The Commish

Greg Johnson Dissects the Triple Crown Trail

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Greg "The Commish" Johnson Road to the Kentucky Derby

Robert B. Lewis Stakes
1. ROUSING SERMON (third at 3-1)
2. ISN'T HE CLEVER (fourth at 7-1)
3. LIAISON (dnf at 3-2)
4. SKY KINGDOM (fifth at 7-2)
I'll Have Another won at 43-1; Empire Way second at 11-1

WEBN Stakes
1. TIZ TEE TIME (fifth at 7-2)
2. MR. PRANKSTER (first at 8-5)
3. TIGERDUDE (eighth at 18-1)
4. PHANTOM FURY (second at 2-1)
$2 exacta paid $21.20

El Camino Real Derby
1. LUCKY CHAPPY (second by a nose at 5-2)
2. LADY OF FIFTY (sixth at 7-1)
3. RUSSIAN GREEK (fifth at 4-1)
4. ROCKINARTZ RECRUIT (eighth at 36-1)
Daddy Nose Best first at 4-1, Handsome Mike third at 2-1

San Vicente Stakes
1. CREATIVE CAUSE (third at 3-5)
2. AMERICAN ACT (second by a nose at 3-1)
3. CAPTAIN OBVIOUS (scr)
Drill won at 7-2, breaking a five-race losing streak

Risen Star Stakes
1. MR. BOWLING/MARK VALESKI (M.V. second at 3-1)
2. EL PADRINO (first at 4-5)
3. AFFORD (sixth at 20-1)
4. SHARED PROPERTY (fifth at 5-1)
$2 exacta paid $12.00

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes
1. DYNAMICAL (third at 4-1)
2. STATE OF PLAY (first at 2-1)
3. MR. PRANKSTER (fourth at 4-5)
Ill Conceived second at 6-1

Swale Stakes
1. EVER SO LUCKY (third at 6-5)
2. TRINNIBERG (first at 7-1)
3. SEVE (ninth at 11-1)
4. GOOD MORNING DIVA (fifth at 4-1)
Hello Prince second at 45-1 off 8-1 ML

Tampa Bay Derby
1. TAKE CHARGE INDY (scr)
2. SPRING HILL FARM (fourth at 2-1)
3. COZZETTI (third at 8-1))
4. GOLDEN TICKET (second at 12-1)
5. CAJUN CHARLIE (tenth at 11-1)
Prospective first at 3-1

Sunland Derby
1. ENDER KNIEVEL (fifth at 5-1)
2. STIRRED UP (third at 4-1)
3. DADDY NOSE BEST (first at 7)
4. CASTAWAY (seventh at 8-5)
Isn't He Clever second at 3-1

Louisiana Derby
1. MARK VALESKI/MR. BOWLING (MV second at 3-2)
2. Z DAGER (seventh at 14-1)
3. FINNEGANS WAKE (tenth at 11-1)
4. ROUSING SERMON (third at 6-1)
Hero of Order won at 109-1

Santa Anita Derby
1. CREATIVE CAUSE (second at 4-5)
2. MIDNIGHT TRANSFER (seventh at 7-1)
3. LIAISON (sixth at 6-1)
4. SENOR RAIN (eighth at 50-1)
I'll Have Another won at 4-1

Arkansas Derby
1. BODEMEISTER (first at 2-1)
2. COZZETTI (fourth at 32-1)
3. ISN'T HE CLEVER (eighth at 8-1)
4. STAT (sixth at 8-1)
Secret Circle second at 5-2; Saberat third at 11-1
Winner paid $6.80

Greg "The Commish" Johnson 2011 Road to the Kentucky Derby

The Commish made selections in eight races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Total investment for a $2 exacta box for all the selections would have been $112.00. The total return on investment was $385.40.

