Queens native and business mogul Mike Repole has two horses in the Kentucky Derby — 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty. The Vitamin Water co-founder and Pirate Brands chairman chronicles his week leading up to the Run for the Roses in a daily diary for The Post. As told to Dylan Butler.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Yesterday’s draw was packed with more media than I’ve ever seen in my life. It had a Super Bowl Media Day feel to it and Todd Pletcher, my wife and I were in the front row for all the festivities.
No one wants the dreaded 1 or 20. As you hear the numbers, you’re cringing because if you hear the number you don’t want, you don’t want to hear your horse’s name called. And then when you hear a preferred post position and you don’t hear your horses name called, you’re disappointed.
It really was more intense than I could have imagined and the two commercial breaks in the middle made it even longer.
Finally with the 12th pick, Uncle Mo’s name was called and he got No. 18. Some people might think that’s a little too far outside, but with so much speed in this race — Pants On Fire, Comma to the Top, Shackleford and Soldat — I think it’s a great position because he’ll have enough speed to put himself in the game, but he’ll be off the pace, he won’t be on the lead.
When Todd and I sat down and talked about wanting the inside for Stay Thirsty, while obviously not wanting the 1 or 2, I asked him what number he wanted. He said 4 because that was the number Super Saver had last year and it was a lucky number.
If the positions were switched, I definitely would have been very disappointed. It could not have worked out better having those numbers.
My brother Gerard was with me at the draw and I told him that we had 4-18 and asked him if he knew what that was. Surprisingly he didn’t. Coincidentally, 4-18 is his birthday. The only thing that got Gerard more excited than 4-18 was the open bar and the two beers in his hand.
Over the last 24 hours, I’ve met the other 18 connections — and there’s so many great stories here. It’s almost like a graduating class of Derby 137.
The one sad part about this race is that at the end of the day there’s going to be one winner and 19 losers.
Oh wait, 18. I have two horses.
