Locksmith Sports Picks » Horse Racing Betting

2009 Belmont Stakes Picks & Predictions

Jimmy Boyd — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:43:11 +0000

Win: Mine That Bird 4/3 – The 2009 Kentucky Derby long shot winner followed up his memorable performance at Churchill Downs with a close second place finish in the Preakness Stakes to favorite Rachel Alexandra. With Rachel Alexandra not running in the the third leg of the Triple Crown, Mine That Bird has emerged as the race favorite, and I believe he will live up the hype. Mine That Bird has shown a finishing kick like I haven’t seen in quite some time, and the longer Belmont distance should give him adequate space to win with another strong finish. We can also expect a top notch ride from Calvin Borel, who jumped ship to ride Rachel Alexandra to the Preakness win after riding Mine That Bird in the Derby. He has a chance to do something special in winning his own version of the Triple Crown. Doing so would make him the first jockey since 1978 to win all three Triple Crown races in the same year. He’s already put himself on the map as the first jockey to win the Derby and then ride another horse in the next race. Chip Woolley will not impress those who figure the trainer in a great deal when handicapping a race. After all, He had just one win this year before the Derby, but Mine That Bird’s pedigree is sure to get anyone’s attention. He is the son of Birdstone, the famous long shot winner of the 2004 Belmont Stakes. He also has ties to Grindstone, the winner of the 1996 Kentucky Derby and Curlin, the 2007 Preakness Stakes, the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the 2008 Dubai World Cup winner. He looks like the best horse in this field by far and he’ll get my nod on race day.

Place: Charitable Man 10/3 – Charitable Man ran as the 8/5 favorite in the Peter Pan Stakes here at Belmont Park the weekend after the Kentucky Derby and he did not disappoint, capturing a win by nearly four lengths. He’s won three of his four starts and is two-for-two on this track. At this price, he is worth a Win wager and will be a big player in my exotics. You have to like the fact that his jockey, Alan Garcia, rode Da’ Tara to a Belmont victory just last year, and you also have to like the track record that trainer Kiaran McLaughlin brings in, which includes a Belmont win with Jazil. This is the race that those in his corner have been gearing toward, and why not, when your sire is 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid. While I don’t expect this to be the case, If Mine That Bird doesn’t have anything left after the first two legs of the Triple Crown, as was the case with Big Brown last year, Charitable Man can win this race.

Show: Chocolate Candy 10/1 – Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker. That old saying may be grounds for a name change if that’s what it takes to get Chocolate Candy in the top three. I like this horse a lot. I’m confident he will be at least a top five horse. He ran fifth place in the Kentucky Derby to get a piece of the purse in his debut on dirt, and he should be even better against a smaller and less talented field. He’ll get a good ride from Garrett Gomez, the nation’s top jockey. Gomez is about as good a jockey as I’ve ever seen, but somehow winning a Triple Crown race has eluded him. Perhaps he’s due. Chocolate Candy is sired by Candy Ride, who famously won all six of his career race before being retired. His dam was sired by Seattle Slew, who, of course, was the 1977 Triple Crown winner.

Longshot: Summer Bird 12/1

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Odds to Win the 2009 Belmont Stakes

Jimmy Boyd — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:41:00 +0000

Mine That Bird 4/3 - The 2009 Kentucky Derby winner is a long shot no longer. He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is the real deal by running a close second in the Preakness Stakes. You know how the old saying goes, “two out of three ain’t bad,” and that’s what Mine That Bird will be running for this Saturday.

Dunkirk 9/2 – The last time Dunkirk ran was in the Kentucky Derby and it was a nightmare. He stumbled just after leaving the gate and could never turn it back on. He ended up finishing a disappointing 11th place. Breeding may be on his side as the son of Two-Year-Old Champion Unbridled’s Song, but I can’t see paying this price for a horse still needing some time to develop.

Charitable Man 10/3 – Charitable Man will likely have some backers having won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont just a week after the Kentucky Derby. He was the 8/5 favorite in that race and did not disappoint, winning by nearly four lengths.

Chocolate Candy 10/1 – Chocolate Candy is a pretty sweet horse. Pun intended. He debuted on dirt at the Kentucky Derby and tallied a respectable fifth place finish. He’s consistent and should be in the money again this Saturday.

Flying Private 15/1 – Flying Private was a 25/1 long shot in the Preakness Stakes where he exceeded expectations with a strong fourth place finish. While I was impressed with his performance in the Preakness, he’s not the best horse in this field and I don’t see him as a serious contender here.

