Best Bets for Kentucky Derby Weekend, presented by NYRA Bets

The time to make money is now. While all of the focus will be on the fastest two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby isn’t the only race you should wager on this weekend. Churchill Downs is hosting seven stakes races on Friday and nine on Saturday.

There are plenty of opportunities to hit the board with high-priced horses. After scouring the past performances, KSR has a few picks on the undercard to help you cash in big ahead of the Kentucky Derby.

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Derby Day, Race 6, Derby City Distaff

A 7-furlong race is a bit of a specialty class. Often times trainers are trying to stretch out sprinters for more distance or cut them back for a mile. This is right in 10 Vahva‘s wheelhouse. By Gunner Runner and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Vahva was victorious on Derby weekend a year ago, then wrapped up its 2023 campaign with back-to-back wins in graded stakes at Keeneland. Vahva debuted this spring at Keeneland in a close second and is poised to move forward in its second start of the year.

Derby Day, Race 8, Pat Day Mile

The first race of the late pick five, the Pat Day Mile is one of my favorite annual races to wager on. The angle to play in this race is to find horses that were on track to compete in the Derby, but weren’t cut out for two turns and 9 furlongs.

The best candidate for that spot is 8 Top Connor. Chad Brown used this horse in the Blue Grass Stakes to set a fast pace for his closer, Sierra Leone. Top Connor flew around the track before fading in the final eighth of the race.

Let’s get exotic here with some horses to include in an exacta. 12 Nash looked like the best in Brad Cox’s barn until it got stretched out to 1 1/16 miles. He ran away with a win in his first start at a mile. 7 Who Dey ran a big number last time out and could bring some great value to the fold if Bengals fans don’t tank the odds.

Derby Day, Race 10, Churchill Downs Stakes

A Kentucky Derby entry in 2022, 6 Zozos stacked up wins in 2023, claiming four victories in five starts (including one on Derby Day) before falling in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Brad Cox will have this horse ready to run in his 2024 debut after Zozos posted a sub-minute 5-furlong work last week.

There are a lot of intriguing exotic options to play underneath. 2 Tejano Twist is ridden by Irad Ortiz who regularly runs in the high 90s in Brisnet speed figures, and more importantly, is consistently finishing in the top two. 4 Mr. Wireless ran a huge race last time out, albeit at a shorter distance. D. Wayne Lukas has a live long shot with 7 Track Mate, who’s 12-1 coming off consecutive wins, including a challenging victory at Oaklawn Park.

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