Category Archives: 2014 Kentucky Derby News

California Chrome lived up to all the hype in the 2014 Run for the Roses, opening up a clear lead down the stretch at the race and holding off a late surge by longshot Commanding Curve to win the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3.

Under bright sunshine, the second largest crowd in the race’s history (164,906), many adorned in their traditional Kentucky Derby hats, witnessed just the sixth betting favorite in the last 26 years to successfully get the job done, and the colt certainly did it in style.

Under a perfect ride from jockey Victor Espinoza, the strapping colt tracked a moderate early pace while sitting three paths off the rail, took over the lead in the race with a quarter-mile remaining, and then increased his advantage until he was clear late, with Espinoza doing some late celebrating just before the wire, lifting his arm in triumph as the colt crossed the wire 1¾ lengths ahead of the runner-up to pay off on the Kentucky Derby odds at the sportsbooks.

The early Kentucky Derby betting at the sportsbooks had it pegged correctly. For horseplayers that bet on the Kentucky Derby online and picked California Chrome, the odds on the winner were 60-1 way back in February and 3-1 as recently as two weeks ago.

During Derby week the colt had been bet down to as low as 21-10 odds, and ended up paying $7.00 for the win. The runner-up Commanding Curve rallied from far back at betting odds of 37-1 and completed a $2 exacta that returned $340.00.

Commanding Curve is trained by Dallas Stewart, who saddled last year’s runner-up Golden Soul, who went off at odds of 34-1 at the Kentucky Derby and completed a $2 exacta with the betting favorite Orb ($12.80) that returned $981.60.

California Chrome will next head to Pimlico in Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, having won five races in a row. The colt came into this year’s Run for the Roses off some impressive final preps, winning the San Felipe by 7¼ lengths and then the Santa Anita Derby by 5¼ lengths.

The colt is trained by 77-year-old Art Sherman, who was the exercise rider for Swaps, who won the Kentucky Derby nearly six decades ago.

Danza, who was sent off as the third choice on the Kentucky Derby lines at 8-1, completed a $2 trifecta that paid bettors $3,424.60. The second choice in the betting for the race was Wicked Strong (6-1), who checked in fourth, with the $1 superfecta returning $15,383.80.

Among the Kentucky Derby contenders that did not fare well at Churchill Downs this year was Candy Boy, who had seen a surge of late betting action, going from 16-1 down to 9-1 at post time. The colt got roughed up going into the first turn of the Kentucky Derby and was not a threat in a 13th-place finish.

After months of watching stakes racing, following the points leaderboards and fastidiously monitoring the health of various colts, the field for the 2014 Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs is set. Let’s take a look at who’ll be part of the Run for the Roses on Saturday. Coverage of the race starts at 4 PM ET on NBC.

California Chrome Leads the Field, Hoppertunity Out

The odds-on favorite going into the race is California Chrome, currently sitting at 11-4. History and geography aren’t exactly on the colt’s side – only three California-bred and trained horses have ever won the Derby, and California Chrome is from the west coast. The three previous California Derby winners were Morvich in 1922, Swaps in 1955 and Decidedly in 1962, meaning California Chrome could be the first to represent Cali in the winner’s circle for the first time in 52 years.

After California Chrome on the Derby odds was Hoppertunity, who came in second to the colt in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. However, Bob Baffert pulled the horse due to a foot problem.

Next up is Wicked Strong coming in at 7-1. Another horse from a non-traditional racing state (Massachusetts), he raised some eyebrows by capturing the $590,000 Wood Memorial a few weeks back, surprising a field that included two undefeated colts, Social Inclusion and Samraat (who won the Gotham Stakes). Wicked Strong came in as a 9-1 longshot and for the majority of the race looked as though he was finished – until he caught the outside down the stretch and sailed home, winning the race by three and a half lengths, and more importantly, secured enough points to guarantee a berth in the Kentucky Derby. Wicked Strong’s original name was actually Boston Strong, in honor of those affected by the tragedy at last year’s Boston Marathon, but after learning another stable had already laid claim to the name, his ownership group decided to use the popular colloquial “Wicked” instead. The rest, as they say, is history.