Robert B. Lewis Stakes
1. TAPIZAR (fifth at 1-5)
2 WEGNER (sixth at 17-1)
3. ANTHONY'S CROSS (Won at 8-1)
4. RIVETING REASON (Second at 7-1)
(Quail Hill third at 68-1)
$2 exacta paid $99.20

San Vicente Stakes
1. SWAY AWAY (second at 5-2)
2. INDIAN WINTER (SCR)
3. THE FACTOR (Won at 4-5)
4. CITY COOL (sixth at 14-1)
$2 exacta paid $11.00

Hutcheson Stakes
1. MADMAN DIARIES (seventh at 5-1)
2. LEAVE OF ABSENCE (fifth at 7-1)
3. TRAVELIN MAN (second at 3-5)
4. BLACK N BEAUTY (DNF)
(Flashpoint won at 6.90-1; Little Drama third at 50-1, Razmataz fourth at 25-1)

San Felipe Stakes
1. RUNFLATOUT (tenth at 5-2)
2. PREMIER PEGASUS (Won at 7-1)
3. BENCH POINTS (third at 8.9-1)
4. SURREY STAR (seventh at 24-1)
(Jaycito second at 2-1; Comma to the Top fourth at 9-1)

Sunland Derby
1. SINAI (eleventh at 2-1)
2. NACHO SAINT (sixth at 5-1)
3. ASTROLOGY (second at 5-2)
4. TWICE THE APPEAL (won at 25-1)
$2 exacta paid $275.20

Illinois Derby
1. EL GRAYLING (fifth at 5-1)
2. SOUR (fourth at 7-2)
3. WATCH ME GO (sixth at 2-1)
4. ZOEBEAR (second at 10-1)
(Joe Vann won at 5-1; The Fed Eased third at 5-1)

Santa Anita Derby
1. MR. COMMONS (third at 3-1)
2. PREMIER PEGASUS (scr)
3. JAYCITO (scr)
4. INDIAN WINTER (sixth at 11-1)
Midnight Interlude won at 13-1; Comma to the Top second at 6-1)

The Commish: Arkansas Derby
1. SWAY AWAY (fourth at 6-1)
2. ELITE ALEX (ninth at 6-1)
3. THE FACTOR (seventh at 4-5)
4. NEHRO (second at 9-1)
Archarcharch won at 25-1; Dance City third at 29-1.

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Biography

The year my brother first gave me round trip tickets to the Derby, I went there confident and cocky that my West Coast charge, Ferdinand, was going to get the job done.

Not only did I scream his name outside of the Aerosmith concert on Derby Eve, but ended up dancing the night away with “The Shoe” that night at a little hole in the wall, dive bar somewhere in Lou-a-vul’. He looked me in the eye, half crocked, and said, “We’re going to win tomorrow”.

To make a long story short, I got off him at the window. I really love this game.

Then came that January afternoon at Santa Anita Park, and this big  strapping filly named Winning Colors. Next stop was Caliente Race Track down in Tijuana, and a decent future book bet, and the longest 3 1/2 months of my life.

I remember saying to myself, “Self, if this horse wins, I’m moving to Kentucky”.

The results of the race we know. As for me, I spent 10 years in Leitchfield, Kentucky, and became a fanatic of this race, this sport, this event, this American tradition.


For the past 10 years, I've been known as “The Commish”, not to be mistaken with any other Commissioner in any similar game, but more like the beer guy that used to be in those commercials.

The Commish resides in Arizona and manages a West Coast-based Kentucky Derby Fantasy Challenge, providing race analysis and results throughout the year to a very uncaring group of horsey soothsayers.

After 9 years of heartache, I managed to win our DERBY Challenge in 2009, and can now proudly boast my name on the trophy. Right under my ex-wife's and my current wife's names....I love this game!

 

As for my 2011 Derby picks, I did manage to throw Animal Kingdom in my top four. However, By picking him fourth, I actually dropped Nehro from that spot, so my exotics turned out to be a big fat close but no cigar.

I'm looking for a big rebound this year, and my 10th winner in 26 tries to boot!

 

Greg and daughter Chloe, both huge racing fans, are pictured at Santa Anita on April 7, 2011.

Contact The Commish at: greg@thedowneyprofile.com