Of all the possible 2011 Kentucky Derby predictions available, the heads-up horse pairings pin together Brilliant Speed vs Derby Kitten. Both of these horses are 30-1 betting odds long shots in the 137th annual running at Churchill Downs, but when pinned together, they are each even with their Kentucky derby odds at -115. After two poor efforts on dirt, Brilliant Speed has run on either turf or synthetic tracks and has not finished worse than third in six races since the transition, including the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, where he rolled from last to first to win by a nose over Twinspired. Derby Kitten relishes an off track, and his come-from-behind style should suit him well in the Derby.

Derby Kitten represents the third Derby horse owner-breeder Ken Ramsey, as last year their Dean's Kitten ran 14th and in 2003 Ten Cents a Shine finished eighth. This Derby is particularly meaningful for Ramsey as it marks the ascendency of his homebred stallion Kitten's Joy, sire of both Derby Kitten and Dean’s Kitten. At the recent Keeneland meet, nine of the 10 Ramsey winners were offspring of Kitten’s Joy, the 2004 male turf champion. I don't think either Derby Kitten or Brilliant Speed will impact the board on Saturday, and although their head-to-head odds are even at Bodog.com, I'm taking Derby Kitten and his -115 odds to finish ahead of Brilliant Speed.

Brilliant Speed will be stuck between two horses that are more heavily favored than he is in Ar Char Charch and Twice The Appeal. Brilliant Speed will be starting from the second post and jockey Joel Rosario will have to compete with Calvin Borel right out of the gate. Derby Kitten will be starting out of the ninth post and jockey Javier Castellano will also have to compete right out of the gates with Dialed In starting immediately to his left. I think Derby Kitten will have an easier time navigating the field, which will allow him to finish ahead of Brilliant Speed.

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