Mr. Hot Stuff 15/1 - Mr. Hot Stuff did not look so hot in the Run for the Roses as he ran a disappointing 15th. Jockey Edgar Prado has a couple Belmont wins under his belt with Sarava in 2002 and Birdstone in 2004. This will be his first competitive ride on Mr. Hot Stuff, though, and I don’t see the magic being there for the duo.

Brave Victory 20/1 - The last time Brave Victory ran was in the seven horse Peter Pan Stakes field at Belmont one week after the Kentucky Derby. He ran third there and I didn’t see enough to think he can contend this weekend. Trainer Nick Zito has been the king of taking long shots to Belmont Stakes glory, most notably with Birdstone in 2004, but Brave Victory won’t be on any of my tickets.

Miner’s Escape 20/1 – The Federico Tesio winner at Pimlico on Derby Day doesn’t look like a winner in this longer distance race, but again, it’s hard to completely discredit any of Zito’s long shots with the track record he has had here, including a winner with Da’ Tara last year.

Summer Bird 12/1 – The 44/1 Derby long shot was outshined by Mine That Bird, but he still exceeded expectations with a respectable sixth place finish – just one place away from the purse. Inexperience still seems to be a factor with this horse as he has just four career races under his belt. Not a bad value bet though in your exotics.

Luv Gov 25/1 – This horse made his stakes debut in the Preakness Stakes and was never a factor in the race. Luv Gov’s trainer, the accomplished D. Wayne Lukas, is high on him, but I just don’t see him pulling off the major upset in the Belmont. I’ll gladly eat my words here.

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2009 Preakness Stakes Picks & Predictions

Jimmy Boyd — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:45:25 +0000

I was in love with Big Brown, as so many were a year ago, and I rode him to wins in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. This year’s Derby was a disaster for me, just as it was for most, with my horse, Friesan Fire, finishing 18th, and 51/1 long shot Mine That Bird shocking the field. Now it’s time to make my Preakness Stakes predictions and I’m looking for some redemption. Bet the 2009 Preakness Stakes at Sportsbook.com and receive a 100% Win Bonus.

Bet Rachel Alexandra at +100 – The most hyped filly in a while at the Preakness was ridiculous with her lengthy win at the Kentucky Oaks. That race alone is guaranteed to gain the public’s support. But keep in mind that she is yet to run with the boys and could be in for a rude awakening. Oh yeah, no filly has won the Preakness since 1924.

Bet Pioneerof The Nile at +350 – The word solid comes to mind when I think of this horse. He ran a good race at the Derby to take second place and he runs a style that suits Pimlico. I don’t expect any flops out of Nile, but can he overtake the fast filly?

Bet Mine That Bird at +375 – The Derby winner is showing solid value and we could see this value increase even more on the morning of the race as most are still chalking his Derby win up as a fluke. The Derby winner has won 7 of the last 12 at Pimlico so you have to think he has a chance.

Bet Friesan Fire at +500 – What a disappointment with an 18th place finish in the Derby. He could never recover from a bad start. We’ve seen numerous Derby favorites be no shows at Churchill and then find their stride at Pimlico, and Fire certainly has the talent and the pedigree to be the latest. Louis Quatorze wasn’t even the Derby favorite in 1996, but he came storming back from a 16th place Derby finish to win the Preakness two weeks later while setting a track record.

Bet Musket Man at +700 – He’s a stalker and his strategy turned into win in both the Illinois and Tampa Bay Derbies. It also resulted in a very respectable third place finish in the Derby. Not sure he’ll have enough of a kick, however, stalking the pace in a shorter race.

The Field – I don’t foresee a winner from this group. Papa Clem ran fourth at the Derby, but he’s not a top contender in my book, and questions have been raised about General Quarters’ ability on dirt. Tone It Down is a nice local story, but it’s hard to invest in a pony without any stakes wins. If I had to pick a long shot, it would be Big Drama. The long layoff is a big negative, but he was so impressive in the Swale Stakes that you have to give him a shot.

