"I'll HAVE ANOTHER" WINS 138TH KENTUCKY DERBY: COLT SPORTS CANADIAN CONNECTIONS

I'll Have Another wins 138th Kentucky Derby

Purchased for just $11k originally, I'll Have Another made his Canadian Connections proud today at Churchill Downs, winning the 138th Edition of the historic Kentucky Derby. The three-year-old Colt is owned by Windsor, Ontario's Paul Reddam and was ridden by former-Vancouver Jockey, Mario Gutierrez.  Coincidentally, Gutierrez is of Mexican descent, celebrating Cinco de Mayo today with a Victory in the Race, which traditionally is run on the first Saturday of May.  Prior to winning today's Race, I'll Have Another came off another winning race in important Prep, the Santa Anita Derby in April.  Today's Payday was worth $1.45 million for Reddam and the Colt had a few Celebrities supporting him including Smash's Meg Hilty and Actor/Singer Jack Black.

Trained by Doug O'Neill, I'll Have Another was overlooked in the betting being sent-off at 15-1 Odds, paying a generous $32.60 on a $2.00 bet.  Placing second was Pacesetter Bodemeister, trained by Bob Baffert who just two months ago had suffered a Heart Attack in Dubai.  After leading for most of the Race, that Colt who is named after Baffert's seven-year-old Son Bodie, was caught only late, losing by one-and-a-half-lengths as the Race Favourite at 4-1 Odds.  Finishing third was Dullahan in a late surge. 

Highly-regarded Union Rags had a troubled trip, managing to finish only seventh, while last year's two-year-old Champion Colt Hansen finished ninth after sweating profusely pre-race, looking visibly uncomfortable.  Prospective who began his Career in Toronto at Woodbine Racetrack was a well-beaten 18th.

Watch the 138th Edition of The Kentucky Derby below:

CHANTAL SUTHERLAND BY BO DEREK FOR "VANITY FAIR"

Chantal Sutherland by Bo Derek

Time perfectly for today's Kentucky Derby, Vanity Fair has released their Photos of Toronto Jockey Chantal Sutherland by Celebrity Photographer Bo Derek.  Having a bit of a Godiva moment, Sutherland looks breathtaking and although obviously provocative, this is handled as elegantly as possible.  Click here to read more.

Proud of her and to be honest, Sutherland actually broke news of the Photo Shoot to me before many other Sources first last December, when I caught-up with her at Woodbine Racetrack before the end of the Season.  I however, was sworn to secrecy, but am thrilled to finally see the results!

The Kentucky Derby airs between 4 to 7 PM EST on NBC today, don't forget to catch it!

(Photo credit: Vanity Fair/Bo Berek)

THE 138TH KENTUCKY DERBY: CELEBRITIES AND THE CONTENDERS

Hansen

Saturday marks the 138th running of The Kentucky Derby, one of the World's most prestigious Horse Races held annually at Churchill Downs. This year looks to be a tough match reuniting three of the top four Finishers in last Fall's two-year-old Championship-deciding Breeder's Cup Juvenile: Hansen, Union Rags and Dullahan.  Hansen went on to be named 2011's top two-year-old Horse in the U.S.

Despite coming fourth in that Key Race last Fall, Dullahan has turned the tables on Hansen, beating him last time in a key Prep Race, The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes mid-April.  Meanwhile, Union Rags who widely is considered a threat to win it all, comes of a lackluster third-place finish in the Florida Derby late March to Take Charge Indy, who just might be peaking right in-time for this Saturday's Match. 

Another one to look out for is Bodemeister, who just began racing in California in January. In mid-April he won The Arkansas Derby, destroying his Opponents easily. Above this, Toronto will be represented by Prospective, who began his Career last Summer at Woodbine Racetrack and achieved some success in Florida over the Winter winning The Tampa Bay Derby against easier.

Celebrities love The Kentucky Derby and expected to attend this year are the likes of Max Adler, Kate Upton, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Kid Rock, Andre Agassi, Tom Brady,  Mary J. Blige, Brad Garrett, David Arquette, The Band Perry, Danny Glover, Fred Willard, Jonathan Kite, Jason Aldean, Star Jones, Kellan Lutz, Ashton Kutcher, Cyndi Lauper, Miranda Lambert, Nick Lachey and many more!

Click here to check out the complete Field for The 138th Kentucky Derby.  Who is your pick to win it all?

NBC airs The Kentucky Derby 5 to 7 PM EST on Saturday, May 5, 2012.

(Photo credit: Breeders Cup)

CELEBRITIES AT 2011 KENTUCKY DERBY

Dialed In

Ah! The one day a year I actually care about Sports. This year marks the 137th edition of the Kentucky Derby, held annually at Kentucky's historic Churchill Downs.  The Race run the first Saturday every May, often is a precursor to championship honours for three year-old horses. And the Celebrities are out in full force partying-it-up.

At last night's Brownstable Brown Gala, some familiar names came out to partake in the festivities and seen were the likes of Bill Paxton, Carson Kressley, Maria Menunos, Niki Taylor, Kate Gosselin, Ian Somerhalder, among others.

Gosselin, who admits not to being a Gambler was seen telling Cameras "I had to bet. I just had to!".  This came after spending a day at Churchill Downs watching the Kentucky Oaks, the female version of the Derby held one day before the main event itself.  Meanwhile, Menunos Tweeted her picks for the Derby and she had three horses in mind, "Pants on Fire, Dialed In and Midnight Interlude". Somerhalder on the other hand is rooting for long-shot Animal Kingdom.

Not so coincidentally, The Village People are all rooting for Mucho Macho Man, one of the top Contenders this year who is trained by a female Trainer named Kathy Ritzvo.  Also supporting the Horse are Carson Daly and Christy Turlington.

Expected to be at the Track today watching the race are the likes of Jordin Sparks, Martha Stewart, Miranda Lambert, Nick Lachey, Chris Meloni and more!