The third favorite, at least according to oddsmakers, is Danza at 9-1 – and in case you’re wondering, yes, the horse is named after Who’s the Boss star Tony Danza. Danza’s sire is a stallion by the name of Street Boss – hence the play on “Who’s the Boss?” – and the colt burst onto the scene recently by capturing the Arkansas Derby as a 40-1 longshot. Danza had been one to watch earlier this season, especially after a third-place finish at Saratoga last August, but fell off the map in the heart of the stakes season due to a knee injury. The win at Arkansas really boosted his stock, though, and he’s looking like a serious player at Churchill.

As for the Rest…

The rest of the field looks like this: Samraat at 16-1, Intense Holiday at 18-1, Dance With Fate at 20-1, Ride on Curlin at 20-1, Vicar’s in Trouble at 20-1, Wildcat Red at 20-1, Tapiture at 28-1, Social Inclusion at 33-1, General a Rod at 33-1, Chitu at 33-1, We Miss Artie at 40-1, Medal Count at 40-1, Commanding Curve at 40-1, Uncle Sigh at 40-1, Vinceremos at 50-1, Harry’s Holiday at 50-1 and Pablo Del Monte at 50-1.

Looking for a sleeper pick? Want to throw your Kentucky Derby hats into the ring? Try getting down with Chitu at 33-1; he won the Grade 3 Stakes at Sunland and finished second in the Grade 2 at Robert B. Lewis. Chitu’s a good dirt runner that can tear it up with his speed, which is a good asset to bring to Churchill.  

Kentucky Derby Post Positions

1. Vicar’s In Trouble (Rosie Napravnik)

2. Harry’s Holiday (Corey Lanerie)

3. Uncle Sigh (Irad Ortiz Jr)

4. Danza (Joe Bravo)

5. California Chrome (Victor Espinoza)

6. Samraat (Jose Ortiz)

7. We Miss Artie (Javier Castellano)

8. General a Rod (Joel Rosario)

9. Vinceremos (Joe Rocco Jr)

10. Wildcat Red (Luis Saez)

11. Dance With Fate (Corey Nakatani)

12. Chitu (Martin Garcia)

13. Medal Count (Robby Albarado)

14. Tapiture (Ricardo Santana Jr)

15. Intense Holiday (John Velazquez)

16. Commanding Curve (Shaun Bridgmohan)

17. Candy Boy (Gary Stevens)

18. Ride On Curlin (Calvin Borel)

19. Wicked Strong (Rajiv Maragh)

20. Pablo Del Monte (Jeffrey Sanchez)

Things are getting dicey as we draw closer and closer to the biggest date on the annual horse racing calendar, the Kentucky Derby. Horses, trainers and owners continue to jockey for points and positioning, while a number of others are deciding if they want to go to Churchill Downs – or if they’re even healthy enough to attend.

Cairo Prince Ruled Out

There will be no Kentucky Derby this year for Cairo Prince, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed. The Holy Bull Stakes winner has suffered a near-fore fetlock injury, and while it won’t require surgery, it will keep Cairo Prince out of at least the annual Run for the Roses and perhaps the Preakness and Belmont too, though McLaughlin wasn’t prepared to say if either race was a possibility just yet.

From a betting perspective, Cairo Prince’s exclusion is big news. He’s been on the Derby radar since last year, when he won the Nashua Stakes as a 2-year-old, then showed extremely well in a runner-up performance to Honor Code at the Remsen. It was expected many who bet on Kentucky Derby online would’ve wagered on Cairo Prince, with McLaughlin calling it a “sad day” in having to announce the horse’s departure from the Derby field.

Keep an Eye on Commanding Curve

Dallas Stewart has been here before, and he’s hoping for similar results.

