California Chrome will make his much-anticipated return to action in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday at Parx Racing. The Grade 2 race will be run at a mile and an eighth on the main track and was used last year by Will Take Charge as a stepping stone to a runner-up finish in the Breeders Cup Classic.
Installed as the even-money morning line favorite, California Chrome will be making his first start since finishing fourth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) after winning the first two jewels of the Triple Crown. The chestnut son of Lucky Pulpit will break from the inside post under regular rider Victor Espinoza as he goes for his sixth win of the year and attempts to solidify his bid for the Eclipse Award for champion three-year-old. Trained by Art Sherman, he has been training steadily at Los Alamitos.
Second choice at odds of 7-2 is Bayern for trainer Bob Baffert. Purchased for $320,000 as a two-year-old, the dark bay son of Offlee Wild will be trying to rebound after finishing tenth and last in the Travers (G1) at Saratoga after setting the pace. Prior to that effort, he had back to back victories in the Woody Stephens (G2) and Haskell Invitational (G1). Bayern has won four of his eight starts and will have Martin Garcia aboard from post position four.
Also in the field is Tapiture, set at odds of 5-1 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Bred and owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, the chestnut son of Tapit has reeled off back to back victories since finishing fifteenth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He prevailed by a nose in the West Virginia Derby (G2) last time out under jockey Rosie Napravnik and the pair will team up again. Slated to break from post position seven, Tapiture is going for his fifth career win.
The first jewel of the 2023 Triple Crown is coming up on Saturday, May 6: the Kentucky Derby! The race is the most important betting race all year: with 20 […]
A familiar name from the 2016 Kentucky Derby trail is expected to go the gate for the Super Derby, as Mo Tom has been made the 7-5 favorite in the morning line.
On Friday at Churchill Downs, the graded stakes action will begin with the $300,000 La Troienne Stakes. Restricted to fillies and mares, the Grade 1 will be contested at a mile and a sixteenth and has drawn a field of seven.
On Sunday at Aqueduct, the featured race is the $200,000 Distaff Handicap. Restricted to fillies and mares, the Grade 3 event will be held at seven furlongs on the main track and has drawn a field of seven.
Kentucky Derby 2023: Versatile Mage can do some Derby magic
02 May 2023The Kentucky Derby is the greatest betting race of the year. With 20 horses going a mile and a quarter, further than any of them have ever gone, it is a handicapping puzzle that rewards anyone who is correct with a huge...
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