Today, a quick look at the 2021 Kentucky Derby points bubble. The 2021 Kentucky Derby is a little over a month away, which means we are in the thick of the Derby prep races. With the Florida Derby out of the way. It’s time to take a look at who’s in and out of the Kentucky Derby points bubble.
In
Like The King, 104 points.
The Wesley Ward-trained colt has flown under the radar during the Derby prep season. He followed up a second-place finish at the John Battaglia Memorial. This with a win at the Jeff Ruby Steaks over the weekend, giving him more than enough points to earn a spot at the Derby.
Known Agenda, 102 points.
The Todd Pletcher trained colt emerged as a likely contender to win the Kentucky Derby after an impressive win at the Florida Derby, defeating fellow contender Greatest Honour, which came into the race as the favorite.
Updated 2021 Kentucky Derby Points Bubble Cusp
Rebel’s Romance, 100 points.
Rebel’s Romance is coming off a win at the UAE Derby, giving home two wins in three starts.
Greatest Honour, 80 points.
The Fountain of Youth winner had already booked a spot in the Derby, but he saw his three-race winning streak end after a third place finish at the Florida Derby. Despite the loss, he will still be one of the favorites to win the Kentucky Derby.
On the Bubble
Spielberg, 17 points.
After a second-place finish at the Southwest Stakes in February, trainer Bob Baffert decided to enter him in the Florida Derby. However, it didn’t pan out after an eighth-place finish. With very few prep races left. It is unlikely that the winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity and runner-up in the Southwest Stakes will make it to the Kentucky Derby. Ready for May?
On Sunday, trainer Shug McGaughey said a set of blinkers has helped take Florida Derby winner Known Agenda to the next level. Also, he will likely also be added when Greatest Honour begins his final preparations for their rematch in the Kentucky Derby. Ready for more Kentucky Derby news?
Both Florida Derby winner Known Agenda and beaten favorite Greatest Honour. GH, who finished third. Eight lengths behind the winner, came out of the race at Gulfstream Park in good order and if all goes well over the next five weeks they are expected to meet for a third time in the Kentucky Derby. Known Agenda also defeated Greatest Honour in a maiden race last fall at Aqueduct.
“He came out of the race great. Had good energy today,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of Known Agenda the morning after his breakthrough performance in the Florida Derby, for which he earned a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure.
Pletcher said he is pleased with the progression Known Agenda has made in his last couple of starts.
Kentucky Derby Betting Odds for Greatest Honour
“He’s much more focused. Also, professional than at the beginning of the year. The blinkers have definitely helped,” said Pletcher, who trains Known Agenda for owner-breeder Vinnie Viola. “I was happy to see him be inside. And behind horses, take some dirt and run into it. I was always confident the distance would be to his liking and it’s been interesting watching him put it all together. Part of that comes from experience and maturity and him getting used to being in those situations.”
McGaughey said Greatest Honour “was doing fine” after returning to his winter base at Payson Park. This on Saturday evening. McGaughey gave a couple of reasons why Greatest Honour did not run back to his previous two efforts in which he won the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here earlier this winter.
“The winner ran a tremendous race. However, I also think our horse being down on the inside is really not what he wants to do,” McGaughey said. “He couldn’t get out until the top of the stretch. By that time the race was over. He didn’t run his ‘A’ race, although we’re still planning on going to Louisville unless he shows something to tell us otherwise over the next few weeks.”
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Doug O’Neill-trained three-year-old, Hot Rod Charlie looked impressive over the weekend when he won the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, the first of the final round of Derby preps worth 100 points to the winner.
The win came a week after jockey Joel Rosario led fellow California bred colt, Concert Tour, to a win at the Rebel Stakes. Can the wins continue? Experts believe so. You may view updated odds below.
Both HRC and Concert Tour were highly ranked Derby contenders. This before Saturday, but their standing improved dramatically after Bob Baffert announced that Derby favorite Life is Good will miss the Triple Crown after suffering an injury over the weekend.
Hot Rod Charlie needed four starts as a two-year-old before earning his maiden diploma. He nearly shocked the world at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, finishing second at 94-1 to champion colt Essential Quality. In his next start, he closed for third in the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 30.
