Since January 1, four more races in the 2018 Kentucky Derby qualifying series have been run, leaving 26 more to go in the US, the UK and Japan before the field will be set for the Run For The Roses on May 5. The winners of those four races have all picked up 10 qualifying points, with the next three finishers rewarded with 4-2-1 points, respectively.
There are eight more qualifying races on tap for February with the same points scheme, before we get to March and the available points take a jump to 50 for the winner, and where a single win will likely be enough for any one horse to make the field.
As things sit on the Derby leaderboard as of January 24, Good Magic heads the list with 24 points, and can be had in the Bovada future bets at odds of 10-1. He gained the majority of those points with his win in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile back in November, and he hasn't raced since, but did recently begin workouts in Florida. Look for him to make his next start on March 3 in the (G2) Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, where a first or second-place finish would likely clinch a spot in the Derby field.
Tied for second spot on the leaderboard with 20 points are Firenze Fire and McKinzie. After running seventh in the BC Juvenile, Firenze Fire was back to work on January 13, winning the (G3) Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. That race had been postponed for two weeks due to bad weather in New York state, and so when the race was run the field had lost a couple of the top challengers.
It was no surprise that Firenze Fire won, but he had to work hard to do so, getting up late in the one-mile race to claim a half-length victory as the heavy favorite. He's listed today at 25-1 at Bovada. He's probable to make his next start in the (G3) Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 10.
McKinzie also already has a race in 2018, winning the (G3) Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, to run his lifetime unbeaten streak to three. He made that one-mile effort look easy while finishing more than three lengths ahead of the field. It's possible he'll make his next start in the (G3) San Filipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 10, and a fourth consecutive win would likely trigger a significant drop in the future bet odds from where he is now at 16-1.
The beaten favorite in the BC Juvenile in Bolt d'Oro remains at the top of the Bovada odds at 7-1, although he hasn't raced since then and has yet to register an official workout in 2018. That should change soon, however, as trainer Mick Ruis has indicated he'll also be pointed toward the San Filipe, setting up a showdown with McKinzie in southern California. He currently has 14 Derby qualifying points.
If not for a disqualification in the (G1) Los Alimitos Futurity, where he finished first, ahead of McKinzie, but was DQd to third for some minor bumping in the lane, Solomini would be second on the leaderboard with 22 points, rather than tied for fourth with 14. He hasn't raced since that effort, way back in early December, but he has been working out for trainer Bob Baffert and could also show up in the San Felipe or perhaps the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 17. At 14-1 in the Bovada futures, there's lots to like about the BC Juvenile runner-up.
Rounding out the top of the leaderboard, also with 14 points is Instilled Regard, on offer at 16-1 today at Bovada. After winning the (G3) LeComte Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans on January 13, he'll be trying to make it two-for-two in the Lousiana prep races for the Derby with his next start in the (G2) Risen Star Stakes on February 17.
There will likely be lots of movement on both the Derby qualifying leaderboard as well as in the future bet odds over the next few weeks, but you can get your bet in now at Bovada and then follow along as we do our anaysis and make our picks for all the races leading to the 2018 Kentucky Derby.
Category : Betting Picks
Tag : Bovada , Horse Racing
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