The re-scheduled Kentucky Derby prep race in England goes off at 2:10 pm ET today (Wednesday, March 7). That is under the lights in England. A preview:
Talking Horses: Gronkowski ready to take first steps to Kentucky Derby
The race was originally scheduled for last Thursday’s meeting, which was lost to the weather, but has been saved because it carries precious qualification points for the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs in early May. Along with the Patton Stakes at Dundalk on Friday, points will be awarded on a 20-8-4-2 basis to the first four home, while a third qualifying race at Kempton on 30 March, with 30 points to the winner, will decide which European-trained horse will get a guaranteed spot in the field in Kentucky.
Aidan O’Brien’s Mendelssohn, who has a dirt pedigree, is among the entries at Dundalk and is seen as a contender for the Kentucky Derby despite having won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November. The name in Wednesday night’s field that is guaranteed to ring a bell with American fans, however, is Jeremy Noseda’s Gronkowski, who is named after 28-year-old Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski, a tight end with the New England Patriots.
The three-year-old Gronk is likely to start favourite this evening, having taken well to all-weather surfaces with two wins from as many starts including a six-length success in a three-runner race at Newcastle last time out.
He is no better than 6-5 this morning, but this is a race with more depth than the betting might suggest and there are several dangers in the field. Fortune’s Pearl, fifth home in a Group Three at Newmarket in September, is a contender, but John Gosden’s Court House (7.10) looks like the value bet at the early odds. He missed the kick at Lingfield last time but still recovered to record an easy win in a decent time, and 6-1 is a fair price about the son of Dawn Approach getting at least one hoof on the plane to Kentucky.
This week, upcoming Kentucky Derby preps:
The entries for the March 7 race in England:
RACE 4 - 'ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY' CONDITIONS STAKES (PLUS 10) - POST TIME - 2:10 PM ET.
Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta, Swinger
Kempton CONDITIONS (Class 2)
Purse $67,500. TB For three yrs old only. Weights: Colts and geldings, 131 lbs; fillies 126 lbs.
1M
[TR][TH]P# | PP | Horse | A/S | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
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1 | 2 | Ambient (IRE) | 3/G | David Egan | 131 | Jane Chapple-Hyam | 20/1 |
2 | 7 | Bobby Biscuit (USA) | 3/C | T Marquand | 131 | Simon Dow | 15/1 |
3 | 3 | Court House (IRE) | 3/C | R Havlin | 131 | John Gosden | 4/1 |
4 | 4 | Fortune's Pearl (IRE) | 3/C | O Murphy | 131 | Andrew Balding | 5/2 |
5 | 5 | Gronkowski (USA) | 3/C | J P Spencer | 131 | Jeremy Noseda | 5/2 |
6 | 1 | Three Weeks (USA) | 3/C | R L Moore | 131 | William Haggas | 5/1 |
7 | 6 | Ventura Knight (IRE) | 3/C | P J McDonald | 131 | Mark Johnston | 7/1 |
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Owners: 1 - Mrs Jane Chapple-Hyam ; 2 - Robert Moss And Damien Brennan ; 3 - H R H Princess Haya of Jordan ; 4 - Qatar Racing Limited ; 5 - Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited ; 6 - Apple Tree Stud ; 7 - Middleham Park Racing XXXVIIPreview:
TwinSpires.com | How to bet the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes at Kempton Park | Bet Online With The Leader In Online Horse Racing[/TH][/TR][/TBODY]