Best of the Field: #3 California Chrome (3-5 odds). This was my Derby pick and he did not disappoint, running a near perfect race in Louisville. While California Chrome won the Derby with a slow time; he did run strongly down the stretch, opening up on the other horses and coasting to the win. With only two weeks between the Derby and Preakness, he still appears to have plenty of gas in the tank. He is the obvious favorite and the poor betting odds indicate this. I’d avoid a straight WPS bet, but I believe he should be included in your exotics. He sure looks like the winner, but this is horse racing and bad luck or another horse coming out of nowhere could produce a huge upset.
Value Horse: #8 Social Inclusion (5-1 odds). Social Inclusion missed running in the Derby, so this is the race that his owners and 85-year-old trainer, Manny Azpurua, have been targeting. Luis Contreras is a good jockey who has been aboard in all three of Social Inclusion’s starts, this horse has good speed and the ability to run just off the pace of the early speed horses. Very lightly raced, he is rested and has a good opportunity to catch California Chrome down the stretch. This is a good WPS bet.
Long Shot: #7 Kid Cruz (20:1 odds). Like the Miami Heat, this horse is a closer. Earlier in the year at New York’s Aqueduct, where it was freezing, Kid Cruz made up ten lengths in the stretch – and has been a strong closer throughout the spring. While he’s a long-shot, he has showed continual improvement. If the pace is slow, as it was in the Derby, then Kid Cruz could come out of nowhere. He’s worth a WPS and looks good look underneath California Chrome and Social Inclusion in your exotic wagers.
Good luck!