Stewart, who rose to prominence at last year’s Derby with Golden Soul, is optimistic that his horse for this year’s Kentucky Derby – Commanding Curve – can reap some similar results at Churchill.

A quick refresher for those unfamiliar with Stewart: one year ago, he was on the fence with Golden Soul, unsure if the colt would even qualify for the Derby (sitting 28th at one time on the points leaderboard). A late surge and some drop-outs got Golden Soul into the field, though, and that’s when things went crazy – a 34-1 longshot for the Derby, Golden Soul stunned onlookers and nearly pulled a gigantic upset, finishing second to Orb in a very exciting race.

Now, Stewart is hoping for the same luck.

Commanding Curve is right on the cusp of the Derby, currently sitting 21st on the points leaderboard. He got some good news last week when Bob Baffert pulled Midnight Hawk out of contention, and could get some more in the not-too-distant future considering Sunland Derby winner Chitu is highly questionable to run at Churchill too.

For bettors, Commanding Curve is certainly one to watch. He’s won at Churchill before and recently put forth a solid third-place showing at the Louisiana Derby, and has run in a number of highly-competitive fields (finishing sixth at the Risen Star, for example). But what horse racing enthusiasts will want to pay close attention to, though, is what odds Commanding Curve will carry into the Derby. As Stewart’s shown in the past, he has an affinity for getting underdogs to perform well in big moments.

Things are getting dicey as we draw closer and closer to the biggest date on the annual horse racing calendar, the Kentucky Derby. Horses, trainers and owners continue to jockey for points and positioning, while a number of others are deciding if they want to go to Churchill Downs – or if they’re even healthy enough to attend.

Cairo Prince Ruled Out

There will be no Kentucky Derby this year for Cairo Prince, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed. The Holy Bull Stakes winner has suffered a near-fore fetlock injury, and while it won’t require surgery, it will keep Cairo Prince out of at least the annual Run for the Roses and perhaps the Preakness and Belmont too, though McLaughlin wasn’t prepared to say if either race was a possibility just yet.

From a betting perspective, Cairo Prince’s exclusion is big news. He’s been on the Derby radar since last year, when he won the Nashua Stakes as a 2-year-old, then showed extremely well in a runner-up performance to Honor Code at the Remsen. It was expected many who bet on Kentucky Derby online would’ve wagered on Cairo Prince, with McLaughlin calling it a “sad day” in having to announce the horse’s departure from the Derby field.

Keep an Eye on Commanding Curve

Dallas Stewart has been here before, and he’s hoping for similar results.

Stewart, who rose to prominence at last year’s Derby with Golden Soul, is optimistic that his horse for this year’s Kentucky Derby – Commanding Curve – can reap some similar results at Churchill.

A quick refresher for those unfamiliar with Stewart: one year ago, he was on the fence with Golden Soul, unsure if the colt would even qualify for the Derby (sitting 28th at one time on the points leaderboard). A late surge and some drop-outs got Golden Soul into the field, though, and that’s when things went crazy – a 34-1 longshot for the Derby, Golden Soul stunned onlookers and nearly pulled a gigantic upset, finishing second to Orb in a very exciting race.

Now, Stewart is hoping for the same luck.

Commanding Curve is right on the cusp of the Derby, currently sitting 21st on the points leaderboard. He got some good news last week when Bob Baffert pulled Midnight Hawk out of contention, and could get some more in the not-too-distant future considering Sunland Derby winner Chitu is highly questionable to run at Churchill too.

For bettors, Commanding Curve is certainly one to watch. He’s won at Churchill before and recently put forth a solid third-place showing at the Louisiana Derby, and has run in a number of highly-competitive fields (finishing sixth at the Risen Star, for example). But what horse racing enthusiasts will want to pay close attention to, though, is what odds Commanding Curve will carry into the Derby. As Stewart’s shown in the past, he has an affinity for getting underdogs to perform well in big moments.

