Kentucky Derby 2021 Name Analysis
Apr 29, 2021 12:53:51 GMT -5
Post by grommet on Apr 29, 2021 12:53:51 GMT -5
Here is a breakdown of this year’s Derby horse names. I started doing this back in the late 80’s when I read a newspaper article about Derby names – the gist of it being that Derby winners tend to have strong, bold names while horses with weak names were rarely allowed to wear the garland of roses. Soon after that article, I started analyzing the Derby names every year to try and narrow down the potential winners, primarily based on their name, down to 4 horses (upped the number to 5 when the Derby field expanded to 20 horses). Essentially this eliminates 75% of the horses from the top spot. I only use this breakdown for the Derby and only use it for the win slot. Just like any other angle I don’t follow it 100% when it comes to bets, but it can help sway some final decisions or help narrow down the field. Since 1989 there have been 21 hits and 11 misses.
Positives:
- Names that have a bold sound or a ring to them (Strike the Gold, Charismatic)
- Names that seem to flow smoothly off the tongue (Sunday Silence, Street Sense)
- Names that sound a little old-fashioned (Go for Gin, War Emblem)
Negatives:
- Names with words crunched together (Sweetnorthernsaint, Atswhatimtalknbout)
- Names with abbreviations or apostrophes (Serena’s Song, Unbridled’s Song)
- Names that are devoid of meaning or seem like two random words thrown together (Excellent Meeting, General Challenge)
- Names that sound weak in general (Mister Frisky, Afternoon Deelites, Happy Jazz Band)
The ultimate litmus test to me is reading through past Derby winners and then deciding if a name would be a good fit. Would it belong on a name plate in the Churchill paddock area? With 20 horses you do have to sprinkle in a little racing form logic to get down to the final five. The analysis was more consistent in the 80’s and 90’s, so perhaps the name analysis has lost some steam - but it’s still fun to break down the names every year. Of course a lot of it is subjective as well.
Past Hits:
Sunday Silence
Unbridled
Strike the Gold
Sea Hero
Go for Gin
Thunder Gulch
Grindstone
Silver Charm
Real Quiet
Charismatic
Monarchos
War Emblem
Barbaro
Street Sense
Animal Kingdom
Orb
California Chrome
Nyquist
Justify
Country House
Authentic
Past Misses:
Lil E. Tee (I still have no idea how this name won the Derby. Pat Day must have been the difference)
Fusaichi Pegasus (The horse must have been supremely talented to overcome such a clunky name)
Funny Cide (He keyed one of my most profitable Derbies, but I thought the name was too 'cute' for the Derby gods)
Smarty Jones (In hindsight, this was a dumb omission of mine, considering its old-school sound)
Giacomo (Eliminated based on form)
Big Brown (Didn’t like the fact that the horse was named after a large corporation)
Mine That Bird (Eliminated for all kinds of reasons)
Super Saver (Couldn’t include a horse that sounded like a bargain shopper)
I’ll Have Another (Was somewhat close to making the cut but the name came across as too long)
American Pharoah (Didn’t like the misspelling of ‘pharaoh’ - but in hindsight, a bold-sounding name)
Always Dreaming (Had mixed feelings on this name and ultimately did not make the cut)
2021 Name Analysis:
This is a somewhat strange year in the fact that the majority of Derby horses appear to have a name that is completely unrelated to their lineage. There are only 7 Derby entrants with a name definitively tied to their bloodlines – with 2 others that could be considered loosely-based. This may point to a trend that owners are naming their horses more on whims than bloodlines. I also have a few quotes in here from USA Today columnist Charles Curtis, who analyzed the names and had some hilarious takes.
Bourbonic: Calumet Farms defined this fabricated word as, “a state of consciousness occasionally achieved upon the consumption of an ample sufficiency of bourbon”. Pretty clever - and there’s certainly nothing wrong with some good bourbon. The name also has the concise factor in its corner. I’m having a hard time, though, getting past the fact that trying to be clever with Derby names typically does not go over well with the Derby gods. On paper, the horse looks like it would need a full pace collapse to wind up on top. An early elimination.