2009 Preakness Stakes Picks

Win – Pioneerof the Nile
Place – Rachel Alexandra
Show – Friesan Fire

2009 Preakness Stakes Betting

Jimmy Boyd — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:46:03 +0000

With the 134th running of the storied Preakness Stakes just days away, it’s time to start thinking about which horse you are going to take with your win bet and which exotic bets you are going to set up. On top of that, some might need to start thinking about where they are going to wager on the second leg of Horse Racing’s Triple Crown. The extreme race fan will be making the trip to Baltimore, Maryland’s Pimlico Race Course to take all the action in live. While not quite as big of an event as the Kentucky Derby, the atmosphere at the Preakness makes it well worth the trip. If you won’t be making the trip to Pimlico, then I have several other options for you to consider come race day.

The Local Track – Many horse racing venues throughout the country allow you to watch and wager on the Preakness Stakes via simulcasting. This is usually a great atmosphere full of avid horse racing fanatics unable to make a lengthy trip to Baltimore. If you can’t be at THE track, getting to A track for the big race is the next best thing.

Vegas Baby – Many people will make the trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl or the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, but the Triple Crown Racing season is another great time to plan a vacation in Sin City. Hit the slots, the tables, the sports books, and cap it all off by picking the winner in the Preakness Stakes. The MGM Grand Sports Book and Race Book is my personal favorite. This massive 5,300 square foot gambling mecca offers Vegas’ only sky boxes. The four second-level boxes can fit eight to 10 guests and they each come equipped with plasma TVs, CD systems and surround sound audio – perfect for you and a few of your buddies.

Online Race books – The invention of the internet has afforded us the luxury of wagering in the comfort of our own homes. There are a number of quality online race books to choose from, but doesn’t it make sense to pick a book that offers great sign up bonuses. Special for the Preakness Stakes, BetUS is offering a $500 match bonus when you deposit $500 into a new account. Also, Sportsbook.com is offering a 100 percent Win Bonus on the big race.

However you choose to enjoy the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes, we wish you the best of luck with your wagers.

Tips for Betting the 2009 Preakness Stakes

Jimmy Boyd — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:55:04 +0000

With the 2009 Preakness Stakes all set to go down this Saturday, it’s time to take a look at some tips to help you pick the winning horse.

Respect the Kentucky Derby Winner – Many won’t give the 2009 Kentucky Derby champion Mine That Bird its due this Saturday. Most have chalked up the Derby long shot’s performance as a complete fluke. Recent history tells us not to write off a Derby winner, however. Keep in mind that the Derby field is the cream of the crop so coming out on top cannot ever be a total fluke. Plus, the Derby field is always larger than the Preakness field so beating less horses in the Preakness is seemingly an easier task. Other doubters will blame the sloppy track at Churchill Downs for why their horse struggled, overlooking the fact that Mine That Bird had to deal with the same conditions. On top of all these factors, the Kentucky Derby winner has gone on to win the Preakness in seven of the last 12 years, and we likely would have been looking at eight if it weren’t for the Barbaro tragedy.

Fresh Isn’t Always Best – Many horse racing bettors will elect to go with a fresh horse in the Preakness with the thinking that its legs will be more ready for the 1-3/16 mile sprint than one which just ran in the Derby two weeks prior. Sure, the Kentucky Derby is the toughest challenge out there for three year old thoroughbreds, but running in it has been great preparation for the Preakness if anything. Over the last 25 years, only two winners in Baltimore did not run in the Derby. Only Red Bullet and Bernardini have pulled off the feat of winning the Preakness without running in the Derby during this stretch and both were impressive horses. Still, as good a horse as Bernardini was, he likely benefited from the Barbaro tragedy. Right now, Rachel Alexandra appears to be the only fresh horse capable of winning the Preakness who sat out the Derby.

Bad in the Derby Doesn’t Mean Bad in the Preakness – Just because a horse doesn’t bring it’s A-game on Derby Day, we can’t write them off, forgetting all of their previous success. This year’s Derby favorite, Friesan Fire, finished 18th in the Derby, but that doesn’t mean he won’t show up this Saturday. Remember Point Given. He ran a disappointing fifth as the Derby favorite in 2001, but he responded with a lengthy Preakness win and the fastest Belmont run in history. He was one of those horses you just knew was better than he showed at Churchill Downs. Afleet Alex is another example of a horse that did not perform up to potential in the Derby, running 3rd, but went on to win both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. You’re probably thinking that these horses were both among the leaders, though. Well, here’s another example for you. Louis Quatorze finished 16th in the 1996 Kentucky Derby but bounced back to win the Preakness.

Bet the 2009 Preakness Stakes at BetUS and receive a $500 match bonus when you deposit $500 in a new account.

