Monday, May 08, 2006

The Name Jinx

Dosage, birthdate, geldedness, five-week layoff, they've all proven to be meaningless elements in picking a Derby winner.

Here is one superstition that stands the test of time:

THE NAME JINX.

Horses with mundane, silly or ignoble names almost never win the Derby. Among my top picks, while intending no insult to Ron, Bob or John, I can't really think of Lawyer Ron and Bob and John as names having the ring of nobility. Brother Derek is a bit better, but not all that much. Keyed Entry was jinxed by being a miler, but also by being apparently named for data entry (or for how you get into your house when the door is locked?). Sweetnorthernsaint is OK, but it doesn't really make much sense and it has that joinywords thing going on, which is annoying in horse names (I still remember someone or other joking about a Bob Baffert trainee, Isitingood, that the name must be 'I Sit In Goo, D'). Sinister Minister? Icky rhyme. Bluegrass Cat is a pretty good name -- he was second. Steppenwolfer is sort of catchy, although it doesn't make much sense -- he was third. Don't know what Jazil means; something in Arabic, I assume. Why name a horse Seaside Retreat? As for Showing Up, well, he... did. For fifth, I think. Sharp Humor isn't bad. Flashy Bull -- am I supposed to be picturing Reindeer Dippin, here, or is the 'bull' supposed to have different implications? Storm Treasure is pretty but doesn't actually make sense; are we saying the horse is flotsam, here? Private Vow -- well, that could be pretty much anything. Maybe he privately vowed to convince everyone he should pursue athletic endeavors other than horse racing. And Deputy Glitters. Huh? Please do not make me picture a cop in a spangled jumpsuit, people.

Cause To Believe is a great name, but the name jinx does not preclude also having to be a good horse, a factor that also caught up with Point Determined and AP Warrior.

Barbaro is a good name, with a virile ring to it. He wins the name game, and he won the race. The Name Jinx is for real.

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