The race horse betting event par excellence – the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby, the Run for the Roses, the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports – is almost upon us like a stampede of wild broncos upon an unsuspecting prairie hare about to get trampled underfoot. And here are some not-so-early favorites for people who enjoy betting on horse racing at BetNow sportsbook.
McCraken
This colt may or may not have been named after Bill Murray’s character in Kingpin. Either way, this horse is 17th in the Road to the Kentucky Derby rankings but first in our hearts. Everybody loves a winner and McCraken is undefeated in four starts. McCraken was especially impressive in his three-year-old debut (aww, they grow so fast) at the Sam F. Davis Stakes on February 11th. Unfortunately, he suffered a minor ankle injury in training on February 28th. How this will affect him we’ll have to wait till May 6th to find out, when the loudspeakers boom with the cry of ‘Release the McCraken!’
The Classic Empire
Classic Empire aspires – as much as a horse can be said to have aspirations – to join Street Sense and Nyquist as only the third Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner to win the Kentucky Derby. Classic was 2016’s best juvenile; maybe a little too juvenile, in fact. His only juvenile loss came when he threw his jockey at the start of the Hopeful Stakes. Perhaps he thought he was Buckbeak?
Irish War Cry
If people betting on horse racing Irish War Cry’s 7th place finish at the Fountain of Youth Stakes, the he is as good a Kentucky Derby race horse betting prospect as any other. Trainer Graham Motion called IWC’s upset a “real head-scratcher.” Try some Nix Ultra next time. This colt’s pedigree indicates that he has a good chance of staying the 1-1/4 miles of the Derby. In which case his jockey could use the actual Iris War Cry of “Faugh A Ballagh!” to get the other horses to clear the way.
Always Dreaming
If this colt is Always Dreaming, does that mean he runs in his sleep? And is it dangerous to wake him up? Maybe he is a horse/shark hybrid. In any case, AD was winless as a juvenile but has won three straight races as a three-year-old, including the Kentucky prep Florida Derby where he beat the likes of State of Honor and Gunnevera.
Tapwrit
Tapwrit debuted on Labor Day weekend at Saratoga and ran a lusterless race in which he finished last out of ten. And what’s even worse, he wore white after Labor Day (gasp!). Nevertheless, Tapwrit picked himself up, dusted himself off, and got back in the saddle again (huh. there’s something not quite right with that picture). Tap has won the Pulpit Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby, and came in second at the Sam F. Davis Stakes ever since.
Gunnevera
Gunny has been regarded by people who like betting on horse racing as one of the best Kentucky Derby race horse betting prospects. His style does suggest that he has a pretty good chance of staying the 1-1/4 miles of the Run of the Roses.