Hot Rod Charlie Kentucky Derby Odds
In his recent works, HRC trained like a superstar. Blowing away workmates and galloping out with enthusiasm, indicating that much as he progressed at 2, he was giving all the indications he would move forward similarly at 3. It looked like he was sitting on a top effort, and thus was bet down to 5-2, second choice to the 6-5 favorite Mandaloun, who had won the local prep, the Risen Star.
After the race, Hot Rod Charlie’s owner Bill Strauss said the horse will train straight through to the Kentucky Derby. Looking to bet on HRC?
“We’re going to Kentucky,” a jubilant Bill Strauss, one of the co-owners of HRC, said to TVG’s Scott Hazelton in the winner’s circle. “This is what you get in the game for.”
Strauss owns HRC. This, along with Roadrunner Racing and Boat Racing. The latter a group of friends for whom HRC is their first horse. Hot Rod Charlie was purchased as a yearling for $110,000. He earned $610,000 Saturday and now has career earnings of more than $1 million.
Leading up to the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Bob Baffert-trained colt Life is Good was considered the favorite to win the Derby. Updated Kentucky Derby favorites below. However, a hind-end injury he sustained after training on Saturday has forced Baffert to rule him out of the Triple Crown.
Firstly, with the favorite no longer participating in the Kentucky Derby. One Las Vegas sportsbook made Concert Tour and Essential Quality the new 9-2 co-favorites to win the Kentucky Derby. Check out odds below.
Secondly, Circa Sports reposted its futures about four hours after the news broke about Life Is Good’s training setback, and a half-hour after Hot Rod Charlie pulled off an upset win in the Louisiana Derby.
“Obviously, Life Is Good was our definitive favorite,” said Paul Zilm, risk supervisor at Circa. “Him being injured. Now off the Derby trail changes the picture completely. We had significant liability to him, but you hate seeing an injury sideline such a promising looking horse.”
Life Is Good had been 3-1 at Circa and 7-2 at William Hill Nevada. This before a left-hind issue was diagnosed after his workout Saturday morning at Santa Anita.
2021 Updated Kentucky Derby Favorites
Even though the three-year-old is expected to miss all three Triple Crown races. Bob Baffert still has a co-favorite for the Derby in Concert Tour. Reigning Eclipse Award winner Brad Cox looks after Essential Quality. What comes next?
Greatest Honour, the likely favorite in next Saturday’s Florida Derby, is now the third choice at 9-1 to win at Churchill Downs.
Hot Rod Charlie turned in a victory at Fair Grounds on Saturday that led Circa to shorten him from 26-1 to 9-1, the fourth choice in its Derby futures.
Therefore, “We have significant liability to him already,” Zilm said. “I was impressed with his run. He took advantage of a great break.”
In conclusion, Concert Tour had been 5-1 and Essential Quality 6-1 before Life Is Good’s injury.
“Both are deserving of being co-favorites on what they have done on the track and the support they have seen from bettors,” Zilm said.
Here we go with our latest Bob Baffert Kentucky Derby picks. Bob Baffert-trained three-year-old Concert Tour looked impressive after running a respective one-two in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes the day before at Oaklawn Park, earning 50 points toward a Kentucky Derby berth.
Hozier, another Baffert-trained horse, finished 4 1/2 lengths back in second, earning 20 points for the Kentucky Derby.
“They came out of the race great, are on a plane as we speak,” Baffert said Sunday.
The win at the Rebel Stakes gave Concert Tour his third win in three starts. He was making his two-turn debut off a victory over seven furlongs in the Grade 2 San Vicente at Santa Anita. Concert Tour moved to the front right out of the gate, withstood early pressure from Caddo River, controlled the pace from there, and won in hand under Joel Rosario.
New Bob Baffert Kentucky Derby Picks for 147th Race
He covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.18.
“I was impressed,” Baffert said. “He did it the right way – speed, slowed down. He took that other horse early.
“[Concert Tour’s] a really fast horse. We’re excited about him, thought he was that kind of horse.”
Baffert said he also was proud of Hozier’s effort running second. The horse closed from sixth in what was his first start against winners. Hozier was coming off a maiden special weight win over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.
Baffert said plans going forward for both Concert Tour and Hozier will be determined within the next few weeks, as the horses return to their routines in Southern California. Where does this put Bob Baffert Kentucky Derby picks? Here.
