Derby, filming in Vegas (May) for FOX, Ludacris, Doubles and WTP

Sorry I have been so far behind in my BLOGS!  This BLOG will catch you up on my crazy activities from Late April to the beginning of the WSOP on May 28.

We had an amazing Kentucky Derby in early May, Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin and wife Lisa were in our group: and Chris Ferguson and Fabiola (his GF), Beth Shak, and Lucetta (Phil Ivey's ex-wife) were in Robert Williamson's group.  I hosted two of the biggest parties in Louisville that weekend: http://www.derbypokerchampionship.com/ and http://www.julepball.org/

Thursday night we completely sold out our Derby Poker Championship, and it may have been the most beautiful poker tournament that I have ever emceed!  I mean, we rented an old theatre in downtown Louisville, and we sold the place out, with a VIP room for the celebs on an upper floor of the theatre.  There are tons of pics up on the Internet

In the day, instead of playing my traditional Thursday round at Valhalla Country Club with my group of eight, I had to do "Good Morning America" with George Stephanopoulos Thursday morning in Atlantic City, and catch a private jet to Lousiville just in time to emcee the poker tournament!

Friday night it was an honor to host the black tie "Julep Ball!"  Some of the past hosts include Ashley Judd, Greg Grunberg, and Bob and Rebecca Guiney.  The party was amazing, with all the men in tuxedos, and the woman in dresses and traditional Derby hats!

Saturday Corey and Lisa picked the winner of the Derby (Super Saver), and reaped a nice reward!  The 4 horse came through big time!  I had a piece of their bet and made about $2,000 or soI finally did NOT lose at the Derby betting the horses (I won less than $1,000 though).  The weekend was amazing; we rented a monster limo 24/7, and had VIP passes to every party!

Monday I hit Vegas and recorded an opening for "The Big Game" on FOX.  Tuesday I shot a video for Ludacris and Trey Songz for a song called "Sex Room": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCQbV1S4nAs

Over the next ten days I shot almost every single day, either for "Doubles Poker" or "The Big Game."  After only one day off (Sunday, where I made a deep 10 hour run in an online tournament), the following Saturday (May 15) I went to L. A. to shoot a new commercial for UB!  Work, work, work!

Then on May 19th I was back in Vegas shooting "World Team Poker" http://www.worldteampoker.com/ where I asked Doyle Brunson to take my Captaincy of "Team USA."  We had a pretty good team that I selected: Erik Seidel, Allan Cunningham, Doyle Brunson, Jennifer Harmon, Annie Duke, Howard Lederer, Mike Matusow, and Chris Ferguson.  No comment on how we did, although you can see the results on the front page on the website link above!

On May 26 I hit Vegas ready to play in the WSOP (World Series of Poker), and I will get into that in my next BLOG

Learn more about Phil at www.PhilHellmuth.com and visit his web store at www.PokerBrat.com