Saturday's Best Bet: Bo Cruz may get going in Iowa Derby
Saturday’s ninth race at Prairie Meadows is the $250,000 Iowa Derby for 3-year-olds traveling 1 1/16 miles on the main track. The scheduled post time is 10:38 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Prairie Meadows entries and results.
No. 6 Bo Cruz (9-2) improved his speed ratings in all four starts. He rallied for the place in his sprint bow and easily went all the way in his next two dirt routes. He set the pace and was best of the rest in third in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) on June 11. The track was wet that day, and quality sophomores Disarm and Verifying were the top two finishers. Al Stall Jr.’s Creative Cause colt should make his presence felt from the outset in his third start after a short layoff.
No. 8 Eyeing Clover (3-1) is a decent Lookin At Lucky colt for Brad Cox. He was all over the pace in his first two sprint wins, broke from post 12 and missed the show by a nose in the Gotham (G3). He removed blinkers and bounced back with a win in the Hot Springs at Oaklawn in April and pressed from an outer post and missed by a neck in the Texas Derby last time. He earned an improved speed rating May 29 and will probably try to stalk and pounce.
No. 3 Heroic Move (12-1) puts blinkers back on for his new trainer Robertino Diodoro. I can see him workout out a decent inner tactical trip at square odds.
No. 5 Denington (10-1) owns best best overall late pace ratings. He should get pace to chase and can rally for a share.
Wagers
No. 6 to win
Exacta box 6-8
Trifecta 6-8/3-5-6-8/3-5-6-8
Recent Best Bet winners
June 18 – Planetario ($7.40), exacta ($14.80)
June 20 – Chelsea Wall ($11.40), exacta ($22.40)
June 22 – Daufuskie Island ($4.30), exacta ($10.80)
June 26 – Looms Boldly/Acoustic Ave/Dr. Kraft trifecta ($12)
Last Friday – Big Daddy Dave ($3)
Monday – Surly Furious ($4.20)
Wednesday – Nobody Listens/Latigo exacta ($26.20)
Thursday – Katie M’lady/Trail Ridge Road exacta ($7.60)
Friday – Coastal Charm ($6.80)