and neither one has enough horse underneath him. Joe Bravo decides to go to the whip first; forty yards later Garcia follows suit and twenty yards after that Maragh, and Espinoza join in. Larry Collmus gives the famous “and down the stretch they come!” Danza and Wicked Strong are running at California Chrome and Chitu like a pair of freight trains. Espinoza asks Chrome to dig deep but he’s spent. It’s all over for California Chrome. Garcia asks Chitu for more run and somehow he responds. Wicked Strong, Chitu and Danza are dead even across the track. They are battling for every yard and no one is giving up- 200 yards to go. Wicked Strong seems to find yet another gear and pulls ahead of Danza and Chitu who aren’t giving a length to each other. Wicked Strong wins by a length! It’s a photo between Danza and Chitu for second! Dance with Fate was fourth.