Las Vegas Weekly

May 2, 2010 · 7:38 PM

Photos: Chazz Palminteri hosts Kentucky Derby party at Palazzo

By Robin Leach

Chazz Palminteri hosts a Kentucky Derby viewing party at Lagasse's Stadium in the Palazzo on May 1, 2010.

Photo: Jacob Andrzejczak/ImagesofVegas.com

Actor Chazz Palminteri hosted a Kentucky Derby viewing party at Lagasse’s Stadium in the Palazzo yesterday, and Jacob Andrzejczak of IS Photography and ImagesofVegas.com shot the festivities for our Vegas DeLuxe photo gallery.

Chazz opened the event with a Q&A discussing his bets on the race and his return to The Venetian as star of A Bronx Tale. A clip of A Bronx Tale was then shown to all the guests depicting the scene Chazz was referencing, a real-life situation that Chazz witnessed growing up. The scene is shown in the 1993 Robert De Niro film of the same name, as well as re-lived during his stage show in The Venetian Showroom, where he is performing through May 9 and returning again for a fall run Oct. 7-18.

After the enthusiastic Q&A, Chazz watched the Kentucky Derby in the Stadium section of the venue. Complete with plush pillows and a large flat-screen TV measuring 102 inches, it was the perfect spot for up-close action of the race. Chazz enjoyed star chef Emeril Lagasse’s slow-roasted chicken breast during the race.

Chazz also was joined by fellow actors including my pal Robert Davi of The Goonies and Showgirls (you also remember him as a James Bond villain) and Frank John Hughes, plus San Diego Chargers cornerback Antoine Cason. Everyone in the group laughed, chatted and had a blast watching the race together, but no word as to who won or lost their bets!

During the event, excited fans came up to Chazz for autographs and photographs. The ever-humble actor was all smiles as he greeted each guest with a smile and posed for photographs.

We’ll have an extraordinary collection of photographs tomorrow right here at Vegas DeLuxe from our private intimate dinner with Chazz after his premiere night for A Bronx Tale, where he talked about that incredible fight scene with the Hells Angel inside a Bronx bar owned by da boys.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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