From Foal to the Winner’s Circle: The Journey of a Kentucky Derby Champion

It’s the race that every “horse person” perpetually dreams of winning. In fact, if you combined the available spoils from every other prestigious route that is run throughout the calendar year, the pooled glory would still pale in comparison to that eternal title that is bestowed on the “First Saturday in May”. Alas, the odds against a thoroughbred cantering into that exclusive infield Winner’s Enclosure at Churchill Downs that is reserved specifically for the Kentucky Derby Champion are much more astronomical than you might think.

It follows then that we now tag along on the journey an equine takes from conception, to being royally draped with a blanket of rich red roses.

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Slot Floor Sensations: Our Top Picks

When it comes to creating a perfect environment to entertain adults with a variety of wants and desires, casino resorts seem to have it figured out. From fantastic dining to the lavish luxuries like spas and cabanas, casinos offer their guests the best of the best to insure they are satisfied and keep coming back.

We caught up with some of our preferred properties to find out about their casino floors, the variety of games they have and why their guests like to play there.

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Craps Strategy: Betting Trends is a Bad Trend

Craps is a table game with multiple bets, most of them awful, some are horrendous, and others are okay. Most players like to make Pass Line bets, which come out to a loss of $1.41 per $100 wagered. That means the house has a 1.41 percent edge on this bet – not bad at all.

 

Many players also like to place numbers (which means go right up on the numbers) and the house edges for this kind of bet go from decent (1.52 percent on placing of the 6 and 8); to terrible (4 percent on the 5 and 9) to suicidal (6.67 percent on the 4 and 10).

 

Many players also love to make what my mentor the late Captain of Craps called Crazy Crapper bets (see my book Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!). These are bets that come in with extremely high house edges ranging from single roll bets such as the Field (5.55 percent) to the Yo and 3 (11.11 percent) to the Big Red, also called Any Seven (16.67 percent) to multi-roll bets such as the Hard 4 and 10 (11.11 percent) and the Hard 6 and 8 (9.09 percent). These are just some of the many Crazy Crapper bets that lurk to undo the unwary, unwise and unaware craps player and as the Captain said, “You have to be crazy to make these bets.”

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2023 Breeders’ Cup Preview: Our Top Picks

In the world of thoroughbred horse racing, the Triple Crown Series (and its protracted string of “qualifying races”) takes center stage from late February to early June.  However, when the scorching heat finally gives way to Autumn’s wintery preamble, every horse player worth their salt starts to pine over an impending occasion known as the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.  Scheduled to unfold on November 3rd & 4th at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA, this year’s 14 race Breeders’ Cup card will ultimately confer a whopping $31 million dollars in combined purse money!

 

Thus far, 2023 has been a “mixed bag” whereas a different three-year old horse prevailed in each of the Triple Crown Series’ three historic races (i.e., the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes).  Another key dynamic currently playing out is the fact that unlike last year (when Flightline was far and away the best older dirt horse in the country), there is currently no “senior statesman” that overwhelms with regards to the Breeders’ Cup’s “Classic Division”.  Moreover, since the Breeders’ Cup offers other divisions which are restricted to: juvenile equines, fillies and mares, sprinters, and turf specialists, we need to evaluate several horses who could help us accrue some extra holiday spending money come November 3rd & 4th.

Mage wins the 2023 Kentucky Derby. (Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Inc.)

Mage – Even though Mage entered the Kentucky Derby off an impressive 2nd place finish to Forte (2022 Two-Year-Old Horse of the Year) in the Florida Derby, he still garnered little respect at the betting windows.  As a result of rewarding his faithful followers with a $32.40 win mutual (payout based on a $2 wager), this medium sized son of 2019 Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic is consequently on a collision course with the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  (Essentially the Breeders’ Cup’s “Main Event”, the $6 million dollar Breeders’ Cup Classic is a 1 ¼ mile contest open to three-year-olds and up.)  Although traditional handicapping logic says to lean towards older horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Mage could be a factor if he gets the same solid pace up front that helped him close like a freight train in the Kentucky Derby.  Top Three Finish Possible.     

           

National Treasure – This three-year-old Bob Baffert trainee finally lived up to his hype when he went wire-to-wire in the 148th edition of the Preakness Stakes earlier this year.  Despite the presence of Mage, this was nevertheless, one of the weaker Preakness fields I’ve seen in my three decades of covering thoroughbred horse racing.  A runner who did manage to secure 3rd in the 2022 1 1/16th mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, National Treasure seems more like an “underneath” type whether he contests the Breeders’ Cup Classic or Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.  Use in Trifectas and Superfectas.

Arcangelo won the Belmont and the Travers Stakes. (Photo courtesy of Chelsea Durand/NYRA)

Arcangelo – By virtue of winning the 2023 Belmont Stakes with Arcangelo, Jena M. Antonucci became the first female conditioner to conquer any leg of the Triple Crown Series.  Sired by renowned 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Arrogate, the lightly campaigned Arcangelo has flashed the same sort of brilliance that his father displayed ahead of winning the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic as a three-year-old.  One who relishes longer distances, Arcangelo therefore logically figures to be in the mix as they turn for home in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  Win Contender.

