The 2020 Triple Crown series has been turned upside down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Crown Jewel of this three-race run is the Kentucky Derby which is traditionally run the first Saturday in May. That race had to be pushed back to September 5. The Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday, Oct. 5 and the Belmont Stakes already took place on June 20.
In preparation for this year's Kentucky Derby, certain races run after early May become part of the prep race schedule. Two examples were July's Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in New Jersey and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 8. In between those two races are smaller prep events like this Saturday's Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack in Southern California.
This ungraded event has two strong Kentucky Derby contenders in the field. The first is trainer John Shirreffs' Honor A.P. This three-year old colt is coming off an impressive victory in this year's Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. He is listed second on BetOnline's Kentucky Derby futures at +500. Tiz the Law still tops that list at +200 after winning this year's Belmont Stakes.
The other colt to watch in Saturday's Shared Belief is trainer Bob Baffert's Uncle Chuck. Sired by Uncle Mo, this three-year old won the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby his last time out. His futures odds to win the Kentucky Derby at BetOnline are tired for third with Art Collector at +800.
The main event at Del Mar on Saturday's card is the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes. Back on the East Coast, the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes highlight's Saturday's race card at Saratoga. I covered both of these races in this week's horse betting report for Scores & Stats.
Kick Off August With Coast-to-Coast Grade 1 Horse Races This Saturday
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