May 18, 2012

Kentucky Oaks and Derby Selections

The above video is of Mine That Bird winning the Kentucky Derby in 2009. You probably didn’t bet him to win. Are you prepared to right that wrong this year? I am more than ready and willing to help.

Gradedstakes.com will be providing full card selections for Churchill Downs along with Kentucky Derby and Oaks picks and exotic plays. I have deeply analyzed the field and I’m excited and prepared for what will occur on Saturday. I’m prepared for Friday too. I do my best handicapping on the big days and I will shine brightly on Oaks and Derby days. I encourage you to purchase my selections so that you can play along. Picks for the Oaks and Derby will be available for $5 total, and full card selections for both days are available for $10 each.

Regular visitors to this site know that I had Sidney’s Candy in all three of his wins this years. He paid $6.20 when he won the San Vicente and $9.60 in the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby. Will I back him to take the Roses? You can find out by ordering my selections. John Sadler has him working well and he should certainly be a threat with or without my support.

The 2010 Derby trail was good to me. I had Caracortado when he won the Robert Lewis and paid $11. My highest priced winner came in a less heralded race which was the Whirlaway Stakes. I touted Peppi Knows as my top selection. He won and returned $17.40 for a $2 win bet. I narrowly missed the Florida Derby with 29-1 shot Pleasant Prince who was defeated by a nose. He returned a hefty $26.40 to place!

Those winners are just a few among many. I plan to knock it out of the park this year. You can play along and reap the benefits. I’ll even make a promise. If I don’t have the winner of either the Oaks or Derby, and I don’t hit any Pick 4′s or exotics in Oaks or Derby I will provide complimentary picks for the Preakness or Belmont Stakes. You don’t have much to lose!

Oaks & Derby Package

  • Picks to WIN the KENTUCKY DERBY and KENTUCKY OAKS
  • Kentucky Oaks/Kentucky Derby Double play
  • Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta plays for both races

Full Card Selections Package

  • Includes everything from the Oaks & Derby Package
  • Picks to win in every race from Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday
  • Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 6 plays
  • assorted Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta plays

Use the drop down menu below to choose the package you would like then click “Buy Now”.

Kentucky Derby Picks

Kentucky Derby Approaching May 1


The First Saturday in May is rapidly drawing closer. The Kentucky Derby took a hit this weekend when probable favorite Eskendereya was withdrawn from consideration after trainer Todd Pletcher discovered a swollen leg. His defection after winning the Wood Memorial and as the favorite follows I Want Revenge who was  also going to be the favorite after winning the Wood Memorial in 2009. The defection of Eskendereya makes way for the Bob Baffert trained juvenile champion Lookin at Lucky to become the new favorite.

Todd Pletcher’s best hope for ending his 0-24 skid in the Run for the Roses may have been Eskendereya, but he still has plenty of bullets to fire. Among his entrants this year will be Louisiana Derby winner Mission Impazible, Sam Davis Stakes winner Rule, and Arkansas Derby runner up Super Saver. The filly Devil May Care, Discreetly Mine, and Interactif are also potential chances for Todd Pletcher.

I feel sorry for jockey Johnny Velazquez. He lost Florida Derby winner Quality Road last year and now he has lost Eskendereya. It appears that he will get the mount on Devil May Care if Pletcher’s opts for the Kentucky Derby over the Kentucky Oaks. She is a big lanky filly that is blazing fast, but may not be ready for the Kentucky Derby. I’d like to see her in the Oaks.

This Kentucky Derby is wide open just like last year. Many of the top contenders have big question marks. The overall quality of the field seems sub par and could be average at best. I don’t think we have any chance of seeing a Triple Crown winner. The only horse I could see doing it would be Sidney’s Candy. We still have no idea how good he is. His ability is like a well and we still don’t know if he has come close to the bottom. Does that mean he will be my Kentucky Derby pick? Not at all, but if you told me now that one of these horses was going to sweep the TC I think he would be the one. Who do you like?