What we’re seeing, at least in terms of the latest news and Kentucky Derby odds, is a clearer picture of the horses that have already racked up enough points to qualify for the big day at Churchill Downs. With the race just weeks away, now’s the time to find out all you can about the Derby’s top contenders.

Borel Regains Ride On Curlin Mount

Celebrated trainer “Bronco” Billy Gowan and owner Dan Dougherty aren’t messing around when it comes to this year’s Kentucky Derby as their prized colt, Ride On Curlin, will be ridden by three-time Derby winner Calvin Borel. Borel and Ride On Curlin achieved great success in the points races leading up to the Derby, setting a track record at Ellis Park earlier this season (5 ½ furlongs in 1:03) while capturing first place at Oaklawn this year.

Borel had previously shared saddling duties with another three-time Derby winner – Kent Desormeaux – but Gowan expressed disappointment in how Desormeaux handled Ride On Curlin at the Rebel Stakes in mid-March. Ride On Curlin finished a distant third after looking the part of a first-place challenger for most of the race; he had 12/1 odds to win. Therefore Gowan and Dougherty decided to go back to Borel.

Borel, who won the 2010 Derby on Super Saver, the ’09 on Mine That Bird and the ’07 on Street Sense, knows how to get the most out of his colts at Churchill.

Dance with Fate Earns His Spot, But Will He Go?

It’s one of those decisions that keeps trainers up at night.

Dance With Fate, a relatively inexperienced three-year-old colt, booked his place in the Kentucky Derby with a solid win at the Blue Grass Stakes (coming in first at odds of 6-1) – yet trainer Peter Eurton is unsure if the horse should be running at Churchill.

Why?

The answer is: dirt.

Dance With Fate is far more comfortable on synthetic, Eurton explained, and the trainer is unsure if his horse would be able to successfully transition to the Churchill Down dirt track in such a short period of time (we’re talking weeks here, which isn’t much of an adjustment period for the horses.)

Jockey Corey Nakatani, who rode Dance With Fate to the win at the Blue Grass, also expressed hesitation in wanting to go to the Derby, saying it’s “all a matter if he can handle” the adjustment.

So for now, stay tuned. Eurton is expected to announce his decision on the Derby soon.

Cairo Prince Books Spot

Cairo Prince had been, at times, one of the hot-ticket colts earlier in the Derby season, one many expected to see on race day. Well, Cairo Price is now definitely going – but it wasn’t easy. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was breathing a sigh of relief after learning Cairo Prince finished 20^th on the points list after the first prep race cut-off, meaning he’d qualified to run at the Derby.

The horse had some nervous times earlier in the season when he put up a poor fourth-place finish at the Florida Derby in March, leaving the training staff in doubt if Cairo would even get to the Kentucky Derby.

The horse did, though, but that doesn’t mean they’re in the clear. McLaughlin’s team is looking to make some noise at the annual Run for the Roses, and will need to improve Cairo’s form if they’re going to achieve that.

We’re now just weeks away from the biggest and most exciting date on the horse racing calendar – the 2014 Kentucky Derby, to be run at Churchill Downs.

And, as we’ve seen in years past, the lead-up to the Derby is proving to be nearly as exciting as the big race. A number of colts have moved up and down the points leaderboard in the quest to earn a berth in the Derby field – or in certain cases – stave off elimination. So without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the horses making noise as the Derby draws near.

Keep an Eye on Wicked Strong

Most don’t consider Boston (or the state of Massachusetts in general) a real hotspot for producing horses, but a runner by the name of Wicked Strong is looking to change that.

Owned by Centennial Farms in Beverly, Massachusetts, Wicked Strong raised some eyebrows recently by capturing the $590,000 Wood Memorial, surprising a field that included two undefeated colts, Social Inclusion and Samraat (who won the Gotham Stakes). Wicked Strong came in as a 9-1 longshot and for the majority of the race, looked as though he was finished – until he caught the outside down the stretch and sailed home, winning the race by three and a half lengths and more importantly, secured enough points to guarantee a berth in the Kentucky Derby.

