39 Entries for the 2023 Kentucky Derby

1) Angel of Empire 29-1
2) Arctic Arrogance 165-1
3) Blazing Sevens 46-1
4) Bourbon Bash 100-1
5) Classic Car Wash 169-1
6) Confidence Game 29-1
7) Continuar (JPN) 54-1
8) Cyclone Mischief 88-1
9) Derma Sotogake (JPN) 13-1
10) Disarm 33-1
11) Dreamlike 143-1
12) Dubyuhnell 111-1
13) Fort Bragg 58-1
14) Forte 3-1
15) Geaux Rocket Ride 33-1
16) Hayes Strike 404-1
17) Hit Show 30-1
18) I Don't Get It 238-1
19) Instant Coffee 49-1
20) Jace's Road 118-1
21) Kingsbarns 11-1
22) Mage 46-1
23) Mandarin Hero (JPN) 99-1
24) Mendelssohns March 212-1
25) National Treasure 44-1
26) Practical Move 14-1
27) Raise Cain 81-1
28) Red Route One 24-1
29) Reincarnate 24-1
30) Rocket Can 32-1
31) Shadow Dragon 299-1
32) Skinner 50-1
33) Slip Mahoney 130-1
34) Sun Thunder 113-1
35) Tapit Trice 12-1
36) Two Eagles River 38-1
37) Two Phil's 21-1
38) Verifying 50-1
39) Wild On Ice 190-1

Posted by Vegas Insiders

The Top Five Contenders for the 2023 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland

 

Breaking down the top five horses for this race on the morning line odds, I have given a winning percentage to each one of the contestants.

Tapit Trice (5-2)

This Kentucky-bred colt has raced four times in his early career, and he has won the last three events at Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. As a three-year-old, Tapit Trice won a one-mile Allowance race at Gulfstream on Feb. 4 before capturing first place at Tampa Bay Downs on March 11 in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby.

Sired by Tapit, he drew the No. 1 gate for this race with jockey Luis Saez. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Tapit Trice has raced at least one mile on dirt in his early career. As long as he gets off to a clean start, the favorite will be among the leaders in the backstretch.

Winning Percentage: 45%

Verifying (3-1)

Starting at gate No. 3, Verifying should be neck-and-neck with Tapit Trice to win the race. He has Brad Cox as his trainer and Tyler Gaffalione as his jockey. He also has placed first or second in three of five races in his early career. Verifying did take fourth in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 25, but he ran into tough competition with Confidence Game, Red Route One and Reincarnate in the money.

Winning Percentage: 30%

Raise Cain (9-2)

As a son of Violence, he won the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 4. Raise Cain covering 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 1:38.09 over Slip Mahoney and General Banker. He also finished first, second or third in his two-year-old career. Trained by Ben Colebrook and ridden by jockey Joel Rosario, Raise Cain is breaking out of the No. 10 gate in the Blue Grass Stakes. He is stepping up in distance and grade in this race, but he has a knack for finishing in the money for major grade events.

Winning Percentage: 15%

Blazing Sevens (6-1)

Trained by Chad Brown, he is starting from the No. 8 gate with Irad Ortiz Jr. has his jockey. Blazing Sevens placed a distance eight in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 4 at Gulfstream Park. However, he finished first or third in three races as a two-year-old colt. As a son of Good Magic, he has raced over a mile on dirt his last two events. Blazing Sevens has also race at Keeneland before.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Sun Thunder (10-1)

As a three-year-old colt, he races at Fair Grounds his last two major graded events. Sun Thunder finished second in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18 before placing fifth in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 25. The Blue Grass Stakes is another major graded stakes race to get points for qualifying for the Kentucky Derby in first Saturday in May.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Previously posted on Doc's Sports Service

The Top 10 NBA Teams to Win the 2023 Championship

Milwaukee Bucks +285

Boston Celtics +350

Phoenix Suns +475

Golden State Warriors +850

Denver Nuggets +900

Philadelphia 76ers +1000

Los Angeles Lakers +1200

Memphis Grizzlies +1800

Los Angeles Clippers +3300

Cleveland Cavaliers +4500

Posted by BetOnline.ag

Kentucky Passes Retail and Online Sports Betting

 Kentucky is the 37th state to pass sports betting in the US market. There are nine retail sportsbooks connected with horse tracks throughout the state. As part of legalizing online sports betting, those nine sportsbooks can partner with up to three mobile operators. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will serve as the state's sports betting regulator.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear recently commented:

Kentuckian will soon be able to place their bets right here in the Commonwealth, and for the first time, those dollars are going to help support rebuilding our bridges, repaving our roads, fund our education system and improving our communities. We are doing what is right - not just to keep dollars in our state, but to keep our red-hot economy on fire."

