KENTUCKY DERBY 2011: Who's the most influential man in Kentucky?

This guy! ---------------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If you missed the post position draw on Wednesday, here' a quick re-cap of the situation with 3-Twice the Appeal.

• Twice the Appeal draws the #3 post.
• Churchill Downs morning linemaker, Mike Battaglia, sets Twice the Appeal at odds of 20/1.  During an interview, Battaglia states he would have made Twice the Appeal 40/1, but the presence of jockey Calvin Borel made it likely that crazed Bo-Rail supporters would drive the price down. 
  
• Early wagering opens for the 2011 Kentucky Derby and Twice the Appeal is bet down to 7/1. 
  

Several months ago, several readers and myself half-jokingly discussed the possibility of how much the odds on a Borel horse were going to get cut this year just for the fact that he was riding them, regardless of the talent of that colt.  Well, now we know.   And, obviously, this is just early betting; we don't know how much money is even in the pools yet and there is plenty of time for things to return to reality.  But I won't doubt the power of Calvin Borel.

This isn't to say that Twice the Appeal doesn't have some redeeming qualities...they just aren't enough to justify 7/1 odds. Of course, if Borel can win on Mine That Bird...