(This morning at Churhcill Downs / Photos by Gene McLean)

Simply put, there is no place on this beautiful green and blue Earth more scintillating and gorgeous than the Churchill Downs backside on “Derby Week.”

Not for a horse fan.

Not for a horse lover.

Not for a horse racing fan.

Not for a race horse lover.

The grass is just a little bit greener than normal, and the brand, spanking new turf course just a bit more plump.

The storm clouds above appear to be just a little less daunting than normal, and the few drops of moisture that leak through the lining of clouds don’t seem to dampen the spirit.

The yellow saddle towels, signaling the comings and goings of a candidate for the Kentucky Derby, seem to burn brighter like the sun peaking its’ nose above the horizon.

The pink saddle towels, straddling the backs of those fillies aspiring to win the Kentucky Oaks, rival the fragrance fresh lilies popping on a moist hillside.

The camera men and women clickity-click everything that moves, from a barn cat on patrol to a another photographer preparing for the job.

The exercise riders enjoy their morning routines just a bit more than usual, or seem too, any way.

The trainers on horse back stand tall in the saddle, hoping and praying that all goes well, for a few more hours; for a few more days.

Smiles seem more abundant.

Handshakes seem more genuine.

For just a few hours the world seems at peace, and the gripes and groans of the “Twitterworld” haters seem to fade into oblivion along with their lame defenses of the exiled and shamed trainer Bob Baffert, who is, thankfully, no where to be found in these parts on these days.

Such was Sunday in Louisville and on the backside of Churhcill Downs. It was just like the song sung so brilliantly by the late, great John Denver:

“Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

“If I had a day that I could give you
I’d give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I’d sing a song to make you feel this way”

Lyrics to “Sunshine On My Shoulders”, written by John Denver and Richard L. Kniss and sung by the late, great John Denver

Here’s a few of our observations:

(Trainer Todd Pletcher oversees his Oaks & Derby troupe before the track reopens for training on Sunday / Photo by Gene McLean)

The “Todd Squad” Is Looking “Un-Godly:”

I know. I know. With the types of horses that he gets the opportunity to train, Todd Pletcher and his troupe should have a pretty spectacular group. Right?

Both pretty and spectacular. Right?

Well, if you get the chance to catch a glimpse of these candidates that the Hall of Fame trainer has brought to Louisville this year and is preparing for both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, take the opportunity to gaze with both envy and joy.

For a fact, they do look pretty.

For a fact, they look spectacular.

And for a fact, they may be the most well-mannered; best-taught; well-groomed; and nearly perfect horses on the grounds these days.

There is Mo Donegal, the supposed leader of the group of Pletcher pupils. The 3YO son of Uncle Mo is coming into the Kentucky Derby off an impressive and fast-closing victory in the G2 Wood Memorial Stakes.

Yeah, the connections paid $250,000 for this one at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, but by all accounts that is a bargain investment in today’s world of high finance and bloodstock pedigrees. And, he looks like a million bucks today — with the taxes already paid.

(Mo Donegal this morning / Photo by Gene McLean)

Coming into the Derby, Mo Donegal has raced a total of 5 times. He has 3 wins — with a win in the G1 Remsen Stakes last year — and 2 thirds on the resume. Record looks pretty darn good.

Coming into the Derby, Mo Donegal comes from a dam who won 2 of 4 lifetime starts and a second dam who was a multiple Graded Stakes winner who earned over $1.182 million in a race career that included a win in the G1 Acorn Stakes and a second in the G1 Kentucky Oaks. Pedigree looks pretty darn good.

Coming into the Derby, Mo Donegal shimmies and shines like he is polished by a shoe-shine man from Bourbon Street. Pretty head. Strong body and mind.

“All of Todd’s horses look perfect and act so professional,” said Holly M. Smith, our photographer extraordinaire and horse professional unequalled. “They couldn’t be doing any better.”

(Nest / Photo by Gene McLean)

That goes for his flock of fillies, too. The leader of the group is undoubtedly Nest, a dappled daughter of Curlin who has won 4 of 5 lifetime starts and very well may out-source the 2YO Champ Echo Zula as the favorite for this year’s Kentucky Oaks.