“This is the time we’re all getting excited,” Baffert said. “The party needs to continue.”
Looking for details on how to place horse racing bets? If you’re a fan of horseracing, you’re probably looking for the best racebooks online to place your wagers. With so many racebooks available, it’s hard to figure out which sites are legitimate and which aren’t.
One of the most popular horse racing sites on the web is TwinSpires.com, so naturally, people are curious to know if the site is safe. Have you heard of it? Maybe. Maybe not.
The good news is TwinSpires is not only safe, it is also fully licensed. Also, registered in the United States. While traditional sportsbooks are still illegal in most of the country, Horse and greyhound racing received exemptions from anti-gambling legislation in 2006.
Since TwinSpires is regulated in the United States, you don’t have to worry if your betting is illegal. Or sending money to a Caribbean country to deposit into your account.
TwinSpires is not only regulated in the United States. The comp any is based out of Kentucky, and accepts payments from all over the world. However, since it is regulated in the United States, it is subject to the applicable laws of the state and federal governments.
Guide to Place Horse Racing Bets Online
One of the reasons TwinSpires is one of the most popular horse betting sites is the way they run their business, which provides perks for their customers.
When you open an account, you will be asked to fund it by making a deposit. Easy enough? Once your deposit has been confirmed, you can choose to bet of different races around the country, or some international races.
Since you can’t be at every race track, TwinSpires allows you to watch any race you’re betting on through their video streaming feature, so you can actually enjoy watching the r ace live than having to hear it on a radio or constantly refreshing a web page.
So, to answer the initial question, yes, TwinSpires is a safe. Also, legitimate site located in the United States. They are also one of the best sites to use if you enjoy horse racing, which is why they are so popular. The BetUS and MyBookie racebooks are also great. If you’re looking to bet on the Derby, then look no further. Enjoy these reviews until next time. Check back here for more updates.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today we will preview Run Classic derby betting lines. Tom Durant acquired Run Classic at a 2-year-old in training sale during March 2020. The price could’ve been higher, said trainer Bret Calhoun, who was working with Durant on sales scouting.
“We thought he was the standout of the whole sale,” Calhoun said. “I think in the end the pedigree scared some people away.”
Run Classic is by the young, unproven sire Runhappy, a Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner whose offspring, after a slow start, are showing signs of life.
“He’s not bred like a route horse, but look at him,” Calhoun said Saturday morning, showing Run Classic, who had arisen from a nap in his stall, to a visitor.
Run Classic Derby Betting Lines 2021
Run Classic has a long barrel and long legs. He finished a troubled second sprinting in his career debut and won a two-turn maiden race second time out like a horse with ample middle-distance stamina, impressing his connections enough to earn a chance in the $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on Saturday.
Two years ago, Calhoun won the Louisiana Derby with a horse coming off a maiden win, By My Standards, who did have four races, three going two turns, compared to Run Classic’s two. By My Standards got an 86 Beyer in his maiden win and jumped to a 97 in the Louisiana Derby; Run Classic got an 85 for his Feb. 13 victory. His works on March 4 and March 12 were fast, five-furlong drills that were nearly the fastest on each morning, and Calhoun said it was not only the speed at which Run Classic worked but the manner of his breezes that offers encouragement.
“We know it’s a lot to ask, but this horse is just doing so well right now,” Calhoun said.
Time for the 147th Kentucky Derby. Today, we preview Drain the Clock Derby betting lines. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained colt Drain the Clock finished second to Greatest Honour in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth, ending his two-race unbeaten streak.
Even though Joseph Jr. reported that Drain the Clock came out of his second-place finish in the Fountain of Youth in good order, he is not expected to run at the Florida Derby on March 27. What does this mean for the Kentucky Derby? Well, this is not new.
“At the three-eighths pole, watching the race live yesterday. It looked like Greatest Honour was beaten. But watching the replay last night, I could see at the head of the lane that he was the winner. Even though we got beat, we’re not walking away disappointed. We got run down by a really nice horse. With unlimited stamina. But in the end. He ran his race and got beat fair and square. We gave it a shot stretching him around two turns. Also the reality is he ran credibly, but failed to stay.”