Brooklyn Strong: No immediate strikes against this name that derives from the sire Wicked Strong and the owner Mark Schwartz’s Brooklyn roots. It likely would have been an automatic inclusion had it just been named ‘Brooklyn’, with the rich history of that famous New York borough. But it still feels good enough to pass the first test and be considered for the list of finalists.
Dynamic One: Co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito said the horse was originally named Barbuda for an island in the eastern Caribbean. Co-owner Mike Repole changed the name, though, once he became a co-owner. That change feels like a big mistake - as there’s something that feels incomplete the way the name ends with ‘One’. Looks a little dangerous on paper with his recent improvement, but ultimately I can’t get past the overall weak feeling the name generates. The ultra-cheesy image here seals the deal for me that this horse is a toss: www.learning-mind.com/dynamic-person-signs/. What a shame that Repole killed Daisy Phipp’s Derby dreams with an arrogant name change.
Essential Quality: I’m on the fence with this name that derives from the dam, Delightful Quality. It doesn’t have any major strikes against it, but the word ‘Essential’ falls a little flat, in my opinion. Of course the horse looks very capable of winning, so for now it feels smart to include him in the second round of analysis.
Helium: “We didn’t have the ability to watch him train, but we watched him on video and he was described as really light on his feet,” said Jon Green, general manager for owner D J Stable. “That really resonated with us, and we went to the periodic table to find something that was lighter than air. Helium is what came up.” A concise one-word name is always a positive, but the name still feels mediocre to me. Feels okay to include him for now.
Hidden Stash: Co-owner Braxton Lynch said (with a wry smile), “My brothers all give me a hard time because they thought it was a reference to marijuana, and it happens to be that my birthday is on April 20, a.k.a. 4/20. Our button has a pouch of gold coins hidden in the straw, so that’s the reference we’re going with.” I have to say, this is one of my favorite back-stories. All 4/20 references aside, my initial feeling with this name is positive - evoking thoughts of a big Derby score that you sock away for future enjoyment. Putting this horse through to the second round.
Highly Motivated: Owner Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables is known for using business-related names – Cloud Computing, Digital Age, Domestic Spending, Network Effect – for his horses. The name is also a relative synonym for the dam, Strong Incentive. On the surface this name doesn’t sound too bad, but the more I hear it in my head, the more I’m convinced it does not belong. It gives me the flavor of a motivational speaker ploy for struggling sales people – and business names in general feel bland for the Derby. On paper he certainly looks dangerous, particularly with the Chad Brown/Castellano connection. But I don’t think the Derby gods will allow this guy into the Derby annals. Eliminating.
Hot Rod Charlie: The name partially derives from the grand-sire Indian Charlie. “Being a half-brother to Mitole, we really thought he was going to be a sprinter,” co-owner Greg Helm explained. “We thought he was going to be a ‘hot rod.’”. One of the partners also said he wanted to hear track announcer Trevor Denman yelling the name, ‘Hot Rod Charlie,’ coming down the stretch. I’ve been torn on this name. The old-school name ‘Charlies’ evokes some thoughts of past Derby Winners Joe Cotton and George Smith. I’m not super fond of the term ‘Hot Rod’ for the Derby winner, but on the other hand it does somewhat fall into the mold of California Chrome with its fast car reference. With the horse looking dangerous on paper, it feels smart to include him in the next round of consideration.
Keepmeinmind: The name is a tribute to the Zac Brown Band song “Keep Me In Mind,” which was released in 2011. Crunched names are always a big strike against. On paper, the horse looks like he’s lost his way since 2020 and would require a miracle to finish on top. I’m on board with USA Today columnist Charles Curtis when he said, “Would it be so wrong to separate this name with spaces?” Tossing.
King Fury: Named after Tyson Fury, the two-time heavyweight champion boxer from England. This is a nice concise name that also has a good old-school ring to it - evoking thoughts of past Derby champs Kauai King and Burgoo King. It feels like a no-brainer for final consideration.
