There is quite an awful lot to get into as we head into the final weeks of the 2013 racing calendar. Kentucky Derby betting might go into brief hibernation over the winter, but that doesn’t mean there still isn’t plenty to race for as horses gear up for the annual Run for the Roses.
Ria Antonia making noise
There’s a big filly for everybody to keep their collective eyes on as the Kentucky Derby draws closer, and her name is Ria Antonia.
She goes nearly 17 hands tall and won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and – according to owner Ron Paolucci – Ria Antonia is as determined and competitive as they come.
“When they run a race, most great horses leave it out on the track, and this filly brings it every time,” Paolucci said. “When she works, she works hard. When she runs, she runs hard.”
No doubt the online horse odds community will have their eyes on Ria Antonia over the next couple of months. Her next big test is in Louisiana at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots with a number of important Kentucky Derby points on the line.
It’s worth noting that, historically, fillies haven’t fared especially well in this race. Only two fillies in history have captured the Louisiana Derby – Carolyn A (1947) and Grecian Princess (1964). It’s almost been 50 years since one has turned the trick.
When it comes time to bet on the Kentucky Derby, fillies can be a real risk. There’s not a huge history of success there, and therefore, some good odds to be had. The trick is trying to find a filly that looks as though she’ll peak in the spring, rather than early in the season.
Honor Code Holds Steady
Wynn Las Vegas has released its latest odds for the 2014 Kentucky Derby, and to nobody’s surprise, Honor Code is staying strong as the early pre-race favorite at 10/1.
Honor Code is the (current) cream of the crop for a variety of reasons, but one that stands out above the rest is his trainer, Hall-of-Famer Shug McGaughey. McGaughey was one of the storybook narratives from the ’13 Kentucky Derby, as he trained Orb to capture his first-ever career title at Churchill Downs.
We’ve talked about Honor Code’s win at Remsen earlier, but it’s definitely a race victory worth re-mentioning. McGaughey, who isn’t exactly the most outspoken trainer on the circuit, praised the horse not just for its running ability but innate sense of competition and ability to raise its performance in the heat of battle, as Honor Code eked out a win by a nose at the wire over another hot Derby favorite, Cairo Prince.
“He showed a lot of guts,” McGaughey said of Honor Code following the win at Remsen. “I’m proud of him.”
Updated Kentucky Derby Horse Racing Odds
Earlier, Wynn Las Vegas’s racing book released its latest odds for the 2014 Kentucky Derby. Some of the ponies worth watching…
Honor Code 10/1
Tapiture 22/1
Tap it Rich 25/1
Cairo Price 30/1
Strong Mandate 30/1
Rise Up 35/1
Shared Belief 35/1
Mosler 40/1
Mexicoma 50/1
