The first Saturday in April is an excellent lead in to this year's Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1. Three key prep races will be staged coast to coast as a way to finalize the 20-horse field for the annual Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Starting at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York, the featured race on this Saturday's card is the Grade 2 Wood Memorial with a total prize purse of $750,000 and Kentucky Derby qualifying points for a top four finish. The three-year old colt to watch in this race is Weyburn at 9/2 odds with Risk Taking set as the 5/2 favorite on the morning line.
Moving to the home of Thoroughbred racing, this year's Grade 2 Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky is offering an $800,000 prize purse with Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
This is another deep field led by Essential Quality. This Kentucky-bred colt was a champion two-year old and he won the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in his three-year old debut. A win at Keeneland on Saturday would cement his status as an early favorite to win this year's Kentucky Derby.
The highlight of Saturday's live card of horse racing is the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby out on the West Coast at Santa Anita Park. This key prep has $750,000 up for grabs along with qualifying points.
Famed West Coast trainer Bob Baffert is looking to run his prized Florida-bred colt Medina Spirit in Saturday's featured event. Two more entries to work into the betting mix would be Roman Centurion and The Great One.
As part of my weekly horse racing coverage for the popular sports betting site ScoresandStats.com, I previewed all three of these races with my best bet picks in the following post:
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