Every year, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby heads to Churchill Downs as one of the top dogs for the Kentucky Derby. In all likelihood, this year won't be an exception to that rule, as a stacked field will head to post at Santa Anita Park with high expectations on Saturday night.
You can find horse racing odds at BookMaker.eu at the online racebook.
ODDS ANALYSIS
1: Denman's Call 15/1
2: Exaggerator 4/1
3: Danzig Candy 9/5
4: Mor Spirit 8/5
5: Smokey Image 15/1
6: Iron Rob 12/1
7: Dressed in Hermes 15/1
8: Rare Candy 30/1
9: Diplodocus 30/1
10: Uncle Lino 20/1
Eight of the 10 horses in this field have been Triple Crown nominated, and Exaggerator, Mor Spirit and Danzig Candy already have enough points to feel safe to get into the Run for the Roses no matter what happens here. However, given our choice of those three colts or the field in the Santa Anita Derby, we'd take the big three and lay -300 if given the chance to do so.
These three colts are the clear favorites in the field, ranging from Mor Spirit at 8 to 5 to Exaggerator at 4 to 1, and no one else is better than 12 to 1.
FAVORITE TO FOLLOW
Mor Spirit is a favorite just about everywhere he goes, and he'll be laying the lumber at the Santa Anita Derby. He's one of the favorites to win the Kentucky Derby right now at +825 at BookMaker.eu, and if he wins this race, he'll end up as no worse than the second favorite behind maybe Nyquist.
Mor Spirit was second best at the San Felipe Stakes to Danzig Candy, and it was his only race as a three-year old in which he didn't get up to the lead even though he's started off the pace every single time.
UNDERDOG TO WATCH
Exaggerator has a lot to like about him. He's had three straight races with 101 or better Beyer Speed Ratings, and though he didn't win either of the races here at Santa Anita, he did win the Delta Downs Jackpot to ensure his place in the Derby no matter what happens here.
The fact of the matter is that Exaggerator has only been a massive underdog once in his career of note, that being at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and that day, he ran into Nyquist.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
This race is going to be all about positioning. These three major horses raced together at the San Felipe Stakes a few weeks ago, and the reason Danzig Candy won that race is because he was able to get out to the lead.
He'll have an inside post again in this one, but now that the rest of these horses have had a shot of running against this frontrunner, we might see some new tactics.
That's why we think Mor Spirit will ultimately show his class once again on Saturday. He's a fantastic stalker, and the fact that this race is a sixteenth of a mile longer than the San Felipe Stakes could fall into his lap.
Don't be shocked if Danzig Candy takes the lead once again in this one but gets nipped at the wire and perhaps finishes third best to both Mor Spirit and Exaggerator.
Horse Racing Odds: Mor Spirit (8/5)
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BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here, and start wagering right now! Bet on horse racing today with the Santa Anita Derby, which goes to post on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. ET at Santa Anita Park.
