Jimmy Fallon once again unleashed The Tonight Show’s pawesome Puppy Predictors Thursday night—this time to fetch us a forecast for Saturday’s 152nd Running of the Kentucky Derby (airing on NBC).
A recurring segment in which puppy races (aspire to) determine who will win sporting events like the Super Bowl and NCAA men’s basketball championship, the Puppy Predictors already are 0-for-2 this year, having thrown their wee weight behind the New England Patriots (who decisively lost the Big Game to the Seahawks) and UConn’s Huskies (who got edged out by Michigan).
Not to dis the doggos further, but a year ago the Puppy Predictor outcome suggested Sandman would cross the finish line first at the Kentucky Derby. Instead, he placed seventh.
In fact, over a span of eleven years, the Puppy Predictors’ Super Bowl picks have only been right three times. With March Madness champs, they’re 2-for 7. And when it comes to the Derby, they’re a doggone 1-for-9 heading into this year’s running.
On Thursday night, ten pups were enlisted to represent horses to be fielded at Saturday’s Kentucky Derby: Renegade, Further Ado, Commandment, Chief Wallabee, The Puma, Emerging Market, So Happy, Danon Bourbon, Incredibolt, and one long shot—Potente—who seemingly just “woke up from a nap,” Fallon observed, and is paying 20-1 at Churchill Downs.
The rules: “No wandering, no peeing, and no butt-sniffing,” Fallon informed the furry field. And with a bit of fanfare from The Roots’ trumpeter Dave Guy, they were off.
Who darted fastest to the abundance of kibble waiting at the other end? It was No. 5, representing The Puma, who at press time is paying 10-1 at Saturday’s race. Will the Puppy Predictors prove right this time around, and reverse their run of not-so-great luck? Watch the Derby Saturday afternoon to find out.
Watch the Puppy Predictors paw-race above.
