Santa Anita Derby 2023: Geaux Rocket Ride is improving at the right time

Santa Anita Derby 2023: Geaux Rocket Ride is improving at the right time

Category : News - Thu 06/04/2023 - 08:08 EDT

Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) is the important final prep race on the Southern California spur of the Kentucky Derby trail, and nine of the best three-year-olds in the country will line up with a trip to the Derby on the line.

If you bet on horse races, then you cannot miss the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on Saturday, April 8! The culmination of Santa Anita’s series of Kentucky Derby prep races, the race offers not only a huge purse but also 100-40-30-20-10 Road to the Kentucky Derby points for its top five finishers.

This means that the winner punches his ticket to the Run for the Roses, and the second-place finisher probably does as well. Even other underneath finishers even put themselves in a good spot, if they have strong form in other points preps.

Geaux Rocket Ride To win the Santa Anita Derby
+400
Bovada

The Santa Anita Derby is one of the most important races on the Kentucky Derby trail. Ten of its winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby as well, including Triple Crown winners Justify (2018) and Affirmed (1978). Keep on reading to find out who can win this race in 2023, and find out the best places to bet the Santa Anita Derby online in Florida.

Betting the 2023 Santa Anita Derby Online

As great as a visit to California to see the Santa Anita Derby in person sounds, we cannot all do that. The good news is, you can bet horse races online from anywhere with an internet connection through an online racebook. Bet from your computer at home, from your smartphone on the go, or from your tablet anywhere!

There are many options for online racebooks, but our expert reviews make it quick and easy to choose the best one. All of our recommended sites have trusted deposits and cash-outs, great user interfaces, and market-leading odds. Our experts also offer advice on how to find the best bonuses for your betting style, so you can maximize your profits all year long!

These are the best online betting options for horseplayers in Florida:

Handicapping the 2023 Santa Anita Derby

Setting up your betting account is the first step toward cashing a ticket on the Santa Anita Derby. Now it is time to get to know the horses.

2023 Santa Anita Derby Horses

This is the official field for the 2023 Santa Anita Derby including draw numbers, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:

  1. I Don’t Get It (Doug O’Neill/Mario Gutierrez) - 20/1
  2. Dazzlemesilver (Keith Desormeaux/Kent Desormeaux) - 50/1
  3. Geaux Rocket Ride (Richard Mandella/Flavien Prat) - 3/1
  4. One in Vermillion (Eric Kruljac/Hector Berrios) - 50/1
  5. Practical Move (Tim Yakteen/Ramon Vazquez) - 8/5
  6. National Treasure (Tim Yakteen/John Velazquez) - 3/1
  7. Skinner (John Shirreffs/Victor Espinoza) - 4/1
  8. Mandarin Hero (Terunobu Fujita/Kazushi Kimura) - 8/1
  9. Low Expectations (Antonio Garcia/Umberto Rispoli) - 30/1

In the days leading up to the race, online racebooks will publish odds on each horse. Make sure to follow those prices and get your bet down when you see an overlay on the horse you want to bet. After all, online racebooks offer fixed-odds wagering on major horse races, which you cannot get at the track. Once you bet, you lock in the best price and you can be confident that you are protected against any late swings at the track!

BovadaBetOnlineWagerWeb
Practical Move+260+260+260
National Treasure+400+400+400
Geaux Rocket Ride+400+400+400
Skinner+500+500+500
Mandarin Hero+900+900+900

2023 Santa Anita Derby Favorites

The 2023 Santa Anita Derby drew a field of nine horses. Practical Move, the current leader among West Coast prospects, leads the field. However, he stares down several live prospects not only from the United States, but also from Japan.

Win Contenders

Two horses shape as true win contenders in the 2023 Santa Anita Derby. One is the aforementioned Practical Move. Since stretching out past a mile and switching to Ramon Vazquez in the saddle, he has won both the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and the San Felipe (G2). With strong tactical speed and some possibility to get the extra distance, he could continue his reign as the West Coast’s best Derby chance.

Though Geaux Rocket Ride was second to Practical Move in the San Felipe, he could turn the tables at a bit better price than the favorite. The San Felipe was only his second start ever and his first two-turn try, and trainer Richard Mandella’s horses shine second-time route. Jockey Flavien Prat has been strong in recent times with Mandella, and they can continue that with this improving colt.

Geaux Rocket Ride To win the Santa Anita Derby
+400
Bovada

Exotic Horses

National Treasure is the most logical exotic candidate. The most class-tested horse in the field, he hit the board in three points races including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in the barn of Bob Baffert. He has since moved to the barn of Tim Yakteen for eligibility reasons. It is a concern that he missed the San Felipe with a sore foot, but he returned to the worktab quickly and could get another piece of the gimmicks.

You have to draw the line somewhere, and in a race with a few short-priced horses and a few bombers, you have to stand against at least one of the short prices in exotics. Here, that’s Skinner. He was third in the San Felipe, but his tendency to break slow combined with his female family’s tendency not to stretch out suggests he may find a few too good at short odds.

Longer Shots

Mandarin Hero comes from Japanese second-level circuit NAR, not the more prestigious JRA, but that hasn’t stopped other horses from being part of Japan shining on the world stage: so did Marche Lorraine, and she won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Though he came up a little short at 1 ⅛ miles last out, that was his first start of the year. He should be fitter this time, and his tactical speed could get him a good trip.

Low Expectations defied his cheeky name last out, tracking a nuclear pace and chasing on for second in the Sunland Park Derby (G3). It is a concern that all of his wins have come on the front end,but last out was as good an effort as he has ever had off the pace, he should be even fitter after that 1 ⅛-mile try, and he can get a clean outside trip. This could be enough for a piece.

2023 Santa Anita Derby Free Picks

With your betting account set up and a strong knowledge of the major contenders, it is time for the fun part: placing your wagers! These are the best bets for Saturday’s 2023 Santa Anita Derby:

  • $20 to win - #3 Geaux Rocket Ride
  • $1 exacta key - #3 Geaux Rocket Ride with #5 Practical Move and#6 National Treasure
  • $0.50 trifecta key - #3 Geaux Rocket Ride with #5 Practical Move, #6 National Treasure, and #8 Mandarin Hero
  • $0.20 superfecta key - #3 Geaux Rocket Ride with #5 Practical Move, #6 National Treasure, #8 Mandarin Hero, and #9 Low Expectations
Geaux Rocket Ride To win the Santa Anita Derby
+400
Bovada
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