It’s been a busy time as the horse racing world keeps an eye on the field to bet on the Kentucky Derby. Races are being run, points have been grabbed and a number of ponies have already emerged as favorites for the annual Run for the Roses.
Let’s take a look at some of the news makers now.
Samraat Takes the Withers
New York born-and-bred Samraat made some big strides toward receiving top Kentucky Derby horse racing odds when he captured the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.
The Rick Violette-trained horse looked very good at the $250,000 race, capturing a one-length victory over Uncle Sigh (who raced neck-and-neck with Samraat for the majority of the time).
While the Withers was a six-horse race, Samraat and Uncle Sigh turned it into a two-horse race as the third place finisher, Scotland, finished 10 ¼ lengths back.
With the win, Samraat earned 10 crucial points in qualifying for Churchill Downs standings while Uncle Sigh earned four, Scotland two and Classic Giacnroll one. Violette indicated post-race that Samraat would return to his usual training regime in Florida following the Withers, then consider running in the Wood Memorial – also at Aqueduct – later down the road.
Another Contender for WinStar
In not-so-shocking Kentucky Derby betting news, WinStar Farm is running hot.
The Woodford County farm, which already boasted a leading Derby contender in Commissioner – he beat highly-touted Top Billing at Gulfstream earlier this season – now appears to have another prized horse in the mix with Vinceremos.
Vinceremos gained some crucial Derby bragging rights of his own at Tampa Bay Downs, capturing the 1 1/16 mile Sam F. Davis race over stablemate Harpoon.
Led by Todd Pletcher – the trainer extraordinaire – Vinceremos had a pretty curious run in Tampa, pressing for the lead early before falling back at the far turn, only to rebound extremely well and take the lead in midstretch. Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado, Vinceremos didn’t actually gain any ground in Derby standings – the Sam F. Davis isn’t a points race this season. However he did position himself well for his next big race, the Tampa Bay Derby.
Honor Code Suffers ‘Minor Setback’
One of the hottest horses in the Derby campaign and points board fixture Honor Code has suffered a minor setback, according to trainer Shug McGaughey.
Honor Code was thought to be in the mix for the Fountain of Youth race at Gulfstream, but will now reportedly skip the event after missing around 10 days of training due to bruising in his hind ankles.
Honor Code burst onto the scene with a stellar win in the 1 1/8 mile Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct early in the season, but hasn’t raced since. That, along with McGaughey’s pedigree – he won his first-ever Derby last year with Orb – has a lot of Kentucky Derby betting enthusiasts keeping their eyes on Honor Code’s health.
