Tag: Bob Baffert

Preakness Stakes Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

American Pharoah bids to follow up his Kentucky Derby victory in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

Bob Baffert’s son of Pioneerof The Nile battled to a one-length success at Churchill Downs. He beat Firing Line with stable companion Dortmund two lengths away in third. Both horses take American Pharoah again here.

It is difficult to see what his rivals could do here to reverse the form. Dortmund was soon driven to the lead and was beaten entering the final furlong while Gary Stevens also gave Firing Line a forceful ride. The latter did not surrender with a fight and only went down inside the final 100 yards.

The bookmakers certainly don’t see a change in the outcome on Saturday with American Pharoah priced at 4-6, Firing Line at 4-1 and Dortmund at a top price of 6-1.  With only eight runners, the draw should not come into play and it was worth remembering that the favourite overcame a tough draw to win the Kentucky Derby.

Derby fifth Danzig Moon and the unplaced Mr Z are also in the field but are difficult to fancy and it will be surprising if the big three don’t battle this out. American Pharoah suffered an injury which ruled him out of the Breeders’ Cup last year so has done well to win three quick races this spring. He was not seriously tested to win Grade 2 and Grade 1 events at Oaklawn but was forced to pull out all the stops by Firing Line.

It all looks set up for an exciting re-match. The elusive American Triple Crown is his target this year and it looks as though Firing Line is going to push him all the way. It could even revive memories of Affirmed and his tremendous battles with Alydar back in 1978. The pair finished first and second in all three Triple Crown races.

The race is due off at 11.18 UK Time and can be viewed live on Racing UK.

Best UK odds

American Pharoah 8-11 Paddy Power

Dortmund 6-1 Stan James

Mr Z 50-1 Skybet

Danzig Moon 18-1 Paddy Power

Tale Of Verve 100-1 Bet365

Bodhisattva 66-1 Bet365

Divining Rod 20-1 Stan James

Firing Line 4-1 Stan James

Kentucky Derby Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Kentucky Derby is probably the most eagerly awaited race of the season in the United States. The first leg of the American Triple Crown could see a new star emerge and it is Bob Baffert who holds the aces with both first and second favourite.

American Pharoah was made hot favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last season only to miss the race through injury. He was an impressive winner of the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes in September and the third horse, Texas Red, went on to take the glory at Santa Anita.

He reappeared at Oaklawn in March and swept to an easy six and a quarter length victory followed by an effortless win in the Arkansas Derby. His stable companion Dortmund is an enormous colt by Big Brown and is unbeaten after six races. He got the better of Firing Line by a head in December and repeated the performance in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes. He made all to win by four and a quarter lengths last time in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and it will be interesting to see how he handles this big field.

Todd Pletcher runs three here with Breeders’ Cup runner-up Carpe Diem looking the most likely. He has won both of his races this season impressively, winning the Blue Grass Stakes by three lengths last time out. Stable companion Materiality is unbeaten after three races and showed good form to beat Upstart in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Firing Line won the Group 3 Sunland Derby last time out, a thoroughly deserved success after two fine tussles with the mighty Dortmund. He is priced at 12-1 under Gary Stevens while Baffert’s horse is around 7-2 so there could be some each-way value there.

Backing Meydan form here is something of a risk but Mick de Kock’s Mubtaahij could also be worth supporting at decent odds. The son of Dubawi was unlucky to be beaten in the UAE 2000 Guineas but made no mistake last time when bolting clear in the UAE Derby to win by eight lengths. Christophe Soumillon takes the ride on him.

This looks a really competitive renewal and there is bound to be a furious pace. The draw could be a concern for American Pharoah’s supporters but he looks a straight-forward ride and is the one to beat.

Tips

American Pharoah @3-1 Paddy Power

Mubtaahij @12-1 Ladbrokes (each-way)

¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Breeders’ Cup Friday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Breeders’ Cup starts at Santa Anita on Friday with four Grade 1 races. The meeting has come in for some criticism this year for its failure to attract the big names, although injury and retirement have contributed to that. Rather like the recent Champions’ Day at Ascot, the meeting is sure to provide some excellent racing even if it is unlikely to be the stuff of legends.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf is the first of the big events and there is every reason to anticipate a European-trained winner here. The favourite is Wesley Ward’s Hootenanny who has already plundered the UK to take a Royal Ascot prize. He has since been beaten in France in very soft ground and now steps up to a mile for the first time.

He has the best form on show but I have reservation about him over this trip and am siding with the Charles Hills-trained Commemorative. This attractive colt has won a couple of races the hard way, battling away to win his maiden at Doncaster before making all at Newmarket. The form of his most recent success has taken a knock with the runner-up running poorly since but Commemorative strikes me as the sort to keep a bit to himself.

Charles Hills won at this meeting a year ago with the sadly ill-fated Chriselliam and it would great for him to go back and do it again this year. Aidan O’Brien’s War Envoy is also entitled to respect having finished within a length of the winner in a Group 1 in France last time. Aktabantay was not far behind for Hugo Palmer but it was one of those messy races where they finish in a heap and I’m not convinced by the form.

The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile looks booked for Goldencents for the second year running. He recently broke a track record over seven furlongs and was also beaten a nose over six. His form looks better than anything his rivals can offer here in a disappointing renewal.

Wesley Ward also has a good chance in the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Sunset Glow. UK racing fans may remember this filly chasing home Cursory Glance at Royal Ascot and she has gone on to win twice at Del Mar. Osaila was hugely favoured by the race conditions when winning one of those obscenely rewarded sales races last time but has a few lengths to make up on Sunset Glow.

The Distaff brings down the curtain on day 1 for the Breeders’ Cup races and I like the chances of Bob Baffert’s Tiz Midnight here at an each-way price. She has to improve to beat Close Hatches but that one ran a shocker last time when beaten at 1-5 so I’ll take a chance on the more lightly-raced filly.

Commemorative 9.25 @10-1 Ladbrokes

Goldencents 10.05 @5-4 Bet365

Sunset Glow 10.50 @100-30 Skybet

Tiz Midnight 11.35 @10-1 Betfair