Wicked Strong’s name was actually first “Boston Strong,” until Centennial president Don Little Jr learned another stable had already swept up the name. So one night (at a Bruins hockey game, fittingly), Little and some guests in a suite suggested “Wicked Strong” to pay tribute to the Bostonian lingo.

And the Boston ties don’t end there.

Just to ensure the public that he’s not trying to leverage the now-infamous Boston Marathon tragedy and subsequent “Boston Strong” catchphrase, Little is giving back; he and partners will donate five percent of all of Wicked Strong’s Triple Crown winnings to The One Fund, a charity formed by Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas M. Menino, designed to help those most affected by the Marathon bombings.

Albano Out

Owner and breeder Brereton C. Jones announced this week that his colt, Albano, would be held out of the Kentucky Derby despite a very strong showing in the lead-up season.

You might remember Albano from his fourth-place finish at the Louisiana Derby, or his pair of second place finishes in the Risen Star Stakes and the Lecomte (both were run at the Fair Grounds). While he wasn’t tagged as a major Kentucky Derby contender, Albano did have enough going for him points-wise to get into the mix with another good performance.

Jones, though, simply feels his horse isn’t ready.

Jones noted that Albano was a May colt, and that he lacked the maturity and poise to make an impact at Churchill Downs. How Albano’s departure affects the field remains to be seen. He had 34 points and was inside the top 20 to qualify for the race, so horses on the bubble have to be pleased with this latest development.

With the big race drawing closer and closer, the latest Kentucky Derby betting news is shifting from who might qualify for the field to who’s clinched their spots.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at which ponies will be in the mix for the annual Run for the Roses.

Constitution and Vicar’s In Trouble Clinch

Constitution booked his place in the Kentucky Derby field with a stellar showing at the Florida Derby, capturing 100 points which will be more than enough to see him run at Churchill Downs later this season.

Constitution got the points on the strength of a scintillating rail run to catch and beat Wildcat Red, running the one-eighth mile track in a sizzling 1:49.16. The win returned $8.60 as Constitution bested the eight-colt field – a field that included early Derby favorite Cairo Prince, who was a massive disappointment on the day and finished in fourth place (still managing to muster 10 Derby points, however.)

Vicar’s In Trouble also booked his spot at Churchill by capturing the Louisiana Derby, and he did it in style. The Vicar (we’ll use that shorthand name moving forward) also returned $8.60 for the win, knocking off the favored Intense Holiday in the process. The race was actually noteworthy for two reasons – one, The Vicar’s surprise victory and two, the fact In Trouble was disqualified from his fourth place finish (losing 10 crucial points in the process) after it was judged he came out and bumped Albano twice during the race. With that decision, Albano jumped up to finish fourth and secured the 10 points.

Keep an Eye on Toast of New York

There’s a colt running overseas that could be a dark horse come Derby time.

Toast of New York, ridden by Jamie Spencer and saddled by Jamie Osborne, cleaned up at the prestigious UAE Derby in Dubai recently, and earned 100 points in the process. Thing is, nobody’s sure if Toast of New York will make the trip across the Atlantic to run in the Derby – he’s never run on dirt before – and it’s unclear if Osborne will take the risk given there’s so little time between now and the Derby. He recently said it’s “not impossible” for Toast of New York to take the challenge on, but added he hadn’t really given it too much consideration.

And then There’s Ring Weekend

Trained by Graham Motion and ridden by Daniel Centeno, Ring Weekend is an interesting case study as the Derby draws near. Motion knows a thing or two about winning at Churchill – he had Animal Kingdom in 2011 – and Ring Weekend impressed many by crushing the field at the Tampa Bay Derby. He’s posted a 6-2-1-2 record over 11 races thus far and has 50 Derby points, to go along with 24-1 odds to win it all. The question, it seems, is if Ring Weekend’s faced enough stiff competition to be ready for Churchill. The field at Tampa Bay was pretty weak, and that was his most recent signature victory.

