Even though I have not picked a Kentucky Derby winner since 1979 (Spectacular Bid, in my father’s Kentucky Derby party pool), this year I decided to throw my hat into the ring. My top selection for the 2010 Kentucky Derby is Mission Impazible. I like Noble’s Promise, Homeboykris and Lookin at Lucky to round out the superfecta.

Mission Impazible has the running style to win the Kentucky Derby. He will more than likely rate somewhere in the middle pack so he will not get burned out from a possible speed duel and he will not have to worry about passing most of the field while attempting to close from far off the pace.

On the Delaware Park card in the first race, I am going to go with the Brad Cox trainee Show Me the Gold. The Kentucky-bred has yet to win this year, but she has not really had a bad effort against some tough competition as well. She is landing in a spot where I think she will be tough.

In the seventh race, I like Frijiliana. Normally I do not pick a state-bred when landing in against open competition, but the daughter of Mutakddim has had two sharp Fair Grounds efforts, hails from a top barn and Napravnik gets the call.

There are a couple of interesting notes from the Opening Day card.

In the fifth race, a six furlong maiden claiming event, David’s Little Boy is the gelding owned by David Szymanski who almost died at birth. Unfortunately, the dam, Bea’s Thunder did die during the delivery, but David Szymanski, with the help from his veterinarian resuscitated David’s Little Boy on that faithful day. The 4-year-old son of Deputy Commander may even have a shot to win the race. He gets Rosie Napravnik and his last two were pretty good efforts. You never know. It sure would be a nice sentimental victory if he pulls it off.

This is the first time that Vincent W. Moscarelli has entered a horse in the stake named after his late father Vincent A. Moscarelli. Vince A. Moscarelli was an exceptional horseman who played a large role in the development of some very talented horses – Afternoon Deelites just to mention one. In the fifteen renewals of this race, Vince W. Moscarelli has always wanted to have a horse run, but for various reasons the situation never presented itself. While his Knight in Armour is a longshot, the 5-year-old by Lion Hearted likes the Delaware Park main track sporting a record of three wins, three seconds and a third from nine outings. Maybe a Moscarelli will present to a Moscarelli in the Moscarelli Memorial.