Churchill Downs Props Matchups – Ice Box vs Super Saver

BetOnline Sportsbook returns with more analysis of the Kentucky Derby betting matchups. Right now, we’re taking a look at the battle between Ice Box and Super Saver, who will start just two gates apart from each other in the #2 and #4 slots respectively.

Kentucky Derby Betting Odds:
Ice Box -160
Super Saver +130

This is also a great matchup between two of the best trainers on the horse racing betting scene. Ice Box is the best chance that trainer Nick Zito has of returning to the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Derby, while Super Saver is one of the many chances that trainer Todd Pletcher has of capturing his first Run for the Roses.

The jockey matchup in this battle is really a mismatch. Ice Box will have Jose Lezcano along for the ride. Lezcano is a relatively inexperienced jockey, as he only has two career mounts at the Kentucky Derby, and neither Deputy Glitters (2006) nor Visionire (2008) were factors in the race.

The accolades for Super Saver’s jockey, Calvin Borel are off the charts. Borel won the Kentucky Derby last year riding Mine That Bird, and he followed that up with a victory aboard Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes. For what it is worth, Borel also won the Kentucky Oaks on Rachel Alexandra’s back. Borel also won the 2007 Kentucky Derby riding Street Sense.

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Ice Box very well could be nothing more than a flash in the pan as well. He won the Florida Derby from a long way off of the pace, closing from 11 lengths back at the first turn to win by a nose over Pleasant Prince and Rule. The issue is that neither of those horses, nor most of the others in the field are running in the Kentucky Derby.

He was also one of the many horses that was buried by the horse that would’ve been the favorite in this race, Eskendereya at the Fountain of Youth.

Super Saver hasn’t found himself in the winner’s circle of a race as a three year old, but he has hit the board in all but one race in his career. He was edged out in a great duel at the Arkansas Derby by Line Of David, a fellow Kentucky Derby contender.

This is one of the many horses that will prefer to run from the front of the field as opposed to the back of it. The difference is that Super Saver, in post #4, has a significantly easier draw than Ice Box, who could get crammed on the rail at post #2.

Once again, this is another one of these matchups that just appears to be a total tossup. Though we think that Ice Box probably has a better chance of winning the race, the more consistent play is going to be Super Saver.

What we’ve learned in the past is to not bet against Calvin Borel in any situation. We’re not going to make this any sort of exception.

My Kentucky Derby Betting Prediction: Super Saver +130