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American Dream Derby
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Because they're running out of card games to show, GSN decides to take a pari-mutuel approach to reality TV and give one of twelve people the chance to not only win $250,000 but a stable of eight racehorses! It's the American Dream Derby from Santa Anita Park! Place your bets and get to the post because... THEY'RE OFF!

Recaps by Chris Wolvie, GSNN


FACT FILE:

Host:
Steve Santagati
Trainer: Alex Hassinger
Creator: Rich Cronin
EP:
Scott A. Stone, Sharon Levy, Anthony Ross, Kathy Sutula
Packager: Stone & Co. Entertainment Productions for GSN Originals
Airs: Mondays at 9p ET on GSN


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Episode 8 - February 21

Previously on AMERICAN DREAM DERBY, the six were whittled down to three in a trio of Guts Matches. Levar won the first match in a photo finish against Tara W, Sara blew away Deanna by three lengths and Eric held on to the lead with a half-length win over last-place Dean. Then a FOURTH Guts Match was announced between the three final Owners and Eric won $15,000 more and solidified his spot as the first picker in the Dream Derby itself!

And we're LIVE from Santa Anita Park in beautiful (albeit rainy) Southern California. And were are with the ones making the first three picks: Eric Childers from Springfield, MO, LeVar Thomas from Da Bronx and Sara Slavin from West Milford, NJ. We start with host Steve Santagati asking them questions about the Mansion Alliance and the various "activities" that occurred there. Eric's drunken "confessional", for one... and the "love/hate triangle" between the three for another... and Sara saying they have nothing left to prove for a third. But, as you can see, things worked out in the end.

OK, let's knock off the exposition and get to the picks. We know the picks have been in for a while now, so let's just show what the three leaders have picked for their head horse in this one-mile race:
Eric
Crafty Value
LeVar
Big Wagner
Sara
Nigel No Mates

Eric thinks Crafty Value is the best for the distance. LeVar thought so, too, but since his pick was taken, he'll be "content" with Big Wagner. Sara, going on instinct, takes Nigel No Mates.

And what does trainer Alex Hassinger have to say about those picks? Well, they're all good... though Nigel may not do as well as he does in the morning (it's just passed 4pm PT at the time). A leading handicapper likewise says that they are good picks... though the "sloppy" track might effect that.

Well, hey, what are these nine shnooks who have come to join us? Why, it's the nine people who backed the wrong horse in the Guts Matches and were scratched! Dean, Tara C, David, Aaron, Tara W, Deanna, Jewel, Chris and Susan have returned to relive THEIR fave moments of the show and kill time before post time.

But... five of these guys are NOT out of the game yet. That's because GSN.com voters have picked who THEY want to see have a shot at the quarter-mil and the horses. And the results?

Deanna was the runaway winner with 38% of the vote, Dean got 25%, Susan (the one who didn't want anyone but a horse lover to win the horses) got 12% and Chris got 9%. And, by a margin of a mere 28 votes, the fifth member is David!

OK, what are THEIR choices out of whoever is left?:

Deanna
Avenue of Knowledge
Dean
Shoot Yeah
Susan
Sharp As A Fox
Chris
Regal Cruiser
David
R Champ

These eight horses will but put into the follow post positions with these post-time odds:

SANTA ANITA - RACE 9 - AMERICAN DREAM DERBY
1
AvenueofKnowldge (Deanna)
6-1
2
R Champ (David)
8-1
3
Big Wagner (LeVar)
9-2
4
Crafty Value (Eric)
2-1
5
Nigel No Mates (Sara)
2-1
6
Regal Cruiser (Chris)
15-1
7
Sharp As a Fox (Susan)
30-1
8
Shoot Yeah (Dean)
10-1

But...let's first enjoy LeAnn Rimes lip-synching the theme song for the show "You Take Me Home". OK, that's enough.

It's the call to the post! The eight horses walk towards the starting gate at the start-finish line. The race will be one lap around the track, eight full furlongs on the sloppy track (good for horses called "mudders" who run well in the slop). The eight owner-wannabes are ready to cheer them on from the clubhouse. The horse who crosses the finish line first will earn his/her picker $250,000 and the Dream Derby
stable of thoroughbreds to race, breed, feed and/or sent out to be made into glue.

The horses are approaching the starting gate...it is NOW Post Time!

They're in the gate...

*DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!*

ANNNNNNNND THERE OFF for first running of the American Dream Derby! And it's Avenueofknowledge taking a quick lead, R Champ in second but very close, Big Wagner and Crafty Value keeping it tight. Into the backstretch it's R Champ in the lead by a nose over Avenueofknowledge, Crafty Value and Big Wagner in third with Nigel No Mates in fifth by a length. Regal Cruiser is starting to pick up speed but he's still in the back with Sharp As a Fox and Shoot Yeah.

At the half, R Champ is starting to lag behind as Avenueofknowledge widens his lead, Big Wagner starting to catch up in third, followed by Nigel No Mates and... HERE COMES REGAL CRUISER from the back. Into the far turn, Avenueofknowledge is lengthening his lead, Big Wagner is trying to keep up... but HERE COMES REGAL CRUISER on the outside, passing Big Wagner into second... Shoot Yeah is back in fourth, followed by Crafty Value, R Champ, Nigel No Mates and Sharp As a Fox.

And DOWN DA STRETCH THEY COME! Avenueofknowledge is holding off Regal Cruiser, who is trying desperately to catch up. Big Wagner holds of Shoot Yeah as R Champ fades further and further back. Regal Cruiser is not... gonna... catch 'em as Avenueofknowledge
hits the finish liiiiine...

...and it's #1 AvenueofKnowldge
by a massive four lengths for Deanna Pellegrin, who wins $250,000 and the eight horses in this race! Place goes to ! #6 Regal Cruiser and, in a tight one, #3 Big Wagner holds off Shoot Yeah for show!

SANTA ANITA - RACE 9 - AMERICAN DREAM DERBY
RESULTS & PAYOFFS
1
#1 AvenueofKnowldge (Deanna)
15.60
8.60
6.00
2
#6 Regal Cruiser (Chris)
 
14.40
7.60
3
#3 Big Wagner (LeVar)
 
 
4.80
4
#8 Shoot Yeah (Dean)
 
5
#5 Nigel No Mates (Sara)
 
6
#4 Crafty Value (Eric)
 
7
#7 Sharp As a Fox (Susan)
 
8
#2 R Champ (David)
 
Exacta (first two horses in order) - $220.60
Quinella (first two horses in ANY order) - $135.60
Trifecta (first three horses in order) - $1272.60
Superfecta (first four horses in order) - $8185.60

But the big winner, of course, is Deanna! Despite choking ONCE in her picks, she excels here and chooses the right horse on the right track at the right time. And everyone is there to reap the rewards, including the horse and jockey and REAL trainer. Deanna is joined by her personal friends and says that she will use all the quarter-million to care for these horses and make them winners... so Susan can stop her whining.

Well, to say this was an... interesting series would be an understatement. Not sure if it'll be back... but it was fun while it lasted!

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