My brother and I grew up doing a few main things: playing
videogames, watching basketball, horse racing, and a lot of TV, and arguing.
That’s about it. Now, as you obviously know, we write these Derby discussions
because this pertains to two of our main interests: horse racing and arguing.
But, we like to bring in some pop culture while we’re at it because:
A) We’re bored and
like TV
B) It has a very
small chance of being interesting to the two people reading this
C) We want to, screw you for judging me.
So, this year, for our Derby horse comparisons we decided to
bring in the pop culture phenomenon that is Game of Thrones. Basically, we’re
drawing comparisons between Derby entrants and Game of Thrones characters. This
way, if you have no idea who to bet on Derby day, but you really like Jon Snow,
problem solved…just bet the Jon Snow comparison and you’re done! We’re doing
this for you dammit, why won’t you love me!? Why don’t you look at me like you
used to!? Whoa, sorry, going off the rails there…anyway, here we go:
International Star is Tyrion Lannister: All International
Star has done in Louisiana is win races. He won all three major Louisiana
preps, yet no one really sees him as a prime contender. Meanwhile, in Westeros,
Tyrion did everything to help the people around him, and no one ever cared.
Dortmund is Daenerys Targaryen: Dany is an apt comparison
for a few horses in here. All she does is win, just like the top three or four
contenders for this Derby. But, I went with Dortmund since, like Dany, he’s
been nothing but impressive and no one really questions him as a prime
contender to the Iron Throne…I mean to the garland of roses.
Carpe Diem is Cersei Lannister: Since the start of GoT
Cersei has been right at the top of the pecking order. Plenty of comparisons
here. Cersei hails from the great Lannister family and was always meant to be a
ruler. Carpe Diem is a son of super stallion Giant’s Causeway and was purchased
for $1.6M as a 2YO. Cersei became Queen and then mother to kings. Carpe Diem as
a racehorse has won four of his five starts including some of the biggest Derby
preps. But, just a Cersei’s power seems like it could collapse at any moment,
so does Carpe Diem’s place as potentially the best of his generation. I don’t
expect Carpe Diem to be in the top 4 on Derby day, just like I don’t expect
Cersei to be at the top much longer.
American Pharoah is Jamie Lannister: Jamie Lannister is
GoT’s golden boy. He is the Lannister heir that has the strength and fighting
prowess to match his heritage. Sure, now he’s missing a hand, and he was
captured for a while. But, Jamie is the one Lannister that seems destined to
remain great. Pharoah is a similar golden boy, he’s crushing his opponents,
he’s charismatic, he’s a star.
Frosted is Stannis Baratheon: Stannis was just kind of an
afterthought on GoT, sure he had a witch on his side, but he’d never really won
anything…until he went north and crushed the wildlings. Frosted matches this to
a T, he was a contender without a marquee win, until he went north to New York
and crushed the Wood Memorial.
Mubtaahij is Khal Drogo: Mubtaahij has been off in a foreign
desert (Dubai) dominating everyone that’s crossed his path which makes him an
obvious comparison to the great Khal Drogo who dominated the lands beyond the
Free Cities. The question is, how will Mubtaahij do in Westeros? No one really
knows for sure…
Materiality is Jon Snow: I’ll save you another Materiality
rant. But, as Jon Snow is the bastard son of Eddard Stark, so is Materiality
the bastard entrant from the Todd Pletcher barn. Everyone is watching his
legitimate brother, but Materiality is the horse with a chance to really make
waves.
El Kabeir is Melisandre: Calvin Borel has been named to ride
El Kabeir, like Melisandre, he is a witch. There is no other way to explain how
such an average to below average jockey has had so much Derby success. Don’t be
surprised if a shadow man baby pops out of his loins in the middle of the race.
Upstart is Petyr Baelish: No one is talking about Upstart.
No one seems to think he really has any real power. As Littlefinger deals in
the shadows and behind the backs of his enemies, so is Upstart sneaking into
the Derby somewhat unnoticed by the major players. The only horse to cross the
wire in front of him this year is Materiality, ignore at your own peril.
Firing Line is Bran Stark: Bran is wandering around God
knows where with a giant named Hodor. People like him, but no one really knows
what the hell’s going on with him. This is Firing Line-ish. Firing Line won the
Sunland Derby by 18 lengths or so, he’s definitely kind of cool, but he’s tough
to gauge.
War Story is Theon Greyjoy: Look, this is pretty simple. War
Story is the only gelding in the field, Theon is also a gelding, in much more
dramatic fashion. That’s it, that’s the whole comparison.
Tencendur is Bronn: Tencendur has been in all of the New
York preps, he’s shown ability, but is he really a player on the grand stage?
Probably not. This is very similar to Bronn who is always there, but never
really a threat to wear a throne.
Bolo is Samwell: You kind of like them, but let’s be real,
they’re not actual players.
Itsaknockout is Gilly: Itsaknockout has never crossed the
wire first in a stakes race. He’s also never even run a 90+ Beyer number. Much
like Gilly, I’m looking at him and wondering why the hell we’re wasting our
time thinking about him.
Far Right, Danzig Moon, Ocho Ocho Ocho, and Keen Ice are The
Wildlings: None of them have run close enough to possibly be a threat to win
this race…they’re just kind of in here messing with things.
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