On Saturday, Jason Servis-trained Maximum Security secured a place at this year’s Kentucky Derby. This, with a surprising win at the Florida Derby. Defeating a couple of horses that were considered some of the top contenders at the upcoming 2019 Kentucky Derby odds. Learn more about Maximum Security below.
Also, after the win, Servis was both happy and impressed that his horse won the race. He was pleased with the way jockey Luis Saez approached the race.
“I watched on the TV over by the jock’s room. For the reason that I watched the 11th race on that TV and my horse [Restoring Hope] won. So, I said, ‘Yeah, I’m going back to that TV,” Servis said. “When he broke and Luis decided to go and it looked like he was going to get the lead by himself. I said, ‘That’s good.’”
“Luis walked the dog. He backed them up. I have to give him credit. Think it had a lot to do with it,” he added. “I’m not downgrading the horse, but Luis did a great job.”
2019 Kentucky Derby Odds
Furthermore, Servis did not consider Maximum Security to be a potential con tender for the Kentucky Derby and entered him in a $16,000 claiming race at Gulfstream in December for his debut.
“Candidly, if you read between the lines. There had to be a reason why I ran him for $16,000. Also, I glad I didn’t lose him? Hell, yeah,” Servis said. “Is he training good and sound? Yes. But there was a reason why I ran him for $16,000.”
“I claim a lot of horses. If I’m claiming and I see a homebred, I figure they got what they were dealt. It wasn’t like he was an $180,000 yearling.” he said. “I was taking a shot. I didn’t think he would be claimed.” Next, complete 2019 Kentucky Derby odds.
In conclusion, if Saez and Maximum Security can pull off the win at Churchill Downs. This will be one of the most interesting storylines at the Kentucky Derby.
The 2019 Kentucky Derby is just over one month away. After winning three consecutive races, Mark Casse trained three-year-old War of Will was considered one of the top favorites to win the 145th Kentucky Derby. Also, was ranked third in the Derby media poll. The horse betting sites have spoken! Updated Kentucky Derby odds below.
Therefore, during last weekend’s Louisiana Derby, the three-year-old buckled soon after leaving the gate and would go on to finish ninth in the race. Current Kentucky Derby online betting odds posted below.
Furthermore, the prep races have become more telling. Fortunately for Casse, the injury, which has been diagnosed as a strain of the patellar ligament in War of Will’s left-hind leg, it is not considered to be serious and he is expected to make it back in time for the Kentucky Derby.
“We’re fairly confident that with some treatment and exercise, he’ll be back 100 percent,” Casse said.
War of Will is expected to be shipped from his winter home in Louisiana to Kentucky on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Horse Betting Sites
The Gary Barber-owned colt has earned enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. This, thanks his wins at Fair Grounds’ Lecomte and Risen Star stakes. With the horse expected to be out for a few weeks, Casse is happy he entered him in earlier prep races, which allowed him to earn enough points to qualify for the Derby before participating in the Louisiana Derby.
“I’m glad we have the six weeks,” Casse said. “He’s just a super horse to be around, and it helps that you can kind of train him whichever way you need to train him. If all goes well, you’ll see him have a pretty aggressive training program.”
In conclusion, Casse’s best finish at the Derby was a fourth place finish. This was with Classic Empire in 2007. He is hoping to break through an pick up his first Derby win this year. However, he will need War of Will to fully recover to have a chance to win this year’s Derby.
On the road to the Kentucky Derby we have the Florida Derby next. Claude R. McGaughey III’s three-year old colt Code of Honor is coming off an impressive win at the Fountain of Youth Stakes. This race was at the beginning of the month. Also, earned him enough points to participate at the Kentucky Derby.
Before running in the 145th Run for the Roses, McGaughey plans to have him run in the Florida Derby this weekend, in what is expected to be his final prep race before the Derby.
“He looked like he worked very well. I asked him for 49. Also, he worked 48 and 2 or so. I think we’re in pretty good shape.” Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said.
Haladio Moreno, who rode Code of Honor during his exercise, was pleased with the horse’s performance. What will this mean for Kentucky Derby futures?
Kentucky Derby Prep Races
“He looks good and I think he’s been training very well,” he said.
After winning his first race and finishing second in the next race, Code of Honor was expected to win the Mucho Macho Man, but he finished fourth in the race. He bounced back by winning the Fountain of Youth in his next race. Also, his trainers hope he improves in his next race. Time will tell who will win the Derby.