Odds to Win the 2009 Preakness Stakes

Jimmy Boyd — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:18:03 +0000

This Saturday marks the third Saturday in May and that means it’s time for the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. We’re talking the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes at the legendary Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. There have only been 11 Triple Crown winners in the history of Thoroughbred Horse Racing and we haven’t seen one since 1978 when Affirmed was ridden to victory by jockey Steve Cauthen. Mine That Bird raced through the mud at Churchill Downs to capture the Kentucky Derby as a long shot, and now he will try to inch one step closer to pulling off horse racing’s biggest accomplishment with a Preakness win. History seems to be in Mine That Bird’s favor this week as 7 of the last 12 Derby victors have crossed the finish line first at Pimlico, including Big Brown in 2008. We find out Saturday if Mine That Bird’s run to the roses was a fluke or the real deal. Bet the 2009 Preakness Stakes at BetUS and receive a $500 match bonus with a $500 deposit.

Bet the favorite Rachel Alexandra at +100 at BetUS – Called a once in a lifetime horse, Rachel Alexandra looks to race for a piece of history this Saturday. The filly absolutely dominated the competition at the Kentucky Oaks, winning by nine furlongs, and odds makers are expecting her to blaze again, but history is not on her side. In fact, the last time a filly won the Preakness was in 1924. We have seen some standout fillies recently, most notably, Rags to Riches, who won the 2007 Belmont Stakes so it is not impossible, but Rags did benefit from being a fresh horse against those worn down by the Triple Crown trail. This field should still be in good shape in a shorter race.

Bet Kentucky Derby Winner Mine That Bird at +375 at BetUS – I know Mine That Bird was a long shot in the Derby, but he can not be taken lightly as he just beat a field deeper than this one. His win paid out more than all but one horse in the 135-year history of the Kentucky Derby when he shocked the field at nearly 51/1 odds so it’s hard not to take him seriously. Even more impressive in my eyes is that he did it with a 6.75-length margin of victory, which was the biggest since 1946.

Bet long shot Big Drama at +1600 at BetUS – Not the biggest long shot in the field, but Big Drama is the one that is intriguing me the most as we get closer to the weekend. He is known for his quick starts out of the gate, and in a race that is just 1-3/16 miles long, he could have enough to hold off the stalkers just as he did in the Swale Stakes.

Bet on your favorite horse to win the 2009 Preakness Stakes at BetUS: Rachel Alexandra +100, Mine That Bird +375, Pioneerof The Nile +350, Musket Man +700, Papa Clem +600, General Quarters +1000, Friesan Fire +500, Flying Private +2200, Take The Points +2200, Big Drama +1600, Terrain +2500, Tone It Down +4500, Luv Gov +4000

2009 Kentucky Derby Picks & Predictions

Jimmy Boyd — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:17:26 +0000

While I was not alone, I made the call to take the favorite Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby and rode him to a decisive win. Since the 2007 Belmont Stakes, when I hit the Trifecta, highlighted by Rags to Riches becoming the first filly to win the Belmont since 1905, I have nailed three of the last four Triple Crown races. I’m looking for another strong showing in the 2009 Kentucky Derby this Saturday. Below, I have listed my Win, Place, and Show horses, and you can bet them however you see fit if you choose to do so. Best of luck to you all on race day.

Win: Bet Friesan Fire at +500 at BetUS and receive a $25 free play – I’m taking Friesan Fire to cross the finish line first at the Derby. I like that we are getting some value with this horse despite his impressive gene pool. He was, of course, sired by 1992 American Horse of the Year A.P. Indy, who is the son of 1977 U.S. Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. His dam, Bollinger, is the daughter of 1993 American Champion Two-year-old Colt Dehere, and she was an Australian Group One winner herself. While it used to be that a horse could not win in the Derby off a long layoff, the new strategy is to bring them in fresh. In 2006, Barbaro brought the change. After winning the Florida Derby, he sat out of competition until he stole the show in Louisville. And then last year, Big Brown used the same strategy to prevail in “The Run for the Roses”. Friesan Fire takes this resting strategy to a new extreme. On March 14th, he annihilated the field in the Louisiana Derby and he hasn’t run since. He is one of the most talented in the field, and he’ll also be the freshest horse when the gate opens and that gives him the best shot to win.