As we draw closer and closer to the annual Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs, it’s becoming apparent that the rigors of the Kentucky Derby stakes season is beginning to take its toll. A number of quality colts have pulled up lame, and like in the case of one particular pre-Derby favorite, have been ruled out of the big race entirely.

Honor Code Out of the Derby

What looked to be Shug McGaughey’s best chance at repeating as Kentucky Derby champion took a major hit recently when his prized horse – Honor Code – was ruled out of the Triple Crown with a slight ligament tear.

McGaughey told the New York Racing Association’s media department that Honor Code suffered the injury to the upper suspensory ligament in his right hind leg, adding that it would heal properly and that trainers would re-evaluate the injury in two months’ time.

Honor Code was a hot favorite earlier in the Kentucky Derby betting season after a scintillating showing, capped off with a brilliant win over another Derby favorite, Cairo Price, at the Remsen at Aqueduct. Honor code also finished second to another strong runner, Havana, in his second start of the season at the Grade I Champagne at Belmont.

Injuries were an issue for Honor Code throughout the season, however. His debut was delayed by bruising in his hind ankles. He’s been in and out of action for the past few weeks, running a half mile in 48.12 prior to the $1 Million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct – a race he’ll no longer run, obviously.

As mentioned, McGaughey won last year’s Derby, the first of his career, with Orb – and many thought Honor Code was good enough to get McGaughey in the roses this year as well. McGaughey is now without a runner in this year’s Derby.

Chitu Emerges

Another talented trainer with Derby experience isn’t suffering the same fate as McGaughey.

Bob Baffert, who last won the Kentucky Derby in 2002 with War Emblem, has found himself another quality contender for this year’s race – Chitu, a horse owned by veteran showjumper Susan Chu. Chitu captured the $800,000 Sundland Derby  at Sundland Park recently (widely regarded as the top race at the top track in New Mexico), giving Baffert yet another option for success at Churchill Downs this spring, and definitely one to watch in terms of online horse odds.

It’s still unclear if Chitu will head to Churchill – he’ll need to stockpile points and is pretty inexperienced; following the race, assistant trainer Jim Barnes said the decision will ultimately be deferred to Baffert. If Chitu does go, though, watch out – the horse won the Sundland in impressive fashion, beating a strong competitor in Midnight Hawk by two lengths at the wire, picking up a cool 50 Derby points in the process.

Speaking of Midnight Hawk, guess what? It’s yet another Baffert horse! Yes, Baffert’s colts finished one-two at Sundland, and the legendary trainer (who wasn’t in attendance) was reported to be thrilled with how the stablemates competed against one another. This could mean big things for the Baffert camp come May 2 at Churchill Downs.

The annual Run for the Roses continues to draw closer, which means each stakes race gets more and more important in terms of stockpiling points for Churchill Downs positioning.

Recently, the always-popular $600,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park was run. There were 50-20-10-5 points up for grabs to the top four finishers. This race has traditionally been a good testing field for colts to see where they’re at just a few months prior to the Kentucky Derby and which future races they should be entered in.

Big Hoppertunity

The story from this year’s Rebel was Hoppertunity, as owner Mike Pegram walked away a winner after Hoppertunity captured one of the closest races of the year.

Hoppertunity won an intense four-horse battle down the final furlong, edging out the likes of Tapiture, Ride On Curlin and Strong Mandate in a race that saw plenty of bumping and jostling down the final stretch.

The race was so close and so physical, in fact, that there was a steward’s inquiry into the stretch run – but the three Oaklawn Stewards decided to let the final standings stay set, noting that all four horses were “straightening out into the stretch.”

Pegram was thrilled with the response as there were 50 Kentucky Derby points up for grabs for finishing first at the Rebel. By taking all 50, Hoppertunity bolted to second overall on the leaderboard with 55 (trailing only Samraat, who tops all with 60 points).

Bettors also scored big too. The Bob Baffert-trained Hoppertunity had 10/1 morning line odds going into the race. Tapiture sat higher on the online horse odds at 9/5.

