Bovada Horse Racing Futures Watch: Kentucky Derby & Guineas

Horses Future Bets Preview

To kick off our Bovada Future Wager series, we'll take a look at three races that are being offered as of December 6, the 2018 Kentucky Derby, the 2018 UK 2000 Guineas, and the 2018 UK 1000 Guineas, all of which are set to be run on the first weekend of May 2018.

2018 Kentucky Derby Future Bets

The famed Kentucky Derby is set to be run on May 5, and the current Bovada Futures pool lists 33 different horses to wager on for what will be a field restricted to 20 starters. As late as February 2017, last year's Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming could be bet in some future pools at odds of 50-1, and eventually started the race at just under 5-1. 

Heading the list right now is Bolt d'Oro at odds of 7-1, and who currently sits in second place in Kentucky Derby qualifying with 14 points, picking up those points with a win in the Frontrunner Stakes at Santa Anita, and a third-place finish in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

He has three wins in four lifetime starts, with two of those wins at the Grade 1 level, as good a resume as any in the field. As a California-based colt, look for him to make his next start in either the Sham Stakes in early January or more likely the Robert B. Lewis in early February.

One that catches the eye further down the list is Catholic Boy, at odds of 25-1. Just last weekend he won the (G2) Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct Race Track to pick up 10 qualifying points. The Remsen was his first start on the dirt surface after three starts - and two wins - on turf courses, and his Remsen victory showed he would have no trouble handling the surface or the 1 1/8 mile distance, 1/8 mile less than he'll have to go in the Derby.

Look for him in perhaps the Withers or Holy Bull Stakes in early February.

UK 2000 Guineas

The 2000 Guineas is set to be run in Newmarket on the same day the Kentucky Derby will be run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, and Bovada currently lists 17 betting interests for the race. Co-favored right now at odds of 7-1 are Saxon Warrior and Gustav Klimt.

Saxon Warrior is unbeaten so far in three lifetime starts, all at the one mile distance that the 2000 Guineas will be run. It is intersting to note, however, that his margin of victory in those races has steadily diminished, and in his last he won by just a neck as a heavy favorite over a 8-1 longshot. For his part, Gustav Klimt also has three starts and won his last two, the most recent by a head at Newmarket. He has yet to race at the one-mile distance. 

In double digit odds in the future bets at 20-1 is Mendelssohn, who North American race fans recently saw win the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, a race where the above-mentioned Catholic Boy finished fourth. What that win might suggest is that he's that rare breed of European horse who really loves a firm turf surface, and that could be a problem for him at Newmarket.

UK 1000 Guineas

Held the day after the 2000 Guineas, and also at Newmarket, the 1000 Guineas is also run at one mile, but is restricted to three-year-old fillies, whereas the 2000 Guineas is open to both fillies and colts. The heaviest favorite in the future races featured here is in the 1000 Guineas with Clemmie at odds of 3-1. She took a couple races to find her stride after debuting in early 2017, but since then has won three straight, all by 1 3/4 to 2 3/4 lengths, and the last two at Newmarket. However, she has yet to be tested beyond six furlongs. 

Finishing in second behind Clemmie in her last win was Different League, today at Bovada at odds of 20-1. She was impressive in winning her career debut over 19 others at Royal Ascot where she was 20-1, and since then has has run third and second. Although she too has yet to race beyond six furlongs, she's a filly that appears to want more distance. 

Whether you choose to get in on a Future Bet on any of these races today, or wait to see how they fare in their next start, you can place your bets and enjoy all kinds of bonuses and promotions through an account with Bovada's online racebook.  

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : Bovada , Horse Racing

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