The eyes of the nation focus on Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. for today's 137th running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby.
For many, today is the only day that horse racing exists, so let’s hope another grand show is put on in Louisville for the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Local stars Plum Pretty and Zazu finished first and third respectively in yesterday’s Oaks, and Santa Anita Derby (Grade I) winner Midnight Interlude is my pick to take the Run for the Roses and make Bob Baffert the first trainer in 60 years to complete the Oaks/Derby double.
My complete Kentucky Derby analysis including a pick 4 and trifecta can be found here.
Locally, the magic number is 11, as that is the number of races on the card as well as first post time.
The featured $100,000 Senorita Stakes (Grade III) for 3-year-old fillies going a mile on the turf course has a 7-to-5 stand-out in Cambina. Instead of joining the rest of the Jeff Bonde contingent and some other locals that ran in yesterday’s American Turf at Churchill Downs, she stays home looking for her fourth straight stakes win.
Two come backing super stars compete early in the card on the main track in small fields, as Cost Of Freedom sprints five furlongs against five others in the $70,000 Cool Frenchy, and Sidney’s Candy faces just three rivals going a mile and a sixteenth in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy (Grade II).
We’re off to the races!
Late Pick 4
Leg 1 – Race 8 (2,3,6,7) – Four deep to start the sequence in this six furlong turf sprint for maiden allowance runners.
Leg 2 – Race 9 (3,7,8,11) – Another four-pack in this competitive starter allowance affair sprinting six furlongs on the main track.
Leg 3 – Race 10 (2,3) – The aforementioned Senorita comes down to No. 2 Cambina and No. 3 Wave of Applause, who is dangerous with the cut back to a mile if she can shake loose on the front end.
Leg 4 – Race 11 (1,5,6,8,10,13) – Slow maiden fillies go six and a half furlongs for a $20,000 tag and we’ll go six deep hoping to be alive to some nice payouts.
Recap – (2,3,6,7) w (3,7,8,11) w (2,3) w (1,5,6,8,10,13) – Total cost of ticket = $96
Yesterday’s Result – (-$72)
Total for 2011 Hollywood Park Spring/Summer meet – (+$491.20)
Total for 2010-11 Santa Anita meet – (+$5,218.60)
Total for 2010 Del Mar meet – (-$554.55)
Best Bet of the Day (ROI based off $2 WPS bet)
Race 7 – #9 Magnificent Blend (6/1 ML) – The epitome of a hard-knocker now 7-years-old, this dude is back in a spot where he should win and is beautifully drawn outside. He’s finished in the money in 18-of-19 on a synthetic surface and has 13 career victories.
Yesterday’s Result – Off the board with Vulcan (-$6.00)
Total for 2011 Hollywood Park Spring/Summer meet – (-$47.10)
Total for 2010-11 Santa Anita meet – (-$64.10)
Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches and much more!
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For more Santa Anita Park action check out Jarrod Horak’s Pick 6 Blog.
Good luck!
