Since the TechRepublic editorial department and the product development teams are located in Louisville, Kentucky, everyone around here is lining up their picks for the Kentucky Derby. I’m not a betting man, but I love watching thoroughbreds run. They are truly breathtaking athletes. 

So here are my picks for this year’s Derby, which promises to be very competitive: 

Street Sense – Why is this guy my No. 1 pick? Because he’s faster than any of the other horses in the field. If he doesn’t get bumped around or run into traffic problems, he will simply outrun everyone at the end. 

Hard Spun – Earlier this week, he had a blisteringly fast workout at Churchill Downs, so he’s getting faster and may be peaking at the right time (or he might have wasted energy that he should have saved for the race). I think he will be close to the early lead and will run well. 

Any Given Saturday – I just really like this horse. He’s not as fast as Street Sense, but he is a fighter and shows up for every race. 

Longshot picks: Stormello, Great Hunter

What are your picks for this year’s Kentucky Derby?