The annual Cinniapolis Derby is approaching quickly. For the locals, it is the unofficial reopening of Cinniapolis after the pandemic restrictions have been lifted. “We are happy to welcome out of towners and locals to come see the this year’s derby. It’s only been a couple years but it feels like an eternity. Our vendors and staff are ready to get back out there. Hopefully, everyone was too busy gardening on their roofs during shutdown to keep up with the ponies and we’ll see the house win a few bets at the Derby,” said Buck Gondola, owner of Cinniapolis Prairie.

The Chorus preview follows, with odds in parenthesis:

Healthy Burger (8-5)
’22 Record: 4-0
Trainer: RC Fregg
Expert Analysis: Healthy Burger is the clear favorite for this race. No other horse has the explosiveness or endurance of this colt.

Cavalier (9-2)
’22 Record: 7-0
Trainer: Reba Smith
Expert Analysis: Cavalier could potentially win this one. This dynamic horse is fast out of the gate but at times slows down mid-race only to pick up steam for the finish line.

Fleck Specs (5-1)
’22 Record: 2-0
Trainer: Gus Walvon
Expert Analysis: This is an interesting horse. It’s difficult to get a read on a horse that has only raced twice. But, they were two of the more impressive victories on the circuit this season.

Snoozy Bubbles (8-1)
’22 Record: 5-3
Trainer: Ed Jefferson
Expert Analysis: Don’t sleep on this horse, two of the three losses came at the expense of Healthy Burger victories. Ed’s horses have been a top 3 finisher in the last 5 derbies and are always close to the front of the pack.

Guy False (10-1)
’22 Record: 9-0
Trainer: Fred Rivers
Expert Analysis: As with Snoozy Bubbles, don’t be fooled by this horse’s record. A blind horse on 3 legs could’ve won the 9 races Guy False entered. Nonetheless, this is a fast horse with comparable attributes to the top 4 favorites.

Apple Dust (12-1)
’22 Record: 6-1
Trainer: Johnny Mentis
Expert Analysis: Apple Dust is expected to finish in the middle of the pack. But, this horse has the best chance to place compared to the other horses in the bottom half of the field.

Good Hope (14-1)
’22 Record: 7-0
Trainer: Roberto Sosa
Expert Analysis: The undefeated season will come to an end for Good Hope. The end result will be a top 5 finish, at best.

Mittens (18-1)
’22 Record: 5-1
Trainer: Valerie Hosenbaum
Expert Analysis: Mittens lone loss came in a race with Guy False. Some horses are in the race to win, others are in for filler. Mittens is a filler.

Moon Rising (25-1)
’22 Record: 3-2
Trainer: Hubert Hudson
Expert Analysis: There have been worse horses at 25-1. With that being said, Moon Rising is expected to fall off the pace early.

Floppy Risk (32-1)
’22 Record: 7-4
Trainer: Ingrid Svenne
Expert Analysis: Every now and then, a long shot places, shows, and sometimes wins. This won’t be that year for Floppy Risk.