Handicapping the Kentucky Derby; Full Card Selection

By Rick Francis —-

It’s the first Saturday of May which means it’s the running of the Kentucky Derby. The 150th edition will once again go to post with a field of twenty 3-year-olds each looking for their place in horse racing history. Although 6-time winning conditioner Bob Baffert and his always dangerous stock will once again be absent for the “Run for the Roses” this will forever be the “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sport”. Good Luck

Race 12) STAKES. 1 1/4 Miles Dirt. Purse $5,000,000. Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. 3yo
Post Time (06:57PM) EDT

2) Sierra Leone – his impressive G2 Risen Star win is only overshadowed by his last to first score in the Grade 1 Bluegrass. Son of Gun Runner has the desvastating late kick that will make him the horse to beat here and going forward.

17) Fierceness – rebounded from a disappointing Holy Bull effort to post one of the sophomore class’s strongest outing winning the Grade 1 Florida Derby by 13 lengths. Should not the proverbial bounce happen this contest will be a classic stretch duel.

4) Catching Freedom – cannot overlook the La. Derby champ as he also demonstrated, at a distance, the late kick gets it done; traffic issues which is the Derby calling card, only thing separates the top three.

7) Honor Marie – La. Derby runner-up has become the “wise-guys” play; another who’ll thrive at the “classic” routes.

12) Track Phantom – blinkers on today and should be the equipment change this Quality Road colt needs to fill out exotics.

Picks: 2, 17,4, 7, 12

*** NOTE *** #9 Encino is SCRATCHED; #21 Epic Ride will now start

Race 1) MSW. 6 1/2 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $120,000.3yo & up

2) Pure Force
5) Lou’s Legacy
7) Culprit
4) Manfredi

Race 2) AOC 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $134,000. F&M 3yo & up

6) Syclla
8) Coppa Girl
5) Zawish
4) Steel Racer

Race 3) AOC 1 1/16 Miles Dirt. Purse $127,000. FOR THREE YEAR OLDS

2) Cornishman
9) Invigorated
11) Mindframe
3) Elephants Ear

Race 4) STAKES. 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $200,000. Knicks Go Overnight S. 4yo & up

6) Best Actor
8) Strava
1) Strong Quality
(7 – Kupuna
(5 – Not Normal

Race 5) STAKES. 5 1/2 Furlongs Turf. Purse $600,000. Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. 3yo & up

10) Big Invasion
8) Mischief Magic
3) Motorius
(11 – Mister Mmmm
(14 – Cogburn

Race 6) STAKES. 7 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $1,000,000. Grade 1 Derby City Distaff S. F&M

7) Alva Starr
9) Red Carpet Ready
10) Vahva
(5 – Spirit Wind
(2 – Olivia Darling

Race 7) STAKES. 1 Mile Turf. Purse $750,000. Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. Grade 2 F&M 4yo & up

6) Delahaye
8) Heavenly Sunday
7) Evvie Jets
1) Ag Bullet

Race 8) STAKES. 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $600,000. Pat Day Mile S. Grade 2 3yo & up

12) Nash
4) Otto the Conqueror
7) Who Dey
(2 – Beeline
(8 – Top Connor

Race 9) STAKES. 1 1/16 Miles Turf. Purse $600,000. Grade 2 American Turf S. 3yo

1) Twirling Point
5) Legend of Time
6) Neat
11) Cugino
3) Lagynos

Race 10) STAKES. 7 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $1,000,000. Grade 1 Churchill Downs S. 4yo &up

6) Zozos
11) Hoist the Gold
2) Tejano Twist
(3 – Bo Cruz
(8 – Minnesota Ready

Race 11) STAKES. 1 1/8 Miles Turf. Purse $1,000,000. Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. 4yo & up

7) Webslinger
4) Far Bridge
5) Program Trading
6) I’m Very Busy

Race 13) AOC Furlongs Dirt. Purse $127,000 3yo

7) Jefferson Street
6) Devilsgotcause
1) Agod
2) Discreet Mischief
13) Pirate

Race 14) MDN 120K 1 Mile

6) Banned for Life
10) Military Cruiser
11) Fracture
12) Timeout
(1 – Dive Bomber
(3) – Gun Party