Southern California’s portion of the Road to the Kentucky Derby reaches its exciting conclusion Saturday, April 8 with the Santa Anita Derby! The race covers nine furlongs on the dirt and the spoils are huge: a $750,000 purse as well as 100-40-30-20-10 Road to the Kentucky Derby points. This means the winner punches their ticket to the Derby, the second-place finisher probably does as well, and even other horses are in a good place if they ran well in other preps!
This is one of the most live Kentucky Derby preps of the year, with ten winners going on to take the blanket of roses. That total includes a pair of Triple Crown winners, Affirmed (1978) and Justify (2019). In addition, other stars like California Chrome (2014) and I’ll Have Another (2012) have won both races, meaning it is one of the most relevant races.
Keep reading to find out the best places to bet this horse race online today, as well as which horses have the best chance!
2023 Santa Anita Derby Contenders
These are the contenders for the 2023 Santa Anita Derby including their trainers, jockeys, post positions, and morning lines:
- I Don’t Get It (Doug O’Neill/Mario Gutierrez) - 20/1
- Dazzlemesilver (Keith Desormeaux/Kent Desormeaux) - 50/1
- Geaux Rocket Ride (Richard Mandella/Flavien Prat) - 3/1
- One in Vermillion (Eric Kruljac/Hector Berrios) - 50/1
- Practical Move (Tim Yakteen/Ramon Vazquez) - 8/5
- National Treasure (Tim Yakteen/John Velazquez) - 3/1
- Skinner (John Shirreffs/Victor Espinoza) - 4/1
- Mandarin Hero (Terunobu Fujita/Kazushi Kimura) - 8/1
- Low Expectations (Antonio Garcia/Umberto Rispoli) - 30/1
Remember that the morning line is just the track’s best estimate of what the post time odds will look like. The actual odds you get if you bet at the track fluctuate until post time.
Your better bet is to play the Santa Anita Derby at an online sportsbook! Since betting sites offer fixed-odds wagering on major horse races, you can lock in your odds as soon as you place your bet. Watch the odds, place your bet when you like the price, and be confident that you have the best odds!
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Move | +260 | +260 | +260 |
| National Treasure | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Geaux Rocket Ride | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Skinner | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Mandarin Hero | +900 | +900 | +900 |
Betting the Santa Anita Derby Online
You have many options for choosing an online sportsbook, and it can seem daunting to choose the best one. Don’t fear: our expert betting site reviews will make that decision easy! Every recommended site has the basics of a great experience: a smooth user interface, trusted deposits and cash-outs, and real Las Vegas odds.
Our expert reviews also help you make a confident choice about the best online betting bonuses for you. Choosing the right bonuses now can help you make hundreds or even thousands of extra dollars for your bankroll through deposit and sign-up bonuses, rebates, and referral benefits. So, let us help you have the most profitable Santa Anita Derby betting experience!
Santa Anita Derby Handicapping
With your betting account set up, it is time to get to know the key betting horses for the Santa Anita Derby:
Santa Anita Derby Favorites
The most interesting horse to bet in the Santa Anita Derby is Geaux Rocket Ride. Though he has to turn the tables on Practical Move after the San Felipe (G2), that race was only Geaux Rocket Ride’s second start. He can move forward for trainer Richard Mandella, he showed in that race that he has tactical speed, and Mandella shines second-time route.
The other major win contender in the race is the aforementioned Practical Move. The proven leader of the West Coast sophomore prospects so far, he has stepped forward well since stretching out past a mile. The Tim Yakteen trainee picked up in the San Felipe where he left off when winning the Los Alamitos Derby (G2), and both Yakteen’s record second-up and his form last year suggest he can move forward off of that win.
Santa Anita Derby Exotic Horses
National Treasure is not appealing on the win end given his pattern of finishing underneath against stakes horses, as well as the fact that he missed a start in the San Felipe with a sore foot. However, He is consistent and tactical enough to return in the Santa Anita Derby and do what he has been doing all along: snag a minor award and another handful of points.
Skinner has some talent, though with his tendency to start slowly he may be underlaid in the exotics. Two better choices are Mandarin Hero and Low Expectations. Mandarin Hero steps up in class from the second-string NAR circuit in Japan, but NAR horses have made the grade internationally before. He has tactical speed, comes second off the lay, and should have no problem back at 1 ⅛ miles now that he is fitter.
Low Expectations defied that name with a credible second-place finish behind a blazing-hot pace in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) last out. He won’t have to chase nearly such a fast pace this time around, he can get a clean outside trip, and a modest step up from his second try at 1 ⅛ miles could get him another piece.
Santa Anita Derby Best Bets
All that’s left now is the most fun part: placing your bet for the Santa Anita Derby. Here are your expert wagering suggestions for the race!
- $20 to win - #3 Geaux Rocket Ride
- $1 exacta key - #3 Geaux Rocket Ride with #5 Practical Move and #6 National Treasure
- $0.50 trifecta key - #3 Geaux Rocket Ride with #5 Practical Move, #6 National Treasure, and #8 Mandarin Hero
- $0.20 superfecta key - #3 Geaux Rocket Ride with #5 Practical Move, #6 National Treasure, #8 Mandarin Hero, and #9 Low Expectations
