Kentucky Derby Ante Post Odds Fluctuate After Eventful Weekend

It was a particularly wild weekend state-side as three of the top five Kentucky Derby contenders had their odds either dramatically-increased or eliminated altogether. The three key Derby-trail contests were the Robert B Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields and the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay.

Boys At Tosconova (Officer) ran second to Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but connections have reportedly pulled him from the Derby trail due to a non-career-threatening injury, but they were adamanet that he would definitely miss the Big Dance as a safety precaution. Boys had been unraced so far this season and there is a chance he could reappear at Saratoga if all goes well with the veteranians.

Tapizar (Tapit) was a major disappointment when sent off at a slim 1/5 in the Robert B Lewis – a race he was expected to put his stamp on with relative ease. He was chomping at the bit almost as soon as he went out of the gate and all plans to adopt a stalking trip for the 1m1f contest were dashed when he insisted on taking the lead in a relatively hot pace. Tapizar gassed coming around the quarter-pole to finish a disappointing fifth place – leaving the Santa Anita bridgejumpers licking their wounds. Tapizar’s ante post price nearly doubled in size and he is now priced at 33/1 in the forecast markets – there is a definite chance that this is not a two-turn horse.

Cashcall Futurity Winner Comma To The Top (Bwana Charlie) was routed despite taking up the option for the seemingly-easier El Camino Derby in Northern California. His three year-old debut did not live up to expectations and he finished well-beaten- his Derby price also floating back up to the 33/1 margin.

Brethren (Distorted Humor) is a notable addition to the Derby Trail’s list of leading contenders thanks to his half-brother Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) who scored in the slop at Churchill in the Run for the Roses last year. Trained by Todd Pletcher and expertly-piloted by Aqueduct-based Ramon Dominguez, Brethren produced a masterclass to remain undefeated and become the clear second choice in the Kentucky Derby ante post market. European bookmakers have him priced as low as 15/2.

With plenty more high-profile young contenders set to line up in the coming weeks, the Derby Trail looks to be at its most competitive in years.