619. Luck Was A Lady

We ended the last entry with a song sung in the 1950s play Guys and Dolls. Staying with the theme, today's entry reminds us of a song performed in the 1955 movie version of the play. A very sultry and handsome Sky Masterson, portrayed by a 31 year old Marlon Brando, sang Luck Be A Lady. That was the story in today's running of The Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

A record crowd of just over 116,000 watched the favorite Blind Luck (on the left in this Courier-Journal photo) win her race over Evening Jewel by a lucky nose's length on what could only be described as one of the prettiest days weatherwise in many years here along the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606. Rafael Bejarano rode the filly to a win in the 136th renewal of the classic race for fillies. A winning two dollar ticket paid $4.60, $3.60, and $2.80. Blind Luck ran the 1 1/8 mile race in 1.50.70 according to the Courier-Journal.

Tomorrow's weather promises to be wet and windy. If the sun is to shine bright, let's hope it does so late in the day for the 136th running of The Kentucky Derby. I placed my bets today on Stately Victor, Jackson Bend, and Noble's Promise. Odds at the time were 30-1, 15-1, and 12-1 respectively. As is my wont, I rolled some perfecta and trifecta boxes, hoping for a payoff worthy of today's weather. We'll see. As Sgt. Sarah Brown of the Save-A-Soul Mission sings in Guys and Dolls, come tomorrow night, I'll know.

Happy Derby.