Betting Saturday's Trio of Kentucky Derby Preps

 With the calendar turning the page to April, horse racing takes center state each spring leading up to the annual Kentucky Derby as the Crown Jewel of the Triple Crown racing series for the best three-year old Thoroughbreds in the nation.

I have been covering this year's Kentucky Derby Trail with race previews and predictions for the entire prep race schedule. This Saturday's race card offers coast-to-coast horse racing action as that prep season comes to a close. 

Reprinted below via permission of ScoresandStats.com is my preview and winning predictions for this Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park.

Winning Picks for This Saturday’s Trio of Kentucky Derby Preps

The last big round of Kentucky Derby prep races for this year’s class of prized three-year old Thoroughbreds will be run this Saturday at three famous horse racing tracks across the nation.

Starting on the East Coast at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York is Saturday’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial with a total prize purse of $750,000. Covering 1 1/8 miles on the dirt, the field is still coming together for this race with nine horses listed as probable at Horse Racing Nation.

Moving to the home of Thoroughbred racing in the US,  the opening weekend of spring horse racing at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky is highlighted by Saturday’s Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes with $1 million in prize money up for grabs. HRN has identified nine contenders as probable for another 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby prep race on the dirt.

Finishing up Saturday’s prep race schedule on the West Coast is the annual Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park in Southern California. This Grade 1 event covers 1 1/8 miles on the dirt with a total prize purse of $750,000. Ahead of the post position draw, HRN has listed six contenders as probable including Animal Kingdom as one of the early favorites to win this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Wood Memorial – Aqueduct Racetrack

Win: Morello

Coming off a win at Aqueduct in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 5, this three-year old colt is the one to beat in this Saturday’s race. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he is a perfect three-for-three in his early racing career. Sired by Classic Empire, he comes into this race with an impressive HRN rating of 7.18 which is the highest in the projected field.

One to Watch: Early Voting

Trained by Chad Brown, the son of Gun Runner won the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct his last time out. He covered the 1 1/8 miles distance in that race with a winning time of 1:55.9 past Un Ojo and Gilded Age.

Bluegrass Stakes – Keeneland Race Course

Win: Smile Happy

This three-year old colt should be the favorite to win on the morning line. Trained by Kenneth McPeek, he slipped to second in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds his last time out on Feb. 19 after winning a pair of races as a juvenile. Sired by Runhappy, he is definitely the class of field for the Blue Grass.

One to Watch: Zandon

Taking third in the Risen Star, he has the best chance to upset the favorite on Saturday. He closed out his juvenile campaign with a second-place finish at Aqueduct in last year’s Grade 2 Remsen Stakes for added home track advantage is Saturday’s featured event.

Santa Anita Derby – Santa Anita Park

Win: Forbidden Kingdom

I have a strong lean towards this Kentucky-bred colt in Saturday’s race coming off his win at Santa Anita on March 5 in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. Trained by Richard Mandella, the son of American Pharoah will be going for the Santa Anita trifecta after winning the Grade 3 San Vicente Stakes in this three-year old debut.

One to Watch: Messier

With a strong HRN rating of 7.51, the son of Empire Maker can give the favorite a tough battle in this race. Trained by Tim Yakteen, this three-year old Canadian-bred colt won the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 6.