3 must-bet horses in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby 2018 preps
Bolt d'Oro or McKinzie?
That’ll be the question posed most often heading into Saturday’s 2018 Kentucky Derby preps, with that matchup headlining the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Back East, the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Gotham pay just as many qualifying points toward a start the first Saturday in May, going on a 50-20-10-5 to the Top 4 finishers.
The Super Screener Stakes Weekly analysis -- based on a robust, time-tested research methodology driven by a set of rules -- was inspired by our loyal Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Super Screener customers. They have often asked us for a product focused on analyzing the key graded stakes that run each weekend throughout the year.
What's offered here is only a small sample of the full product now available! This weekend's Screener will also cover the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs, with full-field analysis and wagering guides for each.
Now, for those picks…
The Todd Pletcher charge ran a better race than it looked in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis last out over this track. Got shuffled back but came on again. Was late to switch leads, but once he did, he took off and ran past Flameaway and Catholic Boy in the gallop out. Improves off that effort here and will get a perfect mid-pack stalking trip. Needs pace for his late kick.
He returns to what he does best: the one-turn mile, and it is the last such trip on the Derby trail, so he needs to get the points now. Ran a decent two-turn route last out, and the cut back from 1 1/8 miles as the Grade 3 Withers runner-up is a big positive.
Coming into this race in top condition, he’ll sit the perfect stalking trip on the inside before drawing away at will. Possesses a superior elevated energy reserve and he distributes it in a very balanced way. Can emerge from this race with a big effort and confirm that he’ll be the one to beat come the first Saturday in May for the time being.
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