Sport Of Kings Has New Pharoah
American Pharoah, trained by Bob Baffert, is the best horse in a field that many think is one of the best 3-year old crops we have seen in a long time. It's been awhile since I've watched a horse run so effortlessly while winning stake races. His win in the Arkansas Derby was extremely impressive as he galloped home with ears pricked, geared down, and wanting more crossing the finish line. It was all I needed to see. His lone loss was in his first career start but he has been untouchable with with four consecutive victories. This is a special horse who should enjoy coming out of the 18 hole, shadowing the speed to his inside and taking over when asked to run by jockey Victor Espinoza. Is he a lock to win? No. This is the Kentucky Derby, anything can happen, but I do expect him to come up on top, minus a major setback. If you can get 5/2 on him, be rude not to make a win wager. As I mentioned, this is a tough group of challengers, so here are some participants that will give him his toughest test and using on my exotic tickets.
Dortmund: American Pharoah's stablemate, has done nothing wrong in his unbeaten streak of six starts, including a couple of Grade 1 stake races. This muscular beast of a horse loves to be on or near the lead and will carry his dazzling speed down to the stretch run. Expect him to come out smokin' from Post 8, vying for command up front and controlling his own destiny. Possibility of the two favorites finishing in top two spots is well within reach, and if this happens, no bettor will be backing up his truck to the ticket window.
International Star: Smaller horse can maneuver through traffic with his closing kick while gathering momentum at expected contested fractions. Think we'll see him picking up the pieces while passing a supply of tired horses in the stretch run at a valuable price.
Firing Line: If you're betting Dortmund, you must have this colt on your ticket. Faced Dortmund twice this past winter in California, only to lose both by a head. Comes out of the Sunland Derby with a 14-length victory with HOF jockey Gary Stevens aboard. Stevens has won the first leg of The Triple Crown three times.
Tencendur: Mid-pack runner keeps improving each race and exits the Wood Memorial with a second-place finish at 21-1. I thought the jockey in that race made his move a little too early which might of cost him the race. Switches to jockey Manuel Franco today, who is making a name for himself in the New York circuit. Must like the two bullet drills coming in for trainer George Weaver.
Danzig Moon and Keen Ice: My two Bombs-away runners will be rolling late at huge prices to hopefully juice up our exotic tickets.
Post position Horse Jockey Trainer Odds 1 Ocho Ocho Ocho Elvis Trujillo Jim Cassidy 40/1 2 Carpe Diem John Velazquez Todd Pletcher 7/1 3 Materiality Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher 12/1 4 Tencendur Manny Franco George Weaver 66/1 5 Danzig Moon Julien Leparoux Mark Casse 40/1 6 MubTaaqhij Christophe Soumillion Mike de Kock 14/1 7 El Kabeir Calvin Borel John Terranova II 33/1 8 Dortmund Martin Garcia Bob Baffert 9/2 9 Bolo Rafael Bejarano Carla Gaines 40/1 10 Firing Line Gary Stevens Simon Callaghan 18/1 11 Stanford Florent Geroux Todd Pletcher 66/1 12 International Star Miguel Mena Mike Maker 18/1 13 Itsaknockout Luis Saez Todd Pletcher 33/1 14 Keen Ice Kent Desormeaux Dale Romans 50/1 15 Frosted Joel Rosario Kiaran McLaughlin 18/1 16 War Story Joe Talamo Tom Amoss 50/1 17 Mr. Z Ramon Vazquez D. Wayne Lukas 40/1 18 American Pharoah Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert 9/4 19 Upstart Jose Ortiz Rick Violette Jr. 22/1 20 Far Right Mike Smith Ron Moquett 33/1
Bets
$1 Trifecta (18 with 8,10,12 with All) $54 (18 with All with 8,10,12) $54
Total wagers $108
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