Tapiture and several other horses received major Kentucky Derby points as well. Tapiture now has 42 points – good for seventh overall – while Ride On Curlin now sits 14^th (with 15 points) after earning 10 points for his third-place finish.

Strong Mandate, who earned five points from his fourth-place finish now sits 20^th (with 11 points) on the leaderboard.

Pletcher, Baffert Going to New Mexico

Two of the biggest and best trainers in the game will have their colts on hand at the Sunland Park Derby in New Mexico.

Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert will each run a pair of horses in the grade 3 stakes (with an $800,000 tag), it was announced. Baffert will run Midnight Hawk – who rose to prominence earlier this season by capturing the Grade 2 Stakes in San Felipe – and Chitu, who recently put forth a solid second-place showing at the Grade 2 Lewis.

Pletcher confirmed that Commissioner and Global Strike will both run in New Mexico. Both have shown well this season and won separate races at Gulfstream Park. As for jockeys, Pletcher has indicated that John Velasquez will ride Commissioner while Javier Castellano has the mount on Global Strike.

Four months is an eternity in thoroughbred racing. For proof of that look at the rise of Cairo Prince, the current Kentucky Derby betting favorite for May’s 140th Run for the Roses at storied Churchill Downs.

The Pool 1 Kentucky Derby online horse odds were released in late November 2013 and Cairo Prince was a 26-1 shot when they closed. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Cairo Prince scored his maiden win in early October at Belmont Park. He followed with a decisive victory in the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes and then finished second by a nose to Honor Code in the Grade 2 Remsen on November 30, both at Aqueduct.

Cairo Prince’s 3-year-old debut was a smashing success as he won the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. The son of Pioneerof the Nile beat a strong field by 5 ¾ lengths. Not surprisingly, Cairo Prince jumped to 13-1 on the Pool 2 Kentucky Derby horse racing odds in early February. Honor Code was the 12-1 betting favorite. The Pool 3 odds ran from February 27-March 1 and Cairo Prince jumped into the favored role at 9-1.

Honor Code is now 11-1 for those who bet on the Kentucky Derby. The Shug McGaughey-trained colt and son of AP Indy has yet to run in 2014, with McGaughey targeting the mid-March Rebel Stakes for his 3-year-old debut. Honor Code missed some training time with hind ankle bruising, so he wasn’t able to run in the February 22 Fountain of Youth Stakes as planned. Top Billing is also 11-1.

First Derby for Sadler?

Candy Boy is 12-1 on the Pool 3 Derby odds. Candy Boy, trained by John W. Sadler, debuted as a 3-year-old with a victory in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in early February. That win helped rocket Candy Boy from 32-1 in the Pool 2 Derby odds. Shared Belief, a gelding, was 14-1 in Pool 2 and is now 15-1. The horse is unbeaten in three career starts, including beating out Candy Boy in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity in December.

One horse who has come out of nowhere – not listed on Pool 1 or 2 – is Bob Baffert’s Bayern. The colt has two wins in 2014. On February 13 in his first race at mile, Bayern dominated the Taurus Purse, an allowance for 3-year-olds, winning by 15 lengths. Bayern is 17-1.

High-Five

Only five horses have been separately listed in all three pools toward the 2014 Derby: Cairo Prince, Honor Code, Noble Moon, Shared Belief and Strong Mandate. The latter colt was 18-1 on the Pool 3 Kentucky Derby betting odds, a slight rise from Pool 2. Strong Mandate debuted as a 3-year-old by finishing second to Tapiture in the Grade 2 Southwest Stakes. That win helped jump Tapiture from 38-1 in Pool 2 to 17-1 in Pool 3. Tapiture and Strong Mandate are both likely to run next in the Rebel Stakes.

The overall favorite in the Pool 3 odds was the “all others” option at 3-1. It was the favorite in Pools 1 and 2 as well. The final Pool 4 odds will be released from March 27-29 in the Kentucky Derby betting news.