Known Agenda: The name comes from the ties that horse owner Vinnie Viola has as a businessman and U.S. Army veteran. "He likes names that are action-oriented, and he's also an old movie buff," bloodstock agent John Sparkman said. "A lot of times he jots down phrases he likes from the movies." This name comes across as ultra-bland to me. Perhaps it’s also a tongue-in-cheek reference to the opposite of a hidden agenda – but here we go again with owners and their dull business-related names. I don’t want to feel like I’m looking at an outline of activities at the beginning of an all-day work seminar. This is an easy toss.
Positives:
- Names that have a bold sound or a ring to them (Strike the Gold, Charismatic)
- Names that seem to flow smoothly off the tongue (Sunday Silence, Street Sense)
- Names that sound a little old-fashioned (Go for Gin, War Emblem)
Negatives:
- Names with words crunched together (Sweetnorthernsaint, Atswhatimtalknbout)
- Names with abbreviations or apostrophes (Serena’s Song, Unbridled’s Song)
- Names that are devoid of meaning or seem like two random words thrown together (Excellent Meeting, General Challenge)
- Names that sound weak in general (Mister Frisky, Afternoon Deelites, Happy Jazz Band)
The ultimate litmus test to me is reading through past Derby winners and then deciding if a name would be a good fit. Would it belong on a name plate in the Churchill paddock area? With 20 horses you do have to sprinkle in a little racing form logic to get down to the final five. The analysis was more consistent in the 80’s and 90’s, so perhaps the name analysis has lost some steam - but it’s still fun to break down the names every year. Of course a lot of it is subjective as well.
Past Hits:
Sunday Silence
Unbridled
Strike the Gold
Sea Hero
Go for Gin
Thunder Gulch
Grindstone
Silver Charm
Real Quiet
Charismatic
Monarchos
War Emblem
Barbaro
Street Sense
Animal Kingdom
Orb
California Chrome
Nyquist
Justify
Country House
Authentic
Past Misses:
Lil E. Tee (I still have no idea how this name won the Derby. Pat Day must have been the difference)
Fusaichi Pegasus (The horse must have been supremely talented to overcome such a clunky name)
Funny Cide (He keyed one of my most profitable Derbies, but I thought the name was too 'cute' for the Derby gods)
Smarty Jones (In hindsight, this was a dumb omission of mine, considering its old-school sound)
Giacomo (Eliminated based on form)
Big Brown (Didn’t like the fact that the horse was named after a large corporation)
Mine That Bird (Eliminated for all kinds of reasons)
Super Saver (Couldn’t include a horse that sounded like a bargain shopper)
I’ll Have Another (Was somewhat close to making the cut but the name came across as too long)
American Pharoah (Didn’t like the misspelling of ‘pharaoh’ - but in hindsight, a bold-sounding name)
Always Dreaming (Had mixed feelings on this name and ultimately did not make the cut)
2021 Name Analysis:
This is a somewhat strange year in the fact that the majority of Derby horses appear to have a name that is completely unrelated to their lineage. There are only 7 Derby entrants with a name definitively tied to their bloodlines – with 2 others that could be considered loosely-based. This may point to a trend that owners are naming their horses more on whims than bloodlines. I also have a few quotes in here from USA Today columnist Charles Curtis, who analyzed the names and had some hilarious takes.
Bourbonic: Calumet Farms defined this fabricated word as, “a state of consciousness occasionally achieved upon the consumption of an ample sufficiency of bourbon”. Pretty clever - and there’s certainly nothing wrong with some good bourbon. The name also has the concise factor in its corner. I’m having a hard time, though, getting past the fact that trying to be clever with Derby names typically does not go over well with the Derby gods. On paper, the horse looks like it would need a full pace collapse to wind up on top. An early elimination.
Brooklyn Strong: No immediate strikes against this name that derives from the sire Wicked Strong and the owner Mark Schwartz’s Brooklyn roots. It likely would have been an automatic inclusion had it just been named ‘Brooklyn’, with the rich history of that famous New York borough. But it still feels good enough to pass the first test and be considered for the list of finalists.
