2017 Hollywood Derby Picks

Hollywood Derby Preview and Odds

Riding a string of four consecutive wins, with two of those coming at Del Mar, Sharp Samurai has been installed as the morning line favorite for the Hollywood Derby at odds of 5-2. Last out he beat several of the others entered here in the (G2) Twilight Derby at Santa Anita, after stalking the pace through the early part of the race before prevailing in a duel down the stretch. 

Prior to that he came from much further back to go five wide into the stretch and then get up for the win in the (G2) Del Mar Derby at the 1 1/8 miles distance he'll be asked to go here. Based on his results on the track and recent form, he's a formidable contender for the win. 

Mo Town Will Try the Turf Again

Adding some intrigue to the field is Mo Town, second choice in the ML at 3-1. Early in the year he had high hopes for finding sucess on the Triple Crown trail, after closing out 2016 with a win in the (G2) Remsen Stakes, but a poor start to 2017 put him out of contention. He was winless in four consecutive efforts until trainer Anthony Dutrow put him on the turf last out, and he looked like a different horse, winning an allowance event at Belmont by more than six lengths. If turf is truly his surface, he cold make things interesting here. 

Running second twice in a row behind Sharp Samuri is Big Score (4-1). He started his racing career by winning at Del Mar in his first lifetime start, and opened the 2017 season with a Grade 3 win in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland. He's been in the money in eight of 10 career races, and is a logical choice to hit the top three once again on Saturday.

Looking to get back to winning form is Ontario-bred Channel Maker for trainer Bill Mott. He has a pair of stakes wins on his resume racing on the turf at up Woodbine, and while he has been taking on some of the very best turf runners in North America, including Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Beach Patrol, he needs to be better if he hopes to top this field. Some of his most recent efforts have been at longer distances, and so the cut back here may be a benefit.

The Hollywood Derby goes Saturday, November 25 from Del Mar race track in Del Mar, California. It's race seven of nine on the Del Mar card, with an expected post time of 3:30 PM Eastern.

Entries w/Morning Line Odds

1. Ann Arbour Eddie (20-1)
2. Bowies Hero (6-1)
3. Channel Maker (5-1)
4. Sharp Samurai (5-2)
5. Ritzy A.P. (20-1)
6. Souper Tapit (12-1)
7. Mo Town (3-1) 
8. Just Howard (12-1)
9. Big Score (4-1)  

Hollywood Derby Picks

• #4 - Sharp Samurai
• #9 - Big Score
• #7 - Mo Town
• #3 - Channel Maker 

If you can't get to the track to bet the Hollywood Derby or other big Grade 1 races, you can get in on all the action from the convenience of home with an online racebook account.

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : Bovada , Horse Racing