2010 KENTUCKY DERBY LATEST ODDS AND PREVIEW- ESKENDEREYA IS OUT DEVIL MAY CARE IS IN

It’s been a dramatic 48 hours on the 2010 Kentucky Derby trail as we are now less than a week away from the Run for the Roses and the official opening of the American Triple Crown Racing season. This Saturday is an incredible day for sports and the big race at Churchill Downs is shaping up to be the story of the day.
The big news, as you’ve probably heard already, is that massive favourite Eskendereya (Giant’s Causeway) has been scratched from the Derby after Todd Pletcher’s team discovered swelling in his left front leg. The winner of the Fountain of Youth and the Wood Memorial was considered the 2/1 morning-line favourite and had been considered one of the best contenders for the Triple Crown in quite some time.
You do have to commend Pletcher for not taking the chance with this talented colt- more unscrupulous trainers may have attempted to treat the horse and hope he got through the race okay. With the media attention on the Derby- this is not the place for another Eight Belles-type breakdown and the entire racing community is happy that they have erred on the side of caution.

Bob Baffert’s Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike) is now the favourite and the UK bookmakers are pricing him at a 4.0 listing down from his 6.4 last week. Lookin At Lucky has been on the radar screen for quite some time and he’s seen more action than a lot of the other contenders. He also has another element to him than many other West Coast horses as he has actually won on the dirt at Oaklawn. I think an inability to handle the surface is what kept Pioneerof The Nile from pulling it off last year- that and a peppy gelding named Mine That Bird.
Sidney’s Candy (Candy Ride) is now the second morning-line favourite in the Kentucky Derby and the undefeated chestnut colt looks set to make a real statement for John Sadler. He’s got top-jock Joe Talamo booked for the trip and the ability to pour it on over those last 2 furlongs give him a few more outs than many others have here. I still see question marks because the runs come exclusively at Santa Anita and this will be compounded if we see another sloppy day in Kentucky again. Sidney’s Candy trades at 7.0 with Ladbrokes.
The big news from today is that Todd Pletcher’s top filly Devil May Care (Malibu Moon) has been pointed to the Derby and away from Friday’s Kentucky Oaks. She is considered to be a pretty strong contender here with a 13.0 price placing her alongside stablemate Mission Impazible. She is definitely a contender based on the distance and she’s been showing sharp fractions in early workouts. I think she’s a contender, but really needs to dig deep.
Ice Box (Pulpit) is rapidly shortening in price having dropped from around 26.0 last week to a new low of 11.0 with Ladbrokes. He finished a respectable fifth to Eskendereya in the Fountain of Youth and then stormed back to take the 2010 Florida Derby. I respect the reference as last year’s Florida Derby winner Musket Man went on to place well throughout the entire Triple Crown circuit. I think Ice Box is a real dark horse- a little more mysterious than some on display here and he could just be sneaking in under the radar.
Line of David (Lion Heart) continues to drop in price and is now trading at 15.0- which is nearly half the price he was available at last week. The Arkansas Derby winner looks an interesting shout and could provide the bulk of the early speed.
Awesome Act (Awesome Again) finished 3rd to Eskendereya in the Wood Memorial and impressed when he took the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct back in early March. He’s a quality contender and is certainly in with a shout on 15.0. He will be looking good on the bottom-end of your exotic tickets.
The 2010 Kentucky Derby field is still not official and Rule (Roman Ruler) has been Rule’d out while Paddy O’Prado is expected to be pointed away from the Derby.
Be sure to keep your eyes on Endorsement (Distorted Humor) the winner of the 2010 Sunland Derby who has seen his price drop sharply to 9.0. His connections kept him in the barn this Sunday due to the off track and I think they’re doing this for a reason- keep your eyes peeled for a good workout earlier this week. His price could drop with good information and he is on my ticket for the exotic bets.
Stay tuned to Betting Choice for more coverage of the 2010 Kentucky Derby as we get closer to the official declaration.