Place: Bet I Want Revenge at +300 at BetUS and receive a $25 free play – I like the Derby favorite to cross the finish line second. If Florida Derby winner Quality Road hadn’t dropped out with a quarter crack injury, I Want Revenge would not be the favorite, and I believe Friesan Fire would have been favored over him, too, if he had won another race after the Louisiana Derby. I Want Revenge is still a quality horse, and I believe he’ll be right there with Friesan Fire most of the way. The thing I really like about I Want Revenge is that he has proven to be even better on the dirt than he was on synthetic tracks. Two outstanding victories at Aqueduct make him the favorite, but I don’t think he’ll be able to put out the Fire.

Show: Bet Dunkirk at +400 at Sportsbook.com and receive a 100% Win Bonus – The runner-up in the Florida Derby, certainly has the potential to win. He reminds me of Curlin with the way he has performed without a juvenile foundation. Curlin finished third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, and that is where I see Dunkirk as well. This is a horse with lots of potential that isn’t quite ready to put it all together. It doesn’t bother me that jockey Garrett Gomez jumped ship for Pioneer of the Nile because Gomez has never won the Derby.

Tips for Betting the 2009 Kentucky Derby

Jimmy Boyd — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:01:21 +0000

With the 2009 Kentucky Derby fast approaching, it’s time to start figuring out what your wagers are going to be for the “the most exciting two minutes in sports”. If you are new to horse racing betting, it might serve you well to check out my 2009 Kentucky Derby Betting article. It introduces you to both straight and exotic betting as well as a couple great racebooks with great bonuses for the big race. In this article, I’ll go over several tips for betting the Kentucky Derby to help out those who might be feeling lost as the weekend approaches.

Watch the Horses – This tip won’t do you much good now, but the best way to get a feel for the field is to watch these horses perform in the races leading up to the Derby. While reading information on how each horse has done can be helpful, it’s not the same as seeing for yourself what they are actually capable of. But keep in mind that your eyes can deceive you. For example, if you’ve only seen one of the Derby horses run, and you watched them race to victory, don’t fall too deeply in love with that horse. That’s just one performance and often times horses can look completely different in another race and on a different type of track surface. Watching the horses is most beneficial when you see them all run multiple races. Subscribing to a horse racing network may be the way to go if you can’t get to quite a few live races.

Do your Homework – Finding a trusted handicapper is a good way to start out any kind of sports wagering. These individuals make a living by picking winners and invest hours upon hours of their day breaking down the field and weighing the odds. They also have access to avenues of information that the average sports bettor does not readily have available. Handicappers can be a great tool for helping you learn how to handicap horse races yourself. Plus, it’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion from an expert. If you want to go at it alone, I recommend picking up a tip sheet, which are created by professional handicappers, to gather as much information and history on the horses as possible. While the odds usually tell the story of who the best horses are supposed to be, looking at the trainers and the jockeys is another good way to judge the quality of a horse. Most generally, you will find the best jockeys riding the best horses, and the best trainers usually have the highest win percentages.

Bet the Favorite – This is normally terrible advice, but favorites win about 33 percent of the time in horse racing. This strategy certainly would have paid off last year with Big Brown. If you are looking for some action, and you have waited until race day, okay bet the favorite and watch the race. But otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend betting the favorite blindly, especially this year when the race looks pretty wide open. It can be a good idea to use the favorite to group in with a couple other horses for an “across the board” wager or an exotic bet.

Bet the 2009 Kentucky Derby at BetUS and receive a $25 free play or bet the Derby at Sportsbook.com and get a 100% win bonus.

Odds to Win the 2009 Kentucky Derby

Jimmy Boyd — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:31:04 +0000

If you haven’t already, it is time to start breaking down the odds for the 2009 Kentucky Derby. In this article, I’ll discuss some of the horses to watch in the 135th running of “the most exciting two minutes in sports”. I have also listed the Kentucky Derby odds from two of the best racebooks on the web with the great promotions they are currently running.

The Favorites - I Want Revenge is currently the Derby favorite at +250 following two impressive wins at Aqueduct. Dunkirk is right behind him at +500 and was very impressive in his runner-up performance in the Florida Derby. He could be peaking at just the right time. Friesan Fire is among the favorites at +600 as well. For those who like to look at pedigree, Fire has to be your pick as he was sired by A.P. Indy, who was famously sired by 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. The fourth horse that makes this list is Pioneer of the Nile also listed at +600. Pioneer of the Nile has a nice family tree as well with grandpa Unbridled winning the Derby in 1990. Sportsbook.com is offering a 100% win bonus on the big race.

