Horse Race Betting Futures – Yes, the Belmont Stakes is Big, but Horseplayers Shouldn’t Forget About the Epsom Derby on June 5th

One of the most prestigious races in the world will be run on the same day as the 2010 Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of the Triple Crown. That race, the Epsom Derby, is quite similar to the Belmont Stakes.

Run at 1 mile and 4 furlongs, that’s 1 ½ miles (8 furlongs is a mile), the Epsom Derby is the same distance as the Belmont Stakes. It’s also a flat race, like the Belmont Stakes, and it showcases 3-year olds. Again, like the Belmont Stakes.

The main difference appears to be the fact that the Epsom Derby is run over turf while the Belmont Stakes is run over dirt. Besides that, the Epsom Derby figures to be just as competitive as the Belmont Stakes that is why horseplayers should bet the race in the horse racing sportsbook.

2010 Epsom Derby Power Rankings

Where: Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey, Great Britain

When: June 5th, 2010

TV: TBD

1. St. Nicholas Abbey +150 – - After his 6th place finish at the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, horseplayers can be forgiven if they’re chilly on this guy. But his Racing Post Trophy victory at Doncaster, where he rated kindly behind a wall of horses before exploding for the win, is too impressive to forget. He’s Ballydoyle’s and Aidan O’Brien’s best shot for an Epsom Derby victory.
2. Cape Blanco +600 – - Yes, St. Nicholas Abbey is O’Brien’s best chance at Epsom Derby glory, but horseplayers shouldn’t’ sleep on Cape Blanco. The horse proved best in the Dante Stakes and Johnny Murtaugh, Ballydoyle’s top rider, hasn’t said whether or not he’ll be riding Cape Blanco or St. Nicholas Abbey in the Epsom Derby.
3. Rewilding +1000 – - The Godolphin owned equine will be supplemented to the Epsom Derby after winning the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on May 19th. Jockey Frankie Dettori really likes how this horse responded in the Goodwood and feels he’s Godolphin’s best shot at Epsom Derby glory. Andre Fabre trains Rewilding.
4. Midas Touch +700 – - The progeny of Galileo is the 3rd horse in the power rankings in the Top 5 trained by Aidan O’Brien. He potentially could be the upsetter in the Epsom Derby after winning the Derrinstown Stud Trial. Not much was expected of Midas Touch in the Derrinstown victory but he showed up big by quickening in the stretch and hitting the finish line first. Galileo used the Derrinstown as a stepping stone to his Epsom Derby victory in 2001.
5. Jan Vermeer +600 – - Make that 4 out of the Top 5. That’s right. Jan Vermeer is an Aidan O’Brian trained horse as well. If O’Brien decides to run the horse in the Epsom Derby it has to be given a chance after it’s terrific victory in the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh, but O’Brien is still on the fence because he believes Jan Vermeer’s best chance of success could be in the Prix Du Jockey Club.
6. Bullet Train +900 – - Bullet Train did win the Lingfield Derby trial and deserves his 6th place ranking, but trainer Henry Cecil is on the fence regarding his participation in the Epsom Derby. Workforce is the one that Khalid Abdulla, Bullet Train’s owner, wants to run in the Epsom Derby. Still, Bullet Train looked great winning at Lingfield and deserves a chance.
7. Workforce +1000 – - Speaking of Workforce, his 2nd to Cape Blanco in the Dante Stakes puts him in the Top 10 because he no doubt will improve in the Epsom Derby. His trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, is one of the best in the world and Workforce was the talk of Newmarket this past February.

Underlays in the Horse Racing Sportsbook

1. Simon De Monfort +1400 – - Andre Fabre trains this horse and although Fabre usually doesn’t throw a horse into the Epsom Derby, much less two, he might want to take a chance with Simon De Monfort. The horse has won two races this year, one at the Listed level and a Group 3, but doesn’t appear to be classy enough to handle St. Nicholas Abbey Cape Blanco or even Rewilding. At 14 to 1, I’d say pass on making a bet on this equine in the horse racing sportsbook at this time.
2. Azmeel +1400 – - Azmeel won the Dee Stakes and that’s great but his jockey, Frankie Dettori, isn’t going to give up the mount on Rewilding and if horseplayers like him at those odds, then they’ve got to love Chabal who beat him at Sandown on April 23rd.
3. Chabal +3000 – - I still say Chabal is an underlay even though he beat Azmeel at Sandown in the Group 3 Classic Trial. His terrible run in the Dante Stakes is the reason why.

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