Joseph said he will shorten Drain the Clock, a runaway winner of the Grade 3 Swale at seven furlongs earlier in the meet, back to one turn for his next start.
Updated Drain the Clock Derby Betting Odds 2021
“I think running him more distance again would only hinder his true brilliance,” Joseph said. “There are plenty of big races. Grade 1s out there at one turn.”
Despite the fact that Drain the Clock won’t be at the Florida Derby, Joseph will still have a contender in lightly raced Collaborate, who drew off to a 12 1/2-length maiden win going a mile at Gulfstream on Saturday in his second career start.
“His first start was disappointing that he got beat with the talent he has. But I always look for the positive in every negative situation and what he got was a ton of experience out of that race,” Joseph said. “He missed the break, took a lot of dirt, and had to wait in traffic to get clear enough to make a late run. Very clear. It’s a building-block race that should really serve him well going forward. He has that long stride, and stamina with him is no problem. Granted it’s a tall task, but he deserves a shot somewhere to get to the Kentucky Derby and the Florida Derby is the most logical option being it’s here, at our home track.”
Ready to bet on the Kentucky Derby? First up Florida, then Kentucky. View updated betting lines above.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality is considered one of the early favorites to win the 2021 Kentucky Derby after winning the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes over the weekend, which kept him unbeaten in four starts.
However, it could be a while before he gets back on a track. For the reason that his next race has not yet been determined. How come?
“He’s really good, doing great,” trainer Brad Cox said Sunday. “No decision on his next race.”
According to Cox, the next races being considered include the Blue Grass at Keeneland. Also, the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.
Cox said one of Essential Quality’s best qualities is his stamina. Therefore, which was apparent as he finished strongly in the slop in the Southwest. In what was his first start in nearly four months. It was run over 1 1/16 miles, the same distance of his wins in the Breeders’ Cup and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity last year at Keeneland.
Kentucky Derby Betting Odds for Essential Quality
“Firstly, He stays on,” Cox said. “He’s got a tremendous amount of stamina, never seems to get tired. Training, he does all his works well in hand. It just comes so easy for him.”
“He’s just an exceptional talent that was able to win going three-quarters his first time out, probably not what he wants to do. Or even what he’s bred for, bred to do.”
Spielberg, winner of the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, participated in the Southwest and finished second, 4 1/4 lengths behind Essential Quality.
Spielberg spotted the field several lengths when he broke last of all Saturday.
“After that horrendous start, I was really happy with how he ran,” Baffert said Sunday. “He might have been closer, but he wasn’t going to beat the winner. The winner’s a good horse. [Spielberg is] a stayer, kind of a one-paced horse. I think he liked the firmer track there.”
Currently Life is Good Kentucky Derby favorite has 2-1 odds. The Kentucky Derby is less than two months away. The unbeaten Bob Baffert-trained Life Is Good closed as the 2-1 favorite in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Champion 2-Year-Old Male Essential Quality the 5-1 second betting choice and Fountain of Youth winner Greatest Honour third at 6-1.
Life Is Good, who closed as the 5-1 individual favorite in Pool 1 and 7-1 individual choice in Pools 2 and 3. The shortest-priced individual March future wager favorite in the 23-year history of the KDFW. Past March individual favorites included Mohaymen (7-2 in 2016), Uncle Mo (3-1 in 2011) and Pyro (4-1 in 2008).
Betting Odds for Life is Good Kentucky Derby Favorite
Life Is Good improved to a perfect three wins in three starts with an eight-length win in the $300,000 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita for six-time Kentucky Derby-winner Baffert. Updated odds above. In the Derby with 60 Road to the Kentucky Derby points, the son of Into Mischief is expected to make his final Derby prep in the April 3 Santa Anita Derby (G1). View the top racebooks here.
Brad Cox-trained Essential Quality is also unbeaten. Do you have to be unbeaten to win? No. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner improved his record to 4-for-4. This with a 4 ¼-length win in the $750,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 27. His first start as a 3-year-old. Ranked fourth with 40 Derby points, the Tapit colt is expected to compete next in Keeneland’s Blue Grass (G2) on April 3. Time will tell.
Greatest Honour, the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth winner, trained by Shug McGaughey, will attempt a sweep of the South Florida series. This in the March 27 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Stay tuned for future odds.