Next in Line – In this range, we’re looking at horses like Hold Me Back (+2000), Mr. Hot Stuff (+3000), General Quarters (+1500), Papa Clem (+1500), Chocolate Candy (+1500), Advice (+2500), and Flying Private (+5000). General Quarters has the look of a horse showing solid value. He already pulled off a major upset at double digit odds in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. Papa Clem was the runner-up to Friesan Fire in the Louisiana Derby after setting the pace. He gets out fast, but has struggled with his finishing kick at times. I see the talent in Hold Me Back and he could surprise at the Derby. He didn’t run as well as expected in the Blue Grass, but had a difficult lane draw. We could see the horse that won the Lane’s End at Turfway Park in this Derby.

Rest of the Pack – I don’t think you’ll see the 2009 Derby winner coming from this list which includes Derby long shot Mine That Bird (+6000).

Bet the 2009 Kentucky Derby at Sportsbook.com and receive a 100% win bonus – I Want Revenge +250, Dunkirk +500, Pioneer of the Nile +600, Friesan Fire +600, Papa Clem +1500, Regal Ransom +1500, Chocolate Candy +1500, General Quarters +1500, Desert Party +1500, Musket Man +1800, Square Eddie +2000, Hold Me Back +2000, Advice +2500, Mr Hot Stuff +3000, West Side Bernie +3000, Win Willy +3000, Summer Bird +4000, Flying Private +5000, Mine That Bird +6000.

Bet the Kentucky Derby at BetUS and receive a $25 free play – Dunkirk +500, Pioneer of the Nile +500, I Want Revenge +300, Papa Clem +1200, Chocolate Candy +1600, Desert Party +1500, Friesan Fire +500, West Side Bernie +2500, Theregoesjojo +4500, General Quarters +2000, Win Willy +2000, Al Khali +5000, Musket Man +2000, This Ones For Phil +5000, Regal Ransom +2500, Advice +2500, Mafaaz +5000, Hold Me Back +2000.

Make sure you check out Jimmy’s additional Derby articles as race day approaches.

2009 Kentucky Derby Betting

Jimmy Boyd — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:23:24 +0000

The gates open on Saturday, May 2nd at the famed Churchill Downs for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. Those who know horse racing betting are already breaking down the field to see which horse will cash win bets this year. But this article is for the novices who would like to learn more about betting the Kentucky Derby, and also for those who are interested in learning where to bet the big race online.

Straight or Basic Bets – There are three types of bets that fit into this category, and they are Win, Place, and Show wagers. A Win bet pays out only when the horse you wager on wins the race. A Place bet pays when the horse you wager on finishes in second place or first place, and a Show bet pays when the horse you wager on takes third place or better. It doesn’t get any easier than that. A fun way for beginners to bet the Kentucky Derby is to place what is called an “across the board” wager. This means you are betting on a horse to Win, Place, and Show. Here’s how it works. If the horse you wager on wins, you receive Win, Place, and Show payouts. If the horse you wager on comes in second, you receive Place and Show payouts. If the horse you wager on comes in third, you just receive the Show payout. If you’re interesting on placing an across the board wager, bet the Kentucky Derby at BetUS and receive a $25 free play.

BetUS Sportsbook offers more information on types of Kentucky Derby betting as well as several betting tips to point you in the right direction for the big race.

Exotic Bets – You might decide that you’d like to try some exotic betting on Derby day so I have gone over some of the more common Exotic bets below. These wagers are more difficult to win because they involve more than one horse so naturally the payoff is greater. The first is an Exacta or Perfecta bet. This bet cashes when the first two finishers in a race are picked in exact order. The next exotic bet in a Quinella. This one is a little easier to hit as it pays when you pick the first two finishers in a race in any order. Another type of exotic bet is the Trifecta. This wager pays when the first three finishers in exact order are picked. The last one I’ll talk about is the Superfecta. This bet requires the bettor to spot the first, second, third and fourth place horses in the exact order of finish. If you’d like to do some exotic betting, bet the Kentucky Derby at Sportsbook.com and receive a 100% win bonus.

As most of you know, the Kentucky Derby marks the first leg of the famed Triple Crown, which also includes the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Sportsbook.com also offers a $1 million Triple Crown contest that’s more than worth a shot.

Check back for more Kentucky Derby betting information such as Jimmy’s tips for betting the Derby and his predictions on the race.