Bodemeister to take the Arkansas Derby, if there aren’t any surprises
Though, the Bob Baffert trained supposedly “fast developing” 3-year-old colt, Bodemeister, has drawn the far outside post for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, but he still has a very realistic chance of nabbing the race with jockey
Mike Smith aboard.
The Zayat Stables owned colt is well equipped with all the tools he needs to go in front of the 11 horse field and dictate the pace throughout the race. He has proved in his previous races that he has the speed, and his Beyer Speed Figures compare to the
Arkansas Derby field are massive.
If he goes on to bag this race today, he will storm in the Kentucky Derby as one of the favourites.
The real question going into the Arkansas Derby is the question that is there one more surprise in store for us before the Kentucky Derby May 5?
To answer it, Dale Romans trained, Cozzetti comes into the picture because he really let it go all out when he hit the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby far turn, but he finished a game third on the day.
Dale Romans was honest enough to say that he is “sitting on a breakthrough race." This could be Cozzetti’s breakthrough race right here.
With a game run in the Rebel Stakes, it has to be said that why Optimizer is a 30 to 1 shot in the Arkansas Derby? The horse can turn in one massive effort when everything is going right from and with breaking from post number 7, he can jump into a good
position.
Questions are asked of Secret Circle’s ability to run the longer distance, and it is seen in his past performances that he hasn’t been running all that fast. It has to be said the Secret Circle is a great miler, and with real good players in this race, it
has to be said that it is not a one mile race.
The 10 to 1 morning line, Stat, seems to be the dark horse here, and by that it’s not implied that he will win it, but he is looking good for a placed finish though or maybe fourth in a field of 11.
Bodemeister might go all the way to win it, and on the other hand Secret Circle might not even land a placed finish, but Cozzetti is due a big run, so we’ll give him a second behind the winner and Isn’t He Clever to finish third.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely the writer’s own and do not reflect the editorial policy of Bettor.com
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