“He’s had a good winter since the first of January and I think he‘s looking forward to what he does,” McGaughey said. “I like what I saw physically today and in terms of how he worked.”
In addition to Code of Honor, the Florida Derby will feature a lot of the top contenders to win this year’s Derby. This includes Hidden Scroll. HS finished fourth at the Fountain of Youth, Bourbon War, who finished second. Also, Harvey Wallbanger, who pulled off an improbably win in February when he won the Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull as a 29-1 underdog. These were all close finishes.
If Code of Honor wins this race, expect him to become one of the top favorites to win the Kentucky Derby. You can wager on the 2019 Derby here.
Have you met my friend War of Will? Bob Baffert’s top two horses suffered their first defeats at the Rebel Stakes this past weekend. The Kentucky Derby contenders list is considered to be wide open. One of the horses that has emerged as a front runner to win the Derby will run in this week’s Louisiana Derby and is favored to win the race.
During his practice run for the Louisiana Derby, rival trainer Bret Calhoun was impressed with what he saw from the Mark Casse trained three-year-old. This will impact Derby betting odds.
“He stepped up and ran a huge race that day, then came back and repeated it,” Calhoun said of victories in January’s Lecomte Stakes (G3) and February’s Risen Star Stakes (G2).
Calhoun also considers War of Will to be the favorite to win the Louisiana Derby.
Favored to Win the Race
“I think he’s definitely the standout,” Calhoun said, “and I don’t see a lot of holes in his armor. I think he’s the real deal.”
Even though he is favored to win the race, War of Will is expected to be challenged by Country House, Roiland, Hog Creek Hustle, and Limonite.
Calhoun is hoping his horse, By My Standards, performs well at the Louisiana Derby after a first place finish in his last race. What does this news mean for War of Will?
“I lost a little confidence when he was third the first time down here,” Calhoun said. “Just didn’t understand how he got beat that day. I think it was more of a mental lapse. He just didn’t quite know how to finish the race off.
“He came back the next race, did everything right, finished them off and went on. Came out of that race with a tremendous amount of confidence and has moved forward a lot in my mind.”
If War of Will wins the race, he likely won’t run again until the Kentucky Derby in May.
The 145th Kentucky Derby is shaping up to be a wild one. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s top contenders for this year’s Kentucky Derby both lost at the Rebel Stakes. This, a surprising result for what had been the top Kentucky Derby favorites for the 145th Run of the Roses. Updated Derby betting odds coming up next.
The Horses were entered in the Rebel Stakes after Santa Anita racetrack was shut down for safety reasons. Also, this resulted in the cancellation of the San Felipe Stakes. Of course, we know was supposed to take place on March 9.
Improbable ran in the first race, and had a chance to win the race but ended up finishing a neck behind Long Range Toddy. Game winner was entered in the second race and he too lost a photo finish to Omaha Beach. You can bet on Kentucky Derby 2019 online or at the track this year.
Improbable had won the first three races he was entered in before the Rebel Stakes loss, while Game winner had won all four races prior to his loss to Omaha Beach. They had both coming off a long layoff and the Rebel Stakes was their first race in 2019.
Derby Betting Odds
Furthermore, despite the disappointing finishes, Baffert said he was pleased with what he saw from his contenders. Baffert believes they will have the best Derby betting odds.
“I would have liked to have won, but I’m very happy with both horses,” Baffert said exiting the Rebels. “They both ran well off the layoff.
With the Kentucky Derby drawing closer, Baffert will like both horses to compete at least once more before they head for the Derby.
Improbable is expected back on the track at the Arkansas Derby on April 13. With Santa Anita Park expected to be reopened on March 29, Game Winner is expected to stay in California and run at the Santa Anita Derby on April 6.
If both horses win their respective races, expect them to go into the Kentucky Derby as the favorites.
There were expected to be a few changes in this week’s media poll after a weekend in which many of the top contenders to win the Kentucky Derby were supposed to be in action.
However, the San Felipe Stakes, which was supposed to take place at Santa Anita Park over the weekend, was cancelled due to poor weather, depriving fans of the highly anticipate showdown between Game Winner and Improbable.
Due to the cancellation of the San Felipe Stakes, trainer Bob Baffert decided to enter his top horses in the Rebel Stakes this weekend.
Unfortunately, the horses will run in two separate divisions, which means they likely won’t go head-to-head until the Kentucky Derby in May.
