Racebook Insider: The World of Horse Betting

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Kentucky Derby Contenders: War Pass Profile

Early Kentucky Derby favorite War Pass Sunday picked up his fifth straight win at the $60,000 allowance race at Gulfstream Park. Owner Robert LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito both agreed the 2007 Eclipse Award winner never looked better or happier.

"He's a very happy horse," Jockey Cornelio Velasquez said. "He's the best horse in the country right now. He's better than last year, he galloped out really strong. He wanted to win today."

Zito showed obvious signs of relief following the race.

"You still have anxiety no matter how you look at it," the Hall of Famer said. "When horses haven't run for a long time, there are injuries every day, so I know how grateful I am.

"He's unbelievable. That's what we wanted for him. Three weeks from now (Tampa Bay Derby [G3] on March 15), it will be a little tougher. I was happy for the fans. I'm a fan myself. I'm grateful to Gulfstream Park for putting the race on. He broke like a rocket. It would have been nice if he had sat back, but as long as he keeps winning, I'm happy. He's a special horse, he really is."

With the win War Pass added $36,000 to his earnings, which now stands at $1,433,400.

A winner in maiden and allowances/optional claiming races at Saratoga to start his career, the colt dominated both the Champagne S. (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) en route to earning champion honors. He has won his five lifetime tries by a combined 22 lengths and has yet to be headed at any call.

An allowance race is a non-claiming event (horses are not for sale) intended either for younger horses not yet ready for stakes competition.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Kentucky Derby Hopeful Sidelined with Injury

Considered to be one of the top contenders for the Run for the Roses, Crown of Thorns will miss the big race due to a sore left shin.

Crown of Thorns, who earlier this month won the Robert B. Lewis (G2) Stakes at Santa Anita Park, will be forced to withdraw from the 2008 Kentucky Derby scheduled to take place at Churchill Downs on May 3, 2008. Trainer Richard Mandella confirmed Wednesday that the colt's left shin is sore and he's worried it may be the start of a stress fracture.

"He'll be out a couple of months," Mandella said.

Mandella has never won the Kentucky Derby before and must now rest his hopes on Into Mischief, another B. Wayne Hughes' owned horse and winner of the $750,000 Cash Call Futurity.

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Kentucky Derby Betting: Pyro a Good Bet

Even though "the field" (or "all others") is the favorite in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Pyro drew the most attention this past Sunday to become the 5/1 odds to win.

Referred to as the "understudy" to War Pass, Pyro's impressive win at Risen Star last Saturday was the thoroughbred's second win of his young career but it seems to be good enough to make him one of the most talked about horses heading down the road to the Kentucky Derby. But is Pyro your best bet?

As far as Kentucky Derby futures bets go, at 5/1 Pyro doesn't offer much value but his odds may increase in the weeks to come. You may be better off betting on a horse whose odds right now are greater -- like Court Vision at 15/1 or Monba at 16/1 odds to win the Kentucky Derby.

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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Kentucky Derby Futures: Field Set

The field is set and we're still a few months away, but futures wagering starts now! The first future Wagers of 2008 starts Thursday, February 7 at noon (EST) and runs through Sunday, February 10 until 6 p.m. (EST). The second pool will go March 6-9, with the final pool set for April 3-6.

War Pass, Pyro and Court Vision are all listed at 12/1 in the morning line odds to win the Kentucky Derby.

Here is the complete field:

1 Anak Nakal 20-1
2 Blackberry Road 20-1
3 Bob Black Jack 50-1
4 Colonel John 30-1
5 Court Vision 12-1
6 Cowboy Cal 20-1
7 Crown of Thorns 20-1
8 Denis of Cork 30-1
9 El Gato Malo 15-1
10 Etched 15-1
11 Georgie Boy 20-1
12 Giant Moon 20-1
13 Into Mischief 20-1
14 Majestic Warrior 15-1
15 Monba 30-1
16 Pyro 12-1
17 Signature Move 50-1
18 Smooth Air 20-1
19 Tale of Ekati 20-1
20 War Pass 12-1
21 Yankee Bravo 20-1
22 Z Fortune 20-1
23 Z Humor 15-1
24 Mutuel Field (All Others) 5-2

Keep your eyes on Pyro at this Saturday's Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds. The 134th Kentucky Derby will go Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs.

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