Doc's Sports Service has full details in the post, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Signs Legal Sportsbooks into Law.

The Three NBA Superstars' Odds for MVP

The three NBA players remaining on the current betting odds for the *Most Valuable Player are:

Joel Embiid at -110

Nikola Jokic at +120

Giannis Antetokounmpo at +650

*Posted by BetOnline.ag

Taking a look at the current situation for these three players ( and being a die-hard Philadelphia fan), Joel Embiid will win the MVP in the NBA according to my book. There are 100 voters that will make it official, but Embiid is the odds-on favorite of the three superstars.  

Saturday's Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park

 

Of the 12 entries in Saturday’s Florida Derby, there are five horses with morning line odds along with my percentage to win the race.

Forte (4-5 Odds)

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., this Kentucky-bred colt is starting at No. 11 for this race. He is also starting at the odd-on favorite after winning his last four races in his two-year-old and three-year-old career. Forte finished first as a three-year-old in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on March 4. He raced at Belmont Park, Saratoga and Keeneland as a juvenile.

Sired by Violence, Forte was bred to go more than a mile on dirt and win this race. He is the early favorite to win the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Winning Percentage: 70%

Fort Bragg (5-1 Odds)

As a son of Tapit, he finished a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park in his last race as a three-year-old. However, Fort Bragg finishing in the money as a juvenile in all four events at Del Mar, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos Race Course. He placed third in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 17 to end his two-year career.

Fort Bragg has raced 1 1/16 miles on dirt in last three events and he could step-up in distance and class this Saturday at Gulfstream if the breaks fall his way.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Dubyuhnell (6-1 Odds)

Trained by Danny Gargan, he is breaking outside from No. 12 gate with Jose Ortiz as his jockey. Dubyuhnell finished eight in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 11 in his debut as a three-year-old, so the path for success in the Grade 1 Florida Derby is unclear. He finished first in his last two races as a juvenile.

Dubyuhnell has raced competitively for West Paces Racing, LLC and Stonestreet Stables, LLC. Sired by Good Magic, he was bred to go more than a mile on dirt.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Cyclone Mischief (8-1 Odds)

As a son of Into Mischief, he placed third in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream after Forte and Rocket Can. Cyclone Mischief had his last three races at Gulfstream as a three-year-old colt. He completed his two-year career at Churchill Downs and Keenland while being bred in Kentucky.

Trained by Dale Romans, Cyclone Mischief has enough experience at Gulfstream to finish in the money in this race.

Winning Percentage: 15%

Mage (10-1 Odds)

As a live longshot on the morning line in this race, Mage finished fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes in early March. He is trained by Gustavo Delgado and ridden by jockey Luis Saez out of the No. 4 gate. Mage has races at Gulfstream in two races as a three-year-old colt in his only competitive events.

Also sired by Good Magic, he also has home-track advantage in the Florida Derby with his familiarity at Gulfstream.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Previously posted at Doc's Sports Service

 

NYRA has Belmont Park Renovation Plans Approved

Renovation plans for Belmont Park have been approved by the New York State Franchise Oversight Board. The new edition at Belmont is a one-mile synthetic horse track to join the main dirt course and two other turf tracks. The last time that Belmont Park was improved took place in 1968. 

NYRA also plans to build dorms at both Belmont Park and Saratoga as part of improvement project. Belmont Park is home to the Belmont Stakes in early June. The longer stakes race is the final event of the Triple Crown that includes the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

Doc's Sports Service has all the details in the post New York Racing Association has Plans to Renovate Belmont Parks.