Posted on 05/04/2018 7:20:44 AM PDT by Red Badger
The Curse of Apollo has lasted for 136 years, but Justify has a strong chance to make history by winning the Run for the Roses after not racing as a 2-year-old
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Bob Baffert is a four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer with a stable full of champion thoroughbreds, most recently sweeping the Triple Crown with American Pharoah in 2015. He often works with the sport’s best horses, so it wasn’t particularly noteworthy when a young colt named Justify entered his barn late last year.
“I just can’t remember offhand,” Baffert said last month about his earliest memories of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby favorite.
But it didn’t take long for the 65-year-old Baffert to take notice, after he saw the chestnut colt breeze in a workout at Santa Anita Park.
The dirt track at Santa Anita is deep and many horses can struggle over the surface, Baffert said. But not Justify.
“The first time I worked him [there] I knew he was something really special,” Baffert said. “He just went around there and just did it effortlessly. And that’s when I knew he was really a cut above the rest.”
Justify went on to win his debut race in February and is undefeated in three starts, securing a berth in the Kentucky Derby after an easy three-length win in the Santa Anita Derby on April 7. That was enough for Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia to tap Justify as the 3-1 favorite, even though the Run for the Roses will be Justify’s first race outside of the state of California.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
there are at least 10 horses that could easily win the race....if Justify wins it, a Triple Crown is def possible. As it is, there’s gonna be some real good horses at really inflated odds. Example... Good Magic, 2 year old champion and Blue Grass stakes winner with the top jockey in the world, Jose Ortiz..hes at 14-1 right now...gonna be a very good betting race.
I’ll probably tune in for the race, but I won’t watch the pre-race coverage as long as NBC has that weird idiot on the set.
With three horses named Apollo the “Apollo Curse” may kick in.
Which one is that?........there are so many to choose from...............
Still, too many possibilities!..................
(trainer Todd Pletcher)
Justify is the romantic favorite, but there’s gonna be a whole lotta jostlin’ goin’ on.
The puppies pick on the Tonight Show was 14 Mendelssohn, also the oddsmakers I watched on YT made a case for him. Danged furriner horse, came over from You-Rope for this. Dubai owner.
18 Vino Rosso should come out through a crowded field, but there are two other speed demons in the race, which will probably be more or less decided in the back stretch.
current odds:
7 Justify 7-2
10 My Boy Jack 5-1
5 Audible 6-1 (trainer Todd Pletcher)
14 Mendelssohn 6-1
6 Good Magic 8-1
11 Bolt d’Oro 8-1
16 Magnum Moon 13-1 (also a Curse of Apollo horse; trainer Todd Pletcher)
18 Vino Rosso 14-1 (trainer Todd Pletcher)
9 Hofburg 24-1
8 Lone Sailor 29-1
2 Free Drop Billy 41-1
3 Promises Fulfilled 47-1
4 Flameaway 50-1
12 Enticed 54-1
19 Noble Indy 55-1 (trainer Todd Pletcher)
1 Firenze Fire 62-1
17 Solomini 65-1
13 Bravazo 68-1
20 Combatant 77-1
15 Instilled Regard 99-1
I was going to drive out to the track and box 5,6,7,11 & 14. Total cost of bet would have been $120. I would have hit with the 7-5-6 finish but only netted $26. Not worth the drive and the people I’d have had to deal with.
Had a bet on Justify ;), also had a bet on Promises Fulfilled and Noble Indy :(
How much did you get?
I don’t know, son is supposed to collect tomorrow morning. I would guess $2 or $3 dollars. (I’m not counting the $18 I spent placing bets) ;)
As it’s said, you gotta’ bet big to win big. I think another saying is mo money, mo money
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