Las Vegas family has horse in Derby
A prominent Las Vegas family that had a fortune built on Winchell Donuts has a long shot in the Kentucky Derby today.
Joan Winchell and her son, Ron, hope Sabercat, a 30-1 pick, can become the fourth entry in six years at 20-1 odds or longer to pull off the upset.
Sabercat has an 8-3-0-2 record, with a win in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. He finished third to Derby favorite Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby.
Sabercat's daddy, Bluegrass Cat, finished second to Barbaro in the 2006 Kentucky Derby and was also runner-up in the Belmont Stakes. Granddaddy Storm Cat sired four Derby starters, including Tabasco Cat, the winner of the 1994 Preakness and Belmont.
The Winchells are carrying on the family racing legacy started in the 1950s by Joan Winchell's husband, Verne, Ron's father. Verne Winchell founded the doughnut company in 1948 and was later CEO and chairman of Denny's Restaurants. He died in 2002 at the age of 87.
Ron Winchell, 40, began developing the Winchell Pub and Grill chain in 2000.
Jockey Corey Nakatani will be starting Sabercat from post 18 in the 20-horse field. Only once has the winner come from post 18. Animal Kingdom, a 20-1 long shot, won it last year from post 16.
DEEP-SIXED
Sometimes Elaine Wynn put her foot down when then-husband Steve Wynn floated one of his exotic concepts.
In an interview with the New York Times, she was asked "what's one idea he had where you basically said: 'No way. You're going to do that over my dead body.' "
Her response: "He wanted to put a dolphin habitat in the backyard of our house, and I said, 'Steve, I get how you love dolphins, but this is not like a fish tank where you just put in the food.'
"So hence The Mirage's fabulous dolphin habitat," she said.
"He may not remember that it was my contribution, but originally, Steve wanted to build The Mirage right off the sidewalk, and I said that we had to push it back, that people wouldn't get the benefit of the architectural design if they didn't have a frame of reference.
"I said, 'Don't Reno-ize the Strip,' and I convinced him."
SIGHTINGS
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with political columnist and baseball fan George Will, chatting with Washington Nationals teen phenom Bryce Harper of Nevada at the Nationals park on Friday before their game with the Philadelphia Phillies. ... Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard, checking out Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage on Thursday. ... NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, having lunch Friday at New York Pizza and Pasta, Sahara Avenue and Jones Boulevard, with N9ne Steakhouse executive chef Barry Dakake. ... Patrick Johnson, a member of the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl team, dining at Republic Kitchen and Bar. Johnson is in training to qualify for the London Olympics in the 100 meters. ... Actor Jon Favreau, who went from a bit role in "Rudy" to director of the "Iron Man" movies, with his wife at "Jersey Boys" (Paris) on Thursday night. They were chatting with radio guy Michael Neal of Melanie and Michael in the Morning on KSNE-FM 106.5 (Sunny). Former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield will be at Albertsons, 8350 W. Cheyenne Ave., today from 1-3 p.m. for the debut of his new barbecue sauce, "The Real Deal."
THE PUNCH LINE
"In New Jersey, this mother has been arrested for taking her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning booth, where the girl got sunburned. ... Do you know what this means? There are now people in New Jersey dumber than the cast of 'Jersey Shore.' I didn't think that was possible." - Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
