Kentucky Derby Fever Starts This Weekend

Horse Racing Update:  Quality Road Dominates the Donn Handicap, the Apple Blossom Makes a Play for Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta and Kentucky Derby Fever Starts in Earnest This Week

Trainer Todd Pletcher had to scratch Quality Road out of the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November because the horse refused to enter into the starting gate.  Oh, what could have been!

Quality Road showed that he might be the best racehorse on the planet this past Saturday when he obliterated a field of 8 other older horses in the Grade I Donn Handicap.  The victory, by 12 ¾ lengths, was absolutely breathtaking.  Stalking Past The Point through a 46.02 half mile and 1:09.87 mile, Quality Road simply took over the lead and accelerated in the lane.  He ran the final split in 12.71 seconds and finished up the 1 1/18th mile Donn in 1:47.49.

The Todd Pletcher trainee broke the track record.  He didn’t pay his backers all that much, $2.80 to win, but he was so scintillating in the victory that I have to say that he’s easily one of the Top 5 best horses in the world right now.  He might be the best if you believe in Beyer Figures.  Road busted a 121 in the Donn Handicap.  That’s the highest Beyer Figure recorded since 2005.

Apple Blossom Dangles 5 Million Carrot

 Two horses that no doubt could challenge Quality Road in the near future, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, could be headed for a showdown very, very soon.

Oaklawn Park’s president, Charles J. Cella, is doing his best to lure both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta to Arkansas for the 2010 Apple Blossom.  The Apple Blossom, run for the first time in 1958, is one of the signature races for fillies and mares on the planet.

Usually the Apple Blossom is run as a handicap, but Cella, because of his desire to see both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta in the starting gate, has offered to turn the Apple Blossom into an invitational with a 5 million dollar purse.  Of course, he’ll only do that if the connections of both Rachel and Zenyatta agree to enter the race.

Will connections of both or either of the superstar gals bite?  Rachel might.  The Apple Blossom is run over a conventional dirt track where Rachel  has done her best running.  Zenyatta, on the other hand, has done her best running over the plastic, however, and this is a big “however”, the undefeated daughter of Street Cry did win the Apple Blossom in 2007.

And, let’s be honest, how often do fillies and mares get a shot to run for a 5 million dollar purse?  I think both Rachel and Zenyatta will end up in the starting gate in the 2010 Apple Blossom.

Kentucky Derby Fever Starts This Weekend

Rachel Alexandra won the Second Jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, in 2009.  It’s time for horseplayers to start going gaga over the 2010 three year olds.

Racebooks, including the BetOnline racebook, opens up for Kentucky Derby future wagering this weekend.  What horses will be in the field?  Which horse will go off as the favorite?

I have a good idea.  Out of the 336 sophomores nominated to the Triple Crown this year, expect 19 to be offered as individual betting interests in the first round of Kentucky Derby future wagering this weekend.  What’s left of the 336 will end up in the field.

Sometimes the field is a good play.  Sometimes it isn’t.  It all depends on what bettors think the chances of Lookin’ At Lucky, Vale of York, American Lion, Buddy’s Saint and Noble’s Promise to win the Kentucky Derby, much less make the race, are.

All four horses figure to be individual betting interests in the future book this weekend.  Lookin’ At Lucky, no doubt, will go off as the favorite.  The Bob Baffert trainee should settle in as a 5 to 6 to 1 chalk in the futures while Buddy’s Saint should be a solid second choice at roughly 10 to 12 to 1.

No matter whom you like, the odds should be good enough to warrant a wager.  Horseplayers should seriously consider jumping on their Kentucky Derby horse early as once the real preps start going, overlaid odds will be tough to find.

Kentucky Derby fever starts this weekend!  Log into the racebook or sign up to bet the ponies!