Kentucky Derby 2022 Best bet

Churchill Downs — Race 12

#3 —Epicenter

The first Saturday in May brings the best 3-year-olds together to battle for the Kentucky Derby. And this year’s field brings a ton of early pace with it. So, look for the closers to have a have a huge say in the outcome for once. That brings us to our top choice: Epicenter. He showed he can rate off the pace in the Louisiana Derby and kick clear late in a Grade I event. Saturday, Epicenter should sit the exact same trip under one of the best big race riders in Joel Rosario. He should also enjoy going long with Candy Ride in his bloodlines while appearing to be improving at the perfect time.

Best Bet on Santa Anita Opening Day

Sunday

Race 5: #3 Bob and Jackie 5/1

— Pace makes the race and that is what we have Sunday in the G2 San Gabriel with Bob and Jackie. The 5-year-old has some major back class with some of the highest previous speed figures in the field. This should show when he finds himself on the lead under new rider Jose Valdivia Jr. Trainer Richard Baltas has solid numbers when racing his horses second off the layoff and Bob and Jackie should prove tough on the lead at a fair price in a race that’s now on the dirt.

Breeders' Cup 2021: Top Plays at Del Mar

Friday

Race 10: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf — 5:30 p.m. PT

#1 Modern Games 5/1
—several U.S. runners enter this race with low numbers so that points to an international runner with Modern Games leading that pack on paper. Never a fan of the rail position but should be able to get a nice trip from the inside during the mile race while coming to the U.S. highly regarded for a solid trainer in Charles Appleby. The 2-year-old was an easy winner in a G3 event last time out, has some of the quickest running times along with a turf pedigree. Modern Games should be tough in Friday's finale.

Saturday

Race 8: Breeders' Cup Sprint — 2:38 p.m. PT

#9 Dr. Schivel 4/1
—this 3-year-old colt simply loves the 6-furlong distance (unbeaten in his lifetime) and should get a perfect trip from the outside post and behind the speedy runners in the field (including favorite Jackie's Warrior). Dr. Schivel has been working smartly and has proven himself as one of the top up-and-coming sprinters in California. He should prove best in today's jump up in company.

Santa Anita: April 28 Best Best

Santa Anita Race 6

1 - Oscar Dominguez

This 5-y/o gelding will once again turn his closing kick into a trip to the winner’s circle under Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux. Oscar Dominguez has been cashing checks from far off the pace but running out of ground for the top spot. Today, expect Desormeaux (2nd time aboard) to sit closer to the pace and make that run earlier in the race to grab the top prize. Dominguez holds a number of the top speed figures in the field and makes an important drop in class from a Grade II into an Optional Claiming race. Trainer John Sadler has also given his runner a few maintenance drills in preparation for this event. Oscar Dominguez is Saturday’s best bet of the day.

Bolt D'Oro Top Play in San Felipe

Santa Anita Race 6

1 - Bolt d'Oro

The 2017 San Felipe Stakes appears to be a two-horse race between the Mick Ruis trained Bolt d’Oro and Bob Baffert’s McKinzie. Both enter this grade II event with the field’s top numbers and stacked works leading into Saturday’s race. These two are tough to split but we’ll go with Bolt d’Oro as the top play as the Road to the Kentucky Derby continues. Bolt has been working impressively in the a.m., including posting back-to-back bullet workouts , something normally seen with Baffert runners and not Ruis. Javier Castellano comes to California for the mount and got the know the colt through those recent moves. Bolt d’Oro should get a nice stalking trip and has already proved he can handle the 1 1/16 mile trip with a win in the FrontRunner back in September. Bolt d’Oro is the top play in the 2017 San Felipe Stakes.   

Robert B. Lewis Stakes Best Bet

Santa Anita Race 5

4 - Lombo

The Road to the Kentucky Derby is ramping up in Southern California with the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Saturday's field is void of early speed and that means Lombo will find himself on an easy lead under jockey Flavien Prat. The 3-year-old is making his first start going long and has set some of the fastest opening fractions in the field  (:21 & :44) from his maiden start just two starts back. Trainer Mike Pender has his colt working strong for the distance and look for Prat to steal the Lewis Stakes with Lombo.

Breeders' Cup Classic Best Bet

Del Mar Race 12

5 - Gun Runner

Who's going to defeat the odds-on Horse of Year candidate? No one. Gun Runner has proven he holds all the cards in 2017 and will do so yet again in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The multiple graded stakes winner is simply too much for this field after posting some of the highest speed figures seen this year. Jockey Florent Geroux should get his champion colt on the lead and never look back. Take the 'better' price and the now horse, against Arrogate, with Gun Runner taking the 2017 Classic. 

Breeders' Cup Distaff Best Bet

Del Mar Race 9

6 - Forever Unbridled

One of the most competitive fields on Friday's Breeders' Cup card produces one of the top plays of the day. Forever Unbridled enters the Distaff as the hot horse while also being fresh. This 5-year-old mare simply fires every time - finishing in the money 14 times out of 16 starts - including winning back-to-back races entering today. She has some of the highest speed figure numbers in the field and her running time of 1:49 at today's 1 1/8 mile distance tops all runners signed on. Trainer Dallas Stewart has had his mare resting since Aug. with a number of solid breezes posted at Churchill Downs in preparation for this $2 million race. One of the more trusted jockeys in John Velazquez climbs back aboard and he should be able to get a solid trip sitting off the pace. Forever Unbridled will use her class and continue the winning streak as Friday's BC Distaff best bet.  

Del Mar: Opening Day Best Bet

Del Mar Race 6

8 - Steely Resolve  

The situation today appears perfect for this first-time starter. Steely Resolve has the post position, connections, pedigree and works that say he is ready to go at first asking. This 3-year-old gelding has my favorite sire Candy Ride in his bloodlines and a rare 7F workout posted for a debut runner. Trainer Doug O'Neill has trained his runner for this 6.5F debut as Steely Resolve has a number of long works for the tricky 6+ furlong distance first time out. On top of all those positives, today's maiden field is not very strong for the level and the connections paid a cool $875K for this guy. Steeley Resolve should get a trouble-free trip breaking from the outside and overpower this field under jockey Mario Gutierrez as the best bet on Opening Day.

Santa Anita: Oct. 15 best Bet

Santa Anita Race 5

4 - Beautiful Shot

The Desormeaux brothers are at it again with this special 2-year-old colt. Beautiful Shot ran a visually impressive debut, making up 10 lengths to score by a nose, breaking his maiden first-time out. Being a debut winner is tough enough but making up that amount of ground is something special. Trainer Keith Desormeaux now brings his colt back with a confident move up into this $70K stakes with even an added furlong to work with. Beautiful Shot should relish the 6F distance today with Tapit in his bloodlines and jockey Kent Desormeaux will get a fast pace to chase with many young sprinters lined up in the Speakeasy. Beautiful Shot is the best best on Sunday's card and one to mark as a horse to watch in the future.