“Rerouting to the Rebel could end up being a blessing in disguise for Baffert,” said Horse Racing Nation’s Brian Zipse. “With split divisions almost a certainty, he may well keep Game Winner and Improbable separated until the first Saturday in May. Getting both a win and some early confidence this season would be an ideal start on the Derby trail.”
“Hats off to Oaklawn Park for picking up the ball and offering to run two divisions of the Rebel Stakes,” added The Downey Profile’s Dick Downey. “This is the way to run a racetrack.”
Kentucky Oaks & Derby Top Contenders
This week, Tampa Bay Derby winner Tacitus and Gotham Stakes winner Haikal move into the top 10 after being unranked in the first two polls, while last week’s high-riser Instagrand fell from sixth to 13th.
Here is how the rest of the top 20 Derby contenders rank in the latest media poll.
Horse (1st-place votes for Top Contenders) Points Previous
1. Game Winner (19) 594 1
2. Improbable (7) 581 2
3. War of Will (3) 537 3
4. Code of Honor 442 4
5. Bourbon War 435 7
6. Mucho Gusto 391 5
7. Tacitus 343 NR
8. Country House 312 8
9. Hidden Scroll 302 9
10. Haikal 269 NR
11. Roadster 265 12
12. Galilean (1) 259 11
13. Instagrand (1) 213 6
14. Vekoma 212 10
T15. Tax 174 14
T15. Gunmetal Gray 174 13
17. Mind Control 131 18
18. Harvey Wallbanger 128 16
19. Omaha Beach 89 NR
20. Outshine 82 NR
That being said, for the latest Kentucky Derby betting odds please review above.
Learn more about Haikal and Kentucky Derby contenders 2019 betting here. Prior to this weekend’s Gotham Stakes, three-year-old colt Haikal was not considered a legitimate contender in the upcoming Kentucky Derby. This, despite winning two of his first three starts. Also, finishing second in the third start.
A day after his surprising win at the Gotham Stakes, Haikal is now considered one of the top horses to watch out for at the Derby. On Sunday, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the horse “just seems like he’s improving all the time.” Betting odds for Haikal have also been updated.
Therefore, he might be a horse to watch out for. “It was a great race shape for us yesterday. With the 44 and change half.” McLaughlin said. “It looked like that could happen on paper, and it happened when the gates opened, and Rajiv did a great job settling him toward the rear and then making a big run.”
With the Gotham Stakes win under his belt, Haikal will likely return to the track in April. This for the Wood Memorial Stakes. However, McLaughlin said he still has to speak with Shadwell Stable’s Vice President and General Manager Rick Nichols to go over their future plans.
Betting Odds for Kentucky Derby Contenders 2019
Haikal is a half-brother to Takaful, who was also trained by McLaughlin.
Takaful also raced on the Kentucky Derby trail, but his best finish was in the Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park, which was a shorter track.
McLaughlin believes Haikal is durable enough for longer distances.
“His brother, Takaful, was a tough horse, mentally was tough, and this horse is the opposite,” he said. “Nothing bothers him. He’s got a great mind and that’s why we think he’ll get further. He does everything right.”
“It’s been six furlongs, seven furlongs, eight furlongs and now nine furlongs,” McLaughlin said of the distances Haikal has covered in his races. “And we hope 10 furlongs in the future. It’s an extra eighth each time.”
Therefore, the above list of Kentucky Derby contenders 2019 is complete.
The 2019 Kentucky Derby prep is in full swing. Horse racing fans have plenty of exciting races to look forward to in the upcoming weeks. This, leading up to the 145th Run of the Roses. On Saturday, Code of Honor made his return to the track. This was since his disappointing fourth place finish at the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. CH managed to win the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, upsetting the favorite, Hidden Scroll. Can he do it again for Florida Derby betting?
Therefore, Code of Honor’s win at the Fountain of Youth Stakes vaults him back in contention for the Kentucky Derby. Also, he is now considered one of the favorites to run at the Kentucky Derby.
During the race, Code of Honor ran from the inside post and stayed near the rail. He was able to hold off a rallying Bourbon War by 3/4 of a length to win the Derby prep race. His final time for 1 1/16 mile race was 1:43.85.
After the race, veteran jockey John Velasquez, who won the 2017 Kentucky Derby with Always Dreaming, was impressed by what he saw from Code of Honor.
“They were going too fast up front,” Velazquez said, “and I was comfortable where I was…We put a lot of work in him, and he showed today what kind of horse he is.”
