Obviously the bettors, and probably most of the TV audience, were pulling for Nyquist in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.
Everyone loves a winner, and No. 3 in the program and No. 1 in most hearts was undefeated.
In fact, Nyquist had beaten the second favorite, Exaggerator, four times. And for good measure, the 2-year-old champion had beaten Exaggerator's stablemate, Swipe, four times.
Years ago on Kentucky Derby day, Bill Handleman, Tom Luicci and your trusty scribe would wait for the 2-year-olds' race on the undercard that usually featured some horses from deep in Louisiana. Horses that had run really fast early in the spring at Delta Downs, and for at least a couple of years had success in that one race at Churchill Downs.
Handleman, Luicci, Robert Yates, Jerry Izenberg and yours truly shared space on Table H in the press box for more than 20 years. We would usually have a Derby dinner at El Capitan, a Mexican food eatery almost hidden behind a Taco Bell.
Friendships and memories were forged with hot debates, forgotten loans and a camaraderie that most envied in the old press box at Churchill and other events. Churchill no longer has a press box, per se, converting it into a lounge for the wealthy and sentencing members of the media to the off-track betting facility.
Handleman, a former World Handicapping Champion who died of cancer a few years ago, loved thoroughbred racing, and he had an interest in what he called "Cajun racing."
Over time he brought the group into agreement, so we watched with interest when Kent Desormeaux burst on the scene as a jockey in 1989, winning the Eclipse Award as the nation's top apprentice. He had started riding quarter horses when he was 16.
By 2009 Desormeaux had added another Eclipse Award, and going into last Saturday's Preakness, had six Triple Crown victories, including three Kentucky Derbies, but nothing since as his career slipped a bit.
Meanwhile his older brother, by three years, was a journeyman trainer never attracting an owner with real buying power. What he did do was learn the business, becoming not only a good trainer but a guy who recognized talent in young horses.
Finally, Keith Desormeaux hooked up with Matt Bryan, who owns M.G. Bryan Equipment Co., a Grand Prairie, Texas, engine and generator distributor, who has a keen sense of business.
On March 5, 2013, they won their first graded stakes race, the Risen Star at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, with I've Struck a Nerve, at 135-1. Two days later, Bryan sold a minority share of the horse, and three days after that I've Struck a Nerve suffered a career-ending ankle injury and a deal was made for his breeding rights.
Desormeaux and Bryan are still a value investing team, but when Keith bought Exaggerator for $110,000 as a yearling, he told Bryan they had the one.
Exaggerator's first race was a 9-length loss to Nyquist. He won a couple, finished second in another and then ran fourth by 3 lengths to Nyquist in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile.
What he did next would have brought a smile to Handleman's face. They shipped to Delta Downs, 100 miles from the hometown of the Desormeauxs. By then Kent was in the saddle and they won the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot on a muddy track.
Exaggerator would lose twice more to Nyquist, but the margin of defeat was decreasing.
Then last Saturday, Kent took his mount to just off the rail immediately, steadily gained on the leaders down the backstretch, moved outside at the head of the stretch and rolled home the winner.
For a few, it was a sentimental win for our friend, Bill Handleman, who loved mudders and Louisiana racing.
Sports on 05/24/2016