The Triple Crown Trail will get some needed added exposure this year thanks to a deal inked by Churchill Downs and NBC.
Churchill Downs Inc. is paying NBC up to $2 million for three telecasts of major Kentucky Derby preps, two of which will air on NBC and the other on the USA Network.
The first telecast will be on the USA Network on March 27 and will feature the Louisiana Derby from Fair Grounds and the Lane’s End Stakes from Turfway Park.
On April 3, the coverage will shift to NBC, which will broadcast the Santa Anita Derby and Wood Memorial.
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park will be featured in the third telecast, which will air on April 10.
Each of the three, one-hour “Road to the Kentucky Derby” broadcasts will feature stakes races and handicapping segments in addition to lifestyle elements designed to broaden the audience for these races and to drive viewership of the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown.
NBC is airing the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes this year, with ABC picking up the Belmont Stakes.
We have stakes action at the Big A today, a field of seven fillies and mares going 1 mile and 70 yards in the $65,000 Darlin Momma Stakes.
Weathered figures to go off as the favorite, as the five year old mare is dropping out of graded stakes company.
She is my top pick in the race despite trainer Karl Grusmark, who is pitching a shutout with his 23 starters at the meeting.
To purchase my full card report for Aqueduct that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:
AQU Race 1 Clm $10,000B (12:30 ET)
#2 Press Only 5/1
#4 He Ain't Easy 7/2
#1 Victorious Affair 4/1
#5 Timber Cruise 5/2
Analysis: #2 Press Only is cutting back from a route where the gelding pressed the early pace and weakened to finish fourth against open $7.5K claimers. The winner of the race was Stungbythestorm, who returned to beat open $12.5K claimers in his next outing on Jan. 8. Two back going a one turn mile our top pick went gate to wire to beat $7.5K foes. The gelding should get a good tracking trip sitting just off the rail horse and the 5/1 ML looks fair enough. The barn is 24% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from route to sprint.
#4 He Ain't Easy returns off a two month break and cuts back from a mile where the gelding faded to finish a well beaten seventh in the slop. The top two finishers in that race came back to beat $12.5K and $10K claimers in their next starts. He finds a good spot here facing non winners of four and it is encouraging to see Ramon stick for another go.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 1,2,4,5
TRI: 2,4 / 1,2,4,5 / 1,2,4,5,7
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
AQU Race 8 Darlin Momma S. (3:49 ET)
#1 Weathered 2/1
#5 Sapphire Sky 5/2
#4 By the Light 5/2
#7 Gold for the Queen 10/1
Analysis: #1 Weathered gets some class relief here returning to the NY bred ranks here after taking on graded stakes company in her last two starts. Last out in the Top Flight the mare set the early fractions and faded to finish eighth, finishing 8 1/4 lengths behind the talented Sarah Louise. Our top pick has won 10 of 23 lifetime starts and has done good work on the inner, winning 3 of 6 including the Rare Treat and the Next Move (G3). She looks well spotted here for a sharp barn that is having a frigid meet (0 for 22).
#5 Sapphire Sky stalked the early pace form the inside and finished up well for the runner up spot in the Luv Is Eternal. She could not catch the gate to wire winner Rightly So, who was taking full advantage of a speed friendly racing strip that day. The filly owns a solid pace profile throughout and she seldom runs a bad one.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,4,5,7
TRI: 1,5 / 1,4,5,7 / 1,4,5,6,7
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Aqueduct
R7: #5 Super Child 12/1
R8: #7 Gold for the Queen 10/1
R9: #8 Classroom Legend 8/1
Good luck today!