Florida Derby Betting
Hidden Scroll, one of the favorites to win the race, got off to a great start as he jumped out to an early lead. However, he couldn’t sustain the pace and tired out, paving the way for Code of Honor to take the lead. He finished the race in fourth position.
After the race, trainer Claude McGaughey said the race went the way it was scripted and fans should expect to see Code of Honor race at the Florida Derby on March 30. Will he be a Kentucky Derby favorite as well?
In conclusion, Code of Honor has it. “It kind of went the way we’d scripted,” McGaughey said. “We had the one pole. Save some ground, stayed patient. He left there running today. I was sitting there with my wife. I said he left there running. What’s that mean? I don’t know, but Johnny did a good job of being patient with him, and we’re really pleased.”
The first Kentucky Derby media poll was released last week with Game Winner coming in as the top ranked horse. Every week leading up to the 2019 Kentucky Derby, the list will be updated to reflect what is going on in the Kentucky Derby prep races. Next, updated Kentucky Derby predictions.
This week, the top three horses on the list remain unchanged, but there are a few new contenders on the list, one of which is Code of Honor, who was unranked last week and jumped into fourth place this week thanks to his performance at the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
Bob Baffert trained Roadstar also made his debut in the media poll this week after winning at Santa Anita Park on Friday.
“Apparently now it’s never too late,” quipped XBTV’s Zoe Cadman, with Triple Crown winner Justify having similarly earned his way into a final Derby prep last year. “Roadster leapfrogged many others with his facile win at Santa Anita.”
Kentucky Derby Predictions
With Baffert’s Game Winner and Improbable running against each other at the San Felipe Stakes this weekend, expect to see some changes at the top of the standings when next week’s poll is released.
Horse (1st-place votes) Points Previous
1. Game Winner (21) 646 1
2. Improbable (6) 638 2
3. War of Will (3) 587 3
4. Code of Honor 509 NR
5. Mucho Gusto 482 5
6. Instagrand (2) 447 6
7. Bourbon War 444 NR
8. Country House (1) 314 8
9. Hidden Scroll 311 4
10. Vekoma 294 11
11. Galilean (1) 290 9
12. Roadster 242 NR
13. Gunmetal Gray 217 10
14. Tax 201 12
15. Win Win Win 189 14
16. Harvey Wallbanger 165 13
17. Dream Maker 146 17
18. Mind Control 108 19
19. Well Defined 104 15
20. Signalman 89 7
Next 10 receiving votes: Omaha Beach, Anothertwistafate, Mucho, Sueno, Long Range Toddy, Global Campaign, Nolo Contesto, Spinoff, Intrepid Heart, Not That Brady.
In conclusion, the latest Kentucky Derby Media Poll suggests Game Winner will win the 145th Kentucky Derby.
One of our favorite Kentucky Derby underdogs, Roadster, had been on the shelf since he finished third at the Del Mar Futurity. This was in September. Since then he has been lost in the shuffle of Derby contenders. This, thanks to the performances of other horses like Game Winner and Improbable. Also, Roadster appeared to be injured.
Therefore, on Friday, Roadster went into Santa Anita Park as the second favorite. This was to win the race. However, he emerged victorious thanks to a comeback performance. The performance should propel him up the prep race standings.
With two-time Kentucky Derby winning bet jockey, Mike Smith, who won the Triple Crown with Justify riding him, the son of Quality Road completed a mile in 1:37.53.
“He’s back on the Derby trail.” Baffert said. “That was quite a performance off a layoff. We just want to see how he comes out of this.
“..When he worked in 10 and three (six furlongs in 1:10 3/5s) out of the gate the other day, that’s sick. For a horse to do that on this track.”
“He’s so talented.” Smith added to TVG, “and I’m just glad to be kind of pointed back in the right direction again. We’ll see where it takes us.”
Kentucky Derby Underdogs
Ready to bet on Kentucky Derby underdogs? Roadster made his debut in July at the MSW. Also, he easily won his first race. He followed it up with a third place finish at the Del Mar Futurity before he was diagnosed with a breathing issue that required surgery, which kept him sidelined for months.
“Since he’s come back, he’s looked really well — haven’t had any problem with his breathing,” Baffert said before Friday’s race, Roadster’s first start in six months and his two-turn debut.
“…This time of year, it’s tough. You’re lucky if you can get an allowance race to fill. It looks like if he runs well, it’s like Justify. If he runs well in the allowance race, you can take a shot — throw him in the deep end and see what happens.”