Dynamic One: Co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito said the horse was originally named Barbuda for an island in the eastern Caribbean. Co-owner Mike Repole changed the name, though, once he became a co-owner. That change feels like a big mistake - as there’s something that feels incomplete the way the name ends with ‘One’. Looks a little dangerous on paper with his recent improvement, but ultimately I can’t get past the overall weak feeling the name generates. The ultra-cheesy image here seals the deal for me that this horse is a toss: www.learning-mind.com/dynamic-person-signs/. What a shame that Repole killed Daisy Phipp’s Derby dreams with an arrogant name change.
Essential Quality: I’m on the fence with this name that derives from the dam, Delightful Quality. It doesn’t have any major strikes against it, but the word ‘Essential’ falls a little flat, in my opinion. Of course the horse looks very capable of winning, so for now it feels smart to include him in the second round of analysis.
Helium: “We didn’t have the ability to watch him train, but we watched him on video and he was described as really light on his feet,” said Jon Green, general manager for owner D J Stable. “That really resonated with us, and we went to the periodic table to find something that was lighter than air. Helium is what came up.” A concise one-word name is always a positive, but the name still feels mediocre to me. Feels okay to include him for now.
Hidden Stash: Co-owner Braxton Lynch said (with a wry smile), “My brothers all give me a hard time because they thought it was a reference to marijuana, and it happens to be that my birthday is on April 20, a.k.a. 4/20. Our button has a pouch of gold coins hidden in the straw, so that’s the reference we’re going with.” I have to say, this is one of my favorite back-stories. All 4/20 references aside, my initial feeling with this name is positive - evoking thoughts of a big Derby score that you sock away for future enjoyment. Putting this horse through to the second round.
Highly Motivated: Owner Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables is known for using business-related names – Cloud Computing, Digital Age, Domestic Spending, Network Effect – for his horses. The name is also a relative synonym for the dam, Strong Incentive. On the surface this name doesn’t sound too bad, but the more I hear it in my head, the more I’m convinced it does not belong. It gives me the flavor of a motivational speaker ploy for struggling sales people – and business names in general feel bland for the Derby. On paper he certainly looks dangerous, particularly with the Chad Brown/Castellano connection. But I don’t think the Derby gods will allow this guy into the Derby annals. Eliminating.
Hot Rod Charlie: The name partially derives from the grand-sire Indian Charlie. “Being a half-brother to Mitole, we really thought he was going to be a sprinter,” co-owner Greg Helm explained. “We thought he was going to be a ‘hot rod.’”. One of the partners also said he wanted to hear track announcer Trevor Denman yelling the name, ‘Hot Rod Charlie,’ coming down the stretch. I’ve been torn on this name. The old-school name ‘Charlies’ evokes some thoughts of past Derby Winners Joe Cotton and George Smith. I’m not super fond of the term ‘Hot Rod’ for the Derby winner, but on the other hand it does somewhat fall into the mold of California Chrome with its fast car reference. With the horse looking dangerous on paper, it feels smart to include him in the next round of consideration.
Keepmeinmind: The name is a tribute to the Zac Brown Band song “Keep Me In Mind,” which was released in 2011. Crunched names are always a big strike against. On paper, the horse looks like he’s lost his way since 2020 and would require a miracle to finish on top. I’m on board with USA Today columnist Charles Curtis when he said, “Would it be so wrong to separate this name with spaces?” Tossing.
King Fury: Named after Tyson Fury, the two-time heavyweight champion boxer from England. This is a nice concise name that also has a good old-school ring to it - evoking thoughts of past Derby champs Kauai King and Burgoo King. It feels like a no-brainer for final consideration.
Known Agenda: The name comes from the ties that horse owner Vinnie Viola has as a businessman and U.S. Army veteran. "He likes names that are action-oriented, and he's also an old movie buff," bloodstock agent John Sparkman said. "A lot of times he jots down phrases he likes from the movies." This name comes across as ultra-bland to me. Perhaps it’s also a tongue-in-cheek reference to the opposite of a hidden agenda – but here we go again with owners and their dull business-related names. I don’t want to feel like I’m looking at an outline of activities at the beginning of an all-day work seminar. This is an easy toss.
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