Nest’s only racing blemish came in the Tempted Stakes in just her second career start a year ago at Belmont Park. She was third that day, but beaten less than a length when rallying from off the pact and pace in the 1-mile Stakes.

Since then, she has won three Stakes in a row, including the G1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 8. She won that event by an amazing 81/4 lengths in one of the most lopsided victories in the history of that prestigious event. And, she was 4-wide nearly the entire trip.

Hard to believe that she will not get a lot of looks when it comes time to wager on this year’s Kentucky Oaks.

But, before you finalize that wagering strategy, it may be smart to take a quick glance at the “other” Pletcher gals who are being aimed to this Friday’s G1 Oaks, too.

(Shahama / Photo by Gene McLean)

First, there is the undefeated Shahama, who won the G3 UAE Oaks in Dubai in her last start and has now won four in a row over the Meydan racing surface.

Second, there is Goddess of Fire, who has won only once in six lifetime starts but is coming into the Oaks with a 2nd in the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in her last outing and a runner-up in the G2 Rachael Alexandra Stakes at the Fair Grounds in the trip before. She lost the last one to Kathleen O., and the race before to Turnerloose — two other candidates for the Oaks.

Not a bad gaggle of gals.

As you shop for odds in both of the premier Stakes this weekend, may do yourself and the bankroll a favor.

Don’t leave the “Todd Squad” out of your investment equations.

They look the part.

Bill Farish On Hand:

Lane’s End Farm guru, Bill Farish, was on hand this Sunday morning taking in a few sights and sounds along the Churchill Downs backstretch. He was there watching carefully as the Pletcher group waited until the racetrack renovations were completed and ready for trainers and trainees to resume morning activities.

After all, Goddess of Fire is by Mineshaft, one of the many fine stallions that currently reside at the farm near Versailles.

Class act, this son of Lane’s End Founder William S. Farish. Always has time to stop and chat. Even to those of us that can offer not much more than an opinion. Enjoyed our conversation. Per usual.

Brad Cox On Hand:

Walked down to the barn of trainer Brad Cox, who will saddle three youngsters — Cyberknife, Zozos and Tawny Port — in this year’s Derby after having won it a year ago with Mandaloun.

For the record, and unlike some more notorious trainers of Derby’s past, Cox’s horses have a way of sticking around and racing well after their respective 3YO campaigns. Shedaresthedevil is still in the shed row and looks ready to race — and win — again. Soon. Monomoy Girl raced on. And, on. And, on. She was marvelous throughout.

Now?

Take Mandaloun, a 4YO son of the great Into Mischief and owned by Juddmonte Farm, for example. He has the pedigree to become a very popular stallion prospect. Right. Now. But he still resides in Cox’s well-hidden barn along the Churchill Downs’ backside. He will run again soon. And, he probably will run pretty darn well, too.

Just writing.

But we digress.

As soon as I arrived, Cox — the first Louisville native to ever win the Kentucky Derby — took his eyes off the task at hand and acknowledged the arrival.

Wasn’t that long ago that Cox and I talked about his great fillies — like Shedaresthedevil and Monomoy Girl — and we wondered aloud when he would be blessed with the same talents wrapped in a colt’s body.

Cox never doubted the day would come.

It has come.

Good guy. Easy to root for his horses.

(“Charlie the Cat” / Photos by Gene McLean)

Charlie “The Vicious” On Hand:

If you see this guy roaming the backside of Churchill Downs, do yourself a favor. If you have one, leave a can of food on the ground and back away slowly. Very. Slowly.

“Charlie” is notorious in these here parts.

He is a barn cat. With few manners. With lots of sharp claws.

As the story goes, Charlie once made the trip to New Orleans and the Fair Grounds with a friendly trainer. As the story goes, Charlie wound up on Bourbon Street and he was taking no prisoners. As the story goes, the friendly trainer had to bail Charlie out of cat jail for a sizable sum and all he caught in return was a scratch or two on forearm and snout. The trainer, that is. Not Charlie.

Don’t know how “Charlie”  made it back to Louisville and Churchill Downs. Best believe it was by accident.

See you tomorrow…