Prep season for the 151st Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve is nicely underway, and there’ll be little letup over the following three-plus months till the primary leg of the Triple Crown is run Might 3 at Churchill Downs.
Some of the intellectually stimulating and doubtlessly rewarding points of following up-and-coming Derby contenders is backing up your opinion with a future wager, and there are two methods to do it: in Churchill Downs’ third parimutuel pool held this weekend and making a fixed-odds wager by way of Caesars Sportsbook in Las Vegas.
Churchill’s third of six parimutuel swimming pools begins Friday, Jan. 17 at midday ET and ends Sunday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. ET. Thirty-nine particular person horses are supplied plus an “all different 3-year-olds” wager that opens at 5-2 odds. One Kentucky Derby factors race will probably be held whereas Churchill Downs’ pool is open: the Lecomte Stakes Saturday, Jan. 18 at Honest Grounds.
Caesars continues so as to add horses to their fixed-odds e-book, however the catch is wagers can solely be positioned in Nevada, in particular person or by their geo-restricted app. In case you’re touring there this winter and spring or know somebody who’s, get your bets in!
Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky Derby Leaderboard (Jan. 12)
1. Barnes (10-1)
2. Sovereignty (15-1)
3. Journalism (18-1)
3. Patch Adams (18-1)
5. Gaming (20-1)
Particular person Favorites in Churchill Downs’ Third Kentucky Derby Pool (opening Jan. 17)
1. Barnes (10-1)
2. East Avenue (15-1)
3. Bullard (20-1)
3. Chancer McPatrick (20-1)
3. Citizen Bull (20-1)
3. Journalism (20-1)
3. Patch Adams (20-1)
3. Rodriguez (20-1)
Updates and insights:
5 horses that I mentioned in my first Derby futures article for this yr’s season received a number of races since that was revealed in November: Barnes, Journalism, Patch Adams, Rodriguez, and Sandman. Barnes continues to be the “buzz” horse within the Derby future markets, particularly after displaying extra maturity in his second begin – and second win – Jan. 4 within the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Nonetheless, the Bob Baffert trainee is a giant underlay on Churchill’s pool and in Caesars’ e-book. Amongst that quintet, essentially the most spectacular effort in my opinion got here from stablemate Rodriguez, who romped by seven lengths in a one-mile maiden race additionally on Jan. 4 at Santa Anita and earned a 101 Beyer Velocity Determine. He’s opening at 20-1 in Churchill’s pool and rated at 25-1 in Caesars’ Derby future wager pool.
One other one to keep watch over and contemplate betting is Patch Adams. That colt additionally earned scorching velocity figures (98 Beyer and 110 Equibase Velocity Determine, the latter is doubtful in my opinion) when dominating a seven-furlong maiden race at Churchill Downs by 10 ½ lengths again in November. Patch Adams hasn’t raced since however is concentrating on the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park for coach Brad Cox, per the Every day Racing Kind. He’s 20-1 opening at Churchill and 18-1 in Vegas, and when you’ve acquired loads of religion in his potential now could be the time to lock these odds in.
(Word: Chancer McPatrick is obtainable by Churchill and Caesars however is presently sidelined with minor foot points.)
Two to look at:
Grande made his profession debut final Saturday, Jan. 11 at Gulfstream Park in a one-turn mile maiden race on dust. He broke from the rail and, beneath a usually wonderful journey from John Velazquez, maneuvered to place himself outdoors of early chief and 1-2 favourite Camp Hale, a colt making his third begin after two runner-up finishes. Grande put that foe away on the high of the stretch and received by 2 ½ lengths, incomes stable first-out velocity figures (81 Beyer, 77 Equibase). This colt is owned by Mike Repole and educated by Todd Pletcher, so you recognize he’ll be given a number of possibilities to earn Derby factors within the weeks forward. He’s by Corridor of Famer and high sire Curlin and out of a Grade 3-winning dam (mom). Grande is obtainable in Churchill’s third Derby pool held this weekend at opening odds of 50-1. He’s not listed in Caesars’ newest e-book that got here out a day after his debut, however must be as quickly as subsequent week.
A prospect that’s not in Churchill’s upcoming pool however is listed at Caesars – and at juicy 100-1 odds, in addition – is Burning Glory from Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott’s barn. The Into Mischief colt completed fifth and second in his first two begins final yr at Churchill Downs after which received on that monitor’s closing day of its fall meet Dec. 1 after outdueling a longshot to attain by a neck in a one-mile maiden race. He’s since been coaching steadily for Mott in Florida and will resurface quickly, probably at Gulfstream Park. Burning Glory is a Juddmonte Farms homebred and has the requisite sterling pedigree as an in depth relative of such standout racehorses as champion Shut Hatches, $4 million earner Tacitus, and reigning champion older dust feminine Idiomatic.
