Picking Kentucky Derby Winners

Here's how I know my 2009 Kentucky Derby picks are sure things: I did a little research, and every horse that has won the Derby in the last 5 years has had some sort of a musical connection. Sometimes that connection is obvious, sometimes you have to dig a little deeper. But it's always there. Here are the past 5 winners and the musical connections that led them to the winner's circle:

2008 Winner - Big Brown. Big Brown was sired by Boundary, son of Danzig. Danzig is an American rock band from New Jersey best known for their hit "Mother." If that's not enough, Danzig was the son of Northern Dancer.

2007 Winner - Street Sense. Street Sense's damsire was Dixieland Band. His dam was Bedazzle, granddaughter of Northern Dancer. Also in Street Sense's pedigree--Gold Digger. Tell me that's not what inspired Kanye West.

2006 Winner - Barbaro. Barbaro also counts Gold Digger as a member of his pedigree, as well as On The Trail. If that doesn't sound immediately familiar to you, shame on you. Watch this video for a reminder (complete with singing horses, no less):

2005 Winner - Giacomo. Giacomo had some of the most blatant music connections. First, he was named after the son of Sting. Second, his breeder, Jerry Moss, co-founded A&M Records (for whom Sting and The Police recorded songs). Third, his dam was Set Them Free (another Sting/Police connection) and his damsire was Stop The Music (I'll admit...it seems a little out of place). And then throw in a few names from his pedigree like Bebop and Miss Disco. This was a no-brainer.

2004 Winner - Smarty Jones. Smarty Jones's grandsire was Gone West, a name that was (probably not) inspired by the 80s pop duo Go West. The duo formed in 1982 (Gone West was born in 1984) and had the hit single "King of Wishful Thinking" on the Pretty Woman soundtrack. Smarty also counts Northern Dancer, Gold Digger, and Native Dancer among his pedigree.

I'm telling you. To win in the Kentucky Derby, all you have to do is follow the music.

(If only it were that easy.)

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