2017 Kentucky Derby Free Trifecta Pick

Coming off a very exciting prep race schedule, the top 20 three-year old thoroughbreds in the nation will now try and take the next step to horse racing glory by winning the 143rd Kentucky Derby on tap for this Saturday at Churchill Downs. The post positions have been set along with the morning line odds, so now is the time to start handicapping the field in hopes of cashing in on 'The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports'.

This year's field is one of the deepest in years making my job of picking a three-horse trifecta bet all that more difficult. To my credit, I have correctly pick the winners of the last three Kentucky Derby's. However, so did most of the betting public considering that California Chrome (2014), American Pharoah (2015) and Nyquist (2016) all went off as heavy favorites.

Classic Empire opened with the best odds on the board at 4/1 for this year's Kentucky Derby, but right on his heels are Always Dreaming and McCraken at 5/1 and Irish War Cry at 6/1. All four of these horses have already proven themselves to be worthy Derby contenders given their earlier victories this season in some Grade 1 major stakes events so the challenge for this race is to decide which one will be at their absolute best heading down the stretch run at Churchill late Saturday afternoon.

I have been picking trifectas on the trail to the 2017 Kentucky Derby for SBR Picks ever since this year's crop of contenders started their racing career as juveniles and in this week's Horse Racing Betting Report I revealed which three will make up my trifecta pick for this year's Run for the Roses. Please check out the link below for an in-depth look at all three colts.

LINK: Horse Racing Betting Report: 2017 Kentucky Derby

Betting Tips for the 143rd Kentucky Derby

The first Saturday in May offers up one of the biggest betting events of the year with the running of the Kentucky Derby at fabled Churchill Downs. The field for the 143rd running of this iconic horse race for the top three-year old thoroughbreds in the nation is set and it is probably one of the deepest in years. Classic Empire opened as a 4/1 favorite on the morning line, but you also have the likes of Always Dreaming (5/1), McCraken (5/1) and Irish War Cry (6/1) in the mix as solid contenders.

The depth of this field does not end with these four horses with names such as Girvin, Hence and Gunnevera all poised to lay claim to the crown jewel of this season's Triple Crown racing series at longer odds. Before you go to your favorite online betting outlet to place your bets for Saturday's Kentucky Derby, please check out the link below at Sportsbooks.net for a few of my top betting tips for cashing in on this year's "Run for the Roses".

LINK: Betting Tips for Saturday's Kentucky Derby

Free NASCAR Picks- Toyota Owners 400

NASCAR's Monster Energy Cup Series rolled into Richmond International Raceway this week for the running of Sunday's Toyota Owners 400. Jimmie Johnson is the hottest driver in the series right now coming off back-to-back victories at Texas and Bristol, but I think the best value this week when it comes to the top favorites to win is with Kyle Busch at +600 betting odds with BetAnySports. He is still looking for his first victory this season in a point-race event so you know that the entire No. 18 Toyota racing team will be gunning for the checkered flag at a track where Busch has enjoyed his fair share of success in the past.

As part of my weekly NASCAR review for SBR Picks, please check out the link below for a closer look at my top favorite, top contender and top longshot for this Sunday's race.

LINK: Kyle Busch Is Capper's Pick to Win NASCAR Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

2017 Kentucky Derby Futures Odds

The 2017 Kentucky Derby kicks off this season's Triple Crown horse racing series on Saturday, May 6 at fabled Churchill Downs with 20 of the top three-year old thoroughbreds in the nation gunning for the sport's most prestigious title. Classic Empire has made his way to the top of the list with last Saturday's thrilling victory in the $1 million Arkansas Derby, but there are probably four or five other contenders that have a legitimate shot at winning the annual "Run for the Roses"

In an article this week for SBR Picks, I broke down the projected Kentucky Derby field to come up with my Top 5 list of horses based on their recently updated futures odds to win this race at BetAnySports. Please check out the link below for my preview of each of these contenders.

LINK: Classic Empire Wins Way to Top of Kentucky Derby Futures

The Arkansas Derby Headlines Saturday's Horse Racing Card

The 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6 kicks off another exciting season of Triple Crown racing for the top three-year old thoroughbreds in the country. One of the final pieces in the puzzle when it comes to setting the 20-horse field for this year's "Run for the Roses" takes place this Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park with the running of the $1 million Arkansas Derby. This is the final major prep race on the schedule in advance of next month's main event at Churchill and it should be a good one with a 12-horse field that is extremely deep in talent.

As part of my weekly horse racing betting report for SBR Picks, I have broken down the field for this year's Arkansas Derby to come up with my top trifecta pick. Please check out the link below for my free picks.

LINK: 2017 Arkansas Derby Top Trifecta Play

Free NASCAR Picks- Auto Club 400

NASCAR's Monster Energy Cup Series wraps up its early season West Coast swing with a stop in Fontana, California for the running of the Auto Club 400. All the action from Auto Club Speedway is set to get underway this Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. (ET) and the race will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

Defending Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson has struggled his way to just one Top 10 finish through the first four point-race events on the 2017 schedule, but he is in excellent position to quickly turn things around with a win this week. He also comes in as the defending champion of this race as part of his six career victories at this track in a Cup Series event. His current odds to win at BetAnySports are set at +650 and with an average finishing position of 6.5 at Fontana there is quite a bit of value in that number.

For my complete preview of Sunday's race along with my top-valued pick to win, please check out the link below at SportsBettingStats.com

LINK: AUTO CLUB 400 FREE PICK - BETTING ODDS

NHL Saturday Best Bet- Montreal at Ottawa

The top two teams in the NHL's Atlantic Division kickoff a home-and-home series for first place in the standings this Saturday night in what should one of the best matchups on the day's slate. Montreal is clinging to a one-point lead heading into Saturday's game as a slight -110 road favorite with BetAnySports, but it has lost the first two games of the season series against the Senators by identical 4-3 scores. Ottawa is listed as a +100 even-money home underdog and the total for this game is set at 5.

For my complete preview and free pick at SportsBettingStats.com, please check the link below.

LINK: Free NHL Picks- Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators