Sports.com
Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter VI Mobile College Basketball March Mayhem Picks College Basketball March Mayhem Picks VegasInsider.com VegasInsider.com
Handicapper Bios Sports Picks Free Odds Contests Sportsbook
Sports.com
VI Home NFL NBANHLMLBNCAA FBNCAA BKGolfAutoHorsesBoxingVI More Sports
 
Horses Leaderboard Schedules News Buy Picks

 
Pletcher using spread offense for Derby
 
 
 

NEW YORK (AP) -Todd Pletcher is going to the spread offense.

Many of the trainer's top 3-year-olds will be strategically deployed over the next few weeks in a move to win races, earn money and run in the Kentucky Derby on May 1.

Some big plays may unfold as early as Saturday, when Pletcher plans to send out Super Saver in the Tampa Bay Derby and Interactif in the San Felipe Stakes.

The following week likely offers rising stars Eskendereya and Rule in the Florida Derby, plus Ibboyee in the undercard Swale Stakes.

A week later, on March 27, it's Discreetly Mine and Mission Impazible in the Louisiana Derby and Connemarra in the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park.

With 20 horses nominated to the Triple Crown races, this could be the year Pletcher ends his 0-for-24 record at the Derby.

Lookin At Lucky, who is not trained by Pletcher but by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, remains No. 1 in The Associated Press' latest Run to the Roses Top 10 list of Derby contenders. The 2-year-old champion makes his long-awaited 2010 debut in Saturday's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

England-based Awesome Act is the lone new entry, debuting at No. 5 following an impressive 1 1/4-length win in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct - the colt's first race in four months and first on a dirt track.

``It's the first hurdle out of the way, so the dream lives on,'' Awesome Act's trainer Jeremy Noseda said. ``

Pletcher trains three of the top six contenders in No. 2 Eskendereya, No. 4 Rule and No. 6 Discreetly Mine. He'd prefer to keep his horses from running against each other until the Derby, but he just may have too many.

Eskendereya and Rule worked out at Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach, Fla., on Sunday, and Pletcher said he was quite satisfied.

Among those expected to challenge Lookin At Lucky in the Rebel are No. 8 contender Dublin and Noble's Promise.

In the San Vicente, Interactif takes on San Vicente winner Sidney's Candy, Robert B. Lewis winner Caracortado and runner-up Dave in Dixie, and Baffert's Tiz Chrome.

Super Saver will meet up with Odysseus, Schoolyard Dreams and Uptowncharlybrown in the Tampa Bay Derby.

Saturday also features the 2010 debuts of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and unbeaten Zenyatta. Rachel runs in the New Orleans Ladies at the Fair Grounds, and Zenyatta in the Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita. The two are scheduled to meet for the first time in the $5 million Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn on April 9.

In Saturday's other Derby prep, Alphie's Bet was a surprise 2 1/4-length win over Setsuko in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. Next up could be the Lane's End on March 27 at Turfway Park or the Blue Grass a week later at Keeneland.

Also last week, Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York finished a disappointing fifth in his 3-year-old debut at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, but may get another chance to prove himself Derby worth in the UAE Derby on March 27.

1. Lookin At Lucky (Bob Baffert, trainer; Garrett Gomez, jockey): Lookin' good for 3-year-old debut in Rebel ... First dirt test will be telling ... Next start: Rebel (Saturday, Oaklawn Park, dirt) ... Derby future wager odds: 9-1.

2. Eskendereya (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez): Fountain of Youth win upped record to 3 for 5 ... Worked 4 furlongs in 49.30 at Palm Meadows on Sunday ... Next start: Florida Derby (March 20, Gulfstream, dirt) ... Odds: 5-1.

3. Conveyance (Baffert, Gomez): Unbeaten gray colt worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.40 at Santa Anita last week ... Won San Rafael on synthetic, then took Southwest on dirt ... Next start: Wood Memorial (April 3, Aqueduct, dirt) ... Odds: 28-1.

4. Rule (Pletcher, Velazquez): Sam F. Davis winner worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 1/5 at Palm Meadows on Sunday ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 20-1.

5. Awesome Act (Jeremy Noseda, Julien Leparoux): Dirt debut win in Gotham puts European-based colt on trail ... Son of '98 BC Classic winner Awesome Again to remain in New York ... Next start: Wood Memorial ... Derby odds: 3-1 (mutuel field).

6. Discreetly Mine (Pletcher, Javier Castellano): Risen Star winner preparing for next trip to the Big Easy ... Next start: Louisiana Derby (March 27, Fair Grounds, dirt) ... Odds: 37-1.

7. Jackson Bend (Nick Zito, Jeremy Rose): First or second in all eight career starts ... Runner-up in last two, Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth ... Next start: Wood Memorial ... Odds: 47-1.

8. Dublin (D. Wayne Lukas, Terry Thompson): Four-time Derby winning trainer has real threat in this speedster ... Southwest runner-up worked 5 furlongs in 59.60 at Oaklawn on Sunday ... Next start: Rebel ... Derby odds: 10-1.

9. Tempted to Tapit (Steve Klesaris, David Cohen): May have only a maiden win, but Risen Star runner-up finish Feb. 20 merits attention ... Worked 4 furlongs in 47.60 at Gulfstream on Saturday ... Next start: Louisiana Derby ... Odds: 63-1.

10. Radiohead (Rick Dutrow, Edgar Prado): Allowance win at Gulfstream vs. tough field puts him on Derby trail ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 19-1.

Keep an eye on: American Lion, Caracortado, Connemara, Noble's Promise, Super Saver.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2012
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

  
HEADLINES
Dempsey: At the Gate - Friday
Fed Biz earns dominant win for Baffert
One Last Dance wins at Aqueduct
Carbonite wins Santa Anita feature
Star of New York takes Big A feature
Fiona Storm wins Big A feature
Game On Dude wins at Santa Anita
I'll Have Another wins Lewis Stakes
Hansen, Union Rags head TC nominees
MORE HEADLINES
 
  HORSE RACING EXPERT
 
  Mike Dempsey
Mike covers the New York racing circuit (Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga) year round as well as Keeneland, Churchill Downs, the Triple Crown, and the Breeders’ Cup.

For the third time in the last five years VI subscribers using Mike’s Reports had the winner of the Kentucky Derby. In 2011 Mike nailed Animal Kingdom with his top pick, the upset winner paying $43.20 to win, $19.60 to place & $13.00 to show!

In the 2010 Kentucky Derby, Mike hit Super Saver with his top pick, the winner returning $18.00, $8.80, and $6.00.

Street Sense was his top pick in 2007, the winner returning $11.80, $6.40, and $4.60.

No handicapper in the industry works harder to bring you analysis that produces profits at the track!

Mike’s Reports include his selections, detailed analysis, a fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for the entire card.

Join Mike each day with daily picks from Aqueduct or his Weekend Best Plays Report in his Multi-Track package or sit at the track with him for 30 Days with his Monthly Horse Package!

 
 
  HORSE RACING EXPERT
 
  Jerry Sessa
Jerry "Shots" Sessa has been involved in horse racing for over 30 years. He now brings his meticulous handicapping style to VegasInsider.com. When Jerry posts picks you are getting his best bets...when you win, he wins.

Jerry's debut on Friday 5/30/08 on VI resulted in 7 out of 10 winners at Mountaineer! His Best Bet in the 6th race cashed in for $25 on a $2 bet.

Jerry looks forward to working with everyone and making money for anyone who invests in his picks on a daily basis.

Join Jerry everyday with daily picks from Aqueduct or choose a package that contains selections from Multiple Tracks for the LOW PRICE of $14.95! Or better yet, how about 30 Days of horse racing picks with his Monthly Racing Package for ONLY $99.95!
 
 
  
GOLD Membership
Receive a 20% discount on all Daily Picks. Signup Today!
 
 
Las Vegas Travel
 
 

NFL
NFL Picks
NFL Odds
NFL Matchups
NFL Scores

NBA
NBA Picks
NBA Odds
NBA Matchups
NBA Scores

MLB
MLB Picks
MLB Odds
MLB Matchups
MLB Scores


NCAA FB
NCAA FB Picks
NCAA FB Odds
NCAA FB Matchups
NCAA FB Scores

NCAA BK
NCAA BK Picks
NCAA BK Odds
NCAA BK Matchups
NCAA BK Scores

NHL
NHL Picks
NHL Odds
NHL Matchups
NHL Scores


More Sports
Golf
Auto Racing
Horse Racing
Boxing
UFC
WNBA
Soccer

Features
Free Odds
Mobile Odds
Contests
Newsletters
VI Radio
Las Vegas Travel
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Facebook


Sports Betting Tools
Live Odds
Parlay Calculator
Gaming Terms
TV Listings
Handicapping Records
Sportsbook Reviews

VegasInsider Info
About Us
Help Center
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Contact Us
User Feedback

Sportsbooks
BetOnline.com
Bodog.ca
Bovada.lv
SBG Global.com
Sportsbook.com
TopBet.com

Rotation Schedules
Hockey:
 
 
Basketball:

Jan 31 - Feb 27
Feb 28 - Apr 07
 
Jan 31 - Feb 27

Copyright © 1997-2012, VegasInsider.com Inc., The Global Leader In Sports Gaming Information. All rights reserved.
For questions or comments, please contact us at 1-800-211-4759.