           

Forte – In the cruelest twist of fate imaginable for charismatic owner Mike Repole, this “Morning Line Favorite” for the 2023 Kentucky Derby was scratched 24 hours before post-time because of a hoof bruise.  Upon his return, Forte ran a respectable 2nd in the Belmont Stakes behind Arcangelo however much like he did in the Florida Derby, this son of Violence seemed to “run in spots” throughout the Triple Crown’s third jewel.  In that he hasn’t progressed speed figure wise since his two-year-old season and will likely be over bet, I will hence leave Forte off my Breeders’ Cup tickets.  A “hayburner”.

 

Two Phil’s – Since he punched his ticket for the Kentucky Derby by virtue of a dominating score in the 1 1/8 mile G3 Jeff Ruby Stakes at Turfway Park, Two Phil’s was accordingly labeled a “synthetic specialist” by many prominent handicappers.  Alas, a subsequent 2nd place finish in the “Run for the Roses” all but debunked the aforesaid theory.  A next out winner of the Ohio Derby over the highly regarded Bishops Bay, Two Phil’s is exhibiting the kind of ascending trajectory that should concern his competition. Top Contender.

           

Cody’s Wish – Godolphin Stable initiated a feel-good story for the ages when they named one of their prized purchases after Cody Dorman (a young man who is bravely battling a rare genetic disorder called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome).  Your 2022 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Champion, Cody’s Wish (as of this writing) is riding a six-race winning streak and will be extremely tough to run down in the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains. Top Selection – Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

           

Pretty Mischievous – In the aftermath of upsetting this year’s Kentucky Oaks field at odds of 10-1, this gifted three-year-old filly gutted out an impressive victory in Belmont Park’s prestigious G1 Acorn Stakes.  One who will logically take money in the 1 1/8 mile Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Pretty Mischievous will nevertheless have to contend with a fairly solid “older female” contingent that includes: Clairiere, Nest and Secret Oath. Contender in wide open affair.  

           

Elite Power – A surprise 5-1 winner of the 6-furlong (¾ mile) 2022 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Elite Power is thus far undefeated in 2023.  Looking to become just the third back-to-back winner (Midnight Lute, Roy H) of perhaps the Breeders’ Cup’s trickiest race, this speedy son of Curlin (2007 & 2008 Horse of the Year) will have to fend off the ever improving Straight No Chaser and several other staunch sprinters. Repeat in realm of possibility.

           

Modern Games – Managed by legendary Godolphin conditioner Charles Appleby (12 Breeders’ Cup wins), Modern Games scored as the 6/5 favorite over Keenland Racetrack’s firm turf course in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile.  Guaranteed to be targeted by some top European invaders, Modern Games will similarly have to fend off the likes of: Up to the Mark, Exaulted and Chez Pierre. The one to beat.

           

In Italian – If there is any horse with an axe to grind in this year’s Breeders’ Cup, it is In Italian.  A game runner up to Tuesday in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, this chestnut mare has the marked advantage of retaining 16-time winning Breeders’ Cup conditioner Chad Brown. Gets her revenge.

           

Given the full and highly competitive fields that materialize every year, the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships absolutely own the potential to confer a “life changing score”.  Having followed this event every year since 1997, I would advise a handicapper to split their bankroll (say $200) between their two or three of their favorite “Win” bets and a fair share of exotic wagers (trifectas and superfectas).  After all, with the rate of inflation these days, losing two bills really isn’t a big deal.  Then again, hit the right $2 superfecta, and you’ll be taking an early retirement somewhere along the coast of Monaco!

 

By Eric Floyd

           

           

           

 

 

 

 

           

Triple Crown Trivia: Fun Facts About Horse Racing’s Elite

Inside the world of thoroughbred horse racing, there is a title that transcends all other turf trophies combined.  Conferred only on those extraordinary occasions when an equine manages to maneuver their way through a next to impossible gauntlet known as the “Triple Crown Series”, the moniker of “Triple Crown Champion” is accordingly rarer than 18kt gold “hen’s teeth”.  Correspondingly, it’s worth mentioning that over the last 150 years; only 13 thoroughbreds have managed to successfully scale the “Sport of Kings’” most challenging mountain.

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Slot Spotlight: Bull Blitz by Konami Gaming

Konami Gaming has a new All Aboard-style game that’s hitting casinos with an even more potentially lucrative prize feature. This amped-up version of All Aboard—voted “Best Video Slot” and “Best Progressive Slot”—takes credit collection bonuses to ultra-high heights of reward potential through a new Xtra Hit feature.

 

Similar to All Aboard, this linked progressive slot series awards the credit prize feature with any 6 or more golden Bull Blitz symbols, where there’s a chance at random credit prizes, bonus awards, and progressive jackpots. If all 15 positions are filled, the big progressive Grand Jackpot is awarded.

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