And they all fall down

Today's update is brought to you by the sick and injured Derby hopefuls of the world.

- Fierce Wind totally justified my analysis of his performance by turning up hurt. The Daily Racing Form (which I have now just given up and taken a free subscription for) is reporting that Fierce Wind bled during the Florida Derby, and though that doesn't make up for the fact that his chances of getting into the real Derby gate are now pretty much nil, it at least boosts the egos of those of us who were backing him. He doesn't suck, he's just not 100%. Apparently his owner didn't think much of Nick Zito's decision to run him and switched him to relatively unknown trainer Rick Violette after the race.

-Elysium Fields also has something of an excuse as he was apparently on the verge of heat stroke after the race. Ummm...Barclay....that's not cool (pun not intended). Heat stroke doesn't just sneak up on you, and I know he was a tad sweaty beforehand. Did nobody - not his jockey, not his trainer, not the guy on the lead pony - nobody noticed this animal was nearing the distress mark before they got him into the gate?

- Georgie Boy also joins the ranks of those off the Derby trail. He came up with a severe muscle pull after a workout. Ouch.

- Big Brown...okay no, he's not injured. He's still fit and leading the ranks of the Derby contenders. Just kidding you. Or am I? Until this horse puts in another fast work I'm witholding comment on the status of his feet. I have a somewhat firm belief that a horse with hoof problems will always have hoof problems. The best they can hope for is to go into remission.