Kentucky Derby Betting Tips
Churchill Downs hosts the first leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday, where dreams become reality for one of the 20 hopefuls lining up, with the hope of winning the Triple Crown still a possibility.
The feature race concludes the card, but there are other Grade 1 races on both the turf and dirt, which are more than worthy of their place. Here we have selected our best bets for three of the races, including in the big one itself.
20:23 - Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Ford (Grade 1) (4yo+) (7f)
The first Grade 1 on the card comes over 7f on the Dirt and Nysos is a warm favourite. He has won his previous two races in visually striking fashion, but these have come in Grade 3’s, and he needs to prove himself up in class.
It is instead Mullikin who gets the vote of confidence. His best form last season came over 7f, and he didn’t lose much in defeat over 6f at the Breeder’s Cup and over a mile at Aqueduct.
Usual jockey Flavien Prat has opted to ride Mullikin, but that gives an opportunity to Luis Saez and improves the price available to take. He has the best 7f form in the race and is the one to best.
Selection: Mullikin
21:06 - American Turf Stakes presented by Ford (Grade 1) (3yo) (1m1/2f)
The first Grade 1 on turf is a fascinating affair. New Century makes his first start for Brendan P Walsh having relocated from the UK. When last seen in April he was fifth behind 2,000 Guineas favourite Field Of Gold, this form could of course get a boost earlier on Saturday afternoon, but at present, he needs to improve on what we have seen to win here.
It is Iron Man Cal who makes the most appeal following his neck second to Henri Matisse at the Breeder’s Cup last year. This is the best two-year-old form on show, and the best form of the entire field.
He was a little unlucky in the race, having not had a clear passage. If in the same health on his first start since that outing and granted a clear run, he can notch up another success.
Selection: Iron Man Cal
23:57 - Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) (3yo) (1m2f)
Affectionately known as the Run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby is the biggest three-year-old race of the season so far. There is plenty of good form on display, but none more so than that of Journalism. His win in the Santa Anita Derby most recently is the best form on offer through this field, and provided he can keep progressing, it is difficult to see any of the others get the better of him.
Of the others, the most interesting is Luxor Cafe. He has been most impressive in Japan, and if continuing in the same form can give a good account of himself, but he is likely to find this tough with it being an away fixture.
Selection: Journalism