If there was ever a day that could be declared a national day in the sports world, it could just be the first Saturday in May.
Yes, I’m talking about the Kentucky Derby, which is taking place on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The 147th round of the race, which is the first jewel of the Horse Racing Triple Crown, will see a field of 19 talented 3-year-olds scouring 1 1/4 miles on the dirt for their place among the immortals of the Sport of Kings ”.
We have a huge map with 14 races on the program, on which several competitive events take place. Obviously, the four to five races leading up to the annual Run for the Roses are of great interest to sports bettors who get into exotic bets, including the Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 bets.
Let’s take a look at two of the biggest races – the Churchill Downs Stakes and Turf Classic – ahead of the derby to see if we can deliver some winners before “the fastest two minutes in the sport” takes center stage.
Race 10: Churchill Downs Stakes
Outside of the derby, this was possibly the toughest handicap race on the map. 13 horses are ready to exit the starting gate led by the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Champion, Whitmore.
Currently, Whitmore is the second most important pick of the race with odds of 7-2. He has to face Flagstaff (3-1), the morning line favorite, who is my top pick. Flagstaff conquered the Commonwealth Stakes Class III in Keeneland back in April. He sat right next to the leader before tipping outside as they neared the eighth pole and mowed everyone else to claim victory.
For me, this is a great opportunity for the gelding and 7-year-old son of champion sire Speightstown to turn the script for Whitmore, which he finished second in last year’s Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.
For me, this is Flagstaff’s race to lose. If he gets the right trip and has no problems I don’t see him getting hit. Do yourself a favor and play Flagstaff in your wagering on win, place and show across the board. Hope his chances stay at this number or hopefully increase with the expected money Whitmore brings in ahead of the race.
If you want to get into some exotic bets, try my easy ticket. I will use # 4 Flagstaff (3-1), # 5 Tap it to win (8-1) and No. 9 Whitmore (9-2) in addition to the bet with Basin No. 3 (8-1) added at the back end. That way you get three chances to win, including Tap It To Win with good odds and Basin below it in the game.
My bets
$ 10 Win | Place | show
# 4 Flagstaff (3-1)
$ 5 exactly – 4-5-9 over 3-4-5-9
Horses on ticket – Basin No. 3 (8-1); # 4 Flagstaff (3-1); # 5 Tap it to win (8-1); and, No. 9 Whitmore (9-2)
Race 11: Turf Classic
I’m absolutely thrilled with the $ 1 million prize I’m getting on the nine horse field for the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes. The 6 year old gelding from Awesome Again looked fantastic last time out on the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) in Santa Anita Park.
Count Again was piloted by jockey Luis Saez and was penultimate as the field neared the far corner before launching a seven-wide train at the top of the track. The Ontario, Canada-bred player ended up behind eventual winner Hit The Road and Turf Classic contestant Smooth Like Strait, but his gallop after crossing the finish line was possibly the most impressive part of his run.
Count Again, who finished third or better in eight of his ten career starts, had more up his sleeve than anyone else in the Kilroe Mile field, which gives me hope that we’ll get the same – or even better – products after time.
I’ll play Count Again across the board (win-place show) and then use it in my Exacta box No. 3 Colonel Liam (3-1), No. 7 slick as the road (4-1) and # 9 Ride the Comet with 5-1 chances of winning. I will then put these four horses together with you No. 5 domestic issues (9-2) in a Trifecta box ticket.
My bets
$ 10 Win | Place | Show – # 2 Count again (10-1)
$ 4 exact box – 2-3-7-9
Horses on ticket – # 2 Count again (10-1); No. 3 Colonel Liam (3-1); No. 7 slick as the road (4-1); and, # 9 Ride the Comet (5-1).
$ 1 Trifecta box (play for $ 0.50 if you’re looking for a smaller investment): 2-3-5-7-9
Horses on ticket: # 2 Count again (10-1); No. 3 Colonel Liam (3-1); No. 5 domestic issues (9-2); No. 7 slick as the road (4-1); and, # 9 Ride the Comet (5-1).
Race 12: Kentucky Derby
I will not lie. I knew little to nothing about it # 15 Rock your world (5-1) before his start and 4 1/4 length romping in the Santa Anita Derby.
However, after seeing Candy Ride’s son do what he did on the field in that race, I immediately thought of 2006 Derby champion, Barbaro. Both horses began their careers on grass, and Rock Your World won its first two races on the surface.
After those wins, coach John Sadler opted for a shot at the Santa Anita filth, which proved he can thrive on either surface. Rock Your World, who will put jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle, set the tone out of the gate and wired the field on the way to Class I victory.
Obviously, most of the attention – and the money for it – will go to the undefeated favorite No. 14 Essential Quality (2-1) what is earned. My gut feeling, however, is that he has reached his plateau while others in this area are still improving as racehorses.
Another great historical fact that works against the essential quality? Only two Juvenile Champions of the Breeders’ Cup have won the derby (Street Sense 2007 and Nyquist 2016), which makes me pale the winner of the Blue Grass Stakes.
Apart from that, I will play Rock Your World across the board in my win, place and show stakes. I will bet too No. 1 Well-known agenda (5-1) for seat and show. If the Florida Derby winner had a better result after the draw, he would have fought for my top pick.
I will use these two horses in addition to my Exacta missions No. 7 Mandaloun (15-1); # 9 Hot Rod Charlie (9-2); No. 11 Dynamic (20-1); No. 14 Essential Quality (2-1); and, No. 17 Highly motivated (10-1).
My bets
$ 20 Win | Place | Show – # 15 Rock your world (5-1)
$ 10 place | Show – No. 1 Well-known agenda (6-1)
$ 5 exactly – 1-15 over 1-7-9-11-14-15-17
Horses on ticket – No. 1 Well-known agenda (6-1); No. 7 Mandaloun (15-1); # 9 Hot Rod Charlie (9-2); No. 11 Dynamic (20-1); No. 14 Essential Quality (2-1); # 15 Rock your world (5-1); and, No. 17 Highly motivated (10-1).
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