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US Racing Betting: Weekly Update

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In Nick's round-up of all things US Racing this week; the Kentucky Derby is just around the corner but who'll make up the field? And, the Breeders Cup extends an olive branch to European trainers.

The defeat of Pyro in The Blue Grass Stakes at Keenland last Saturday should have sent me in to a depressed state as he could never land any kind of a blow to the game winner Monba who held on from stablemate Cowboy Cal in a thrilling finish but we live in different times these days.

The Polytrack surface was the reason Steve Asmussen gave for Pyro's defeat and he said that he was supremely confident about his chances next month. I would have to say that I intend to agree with him as clearly this was not his true running on this surface. I have learned a lot since these artificial surfaces have been installed and I think it is much harder for a horse switching from traditional dirt to an artificial surface than vice versa. It is a lesson after the defeat of Pyro that I have learned the hard way.

As for the winner and the runner up trainer Todd Pletcher was very relieved to have two horses to consider for the Derby in Monba and Cowboy Cal but I think that the next time they meet Pyro will beat them both.

Over at Oaklawn Park on closing day our selection Gayego won the Arkansas Derby in a brave effort to hold on from Z Fortune by just under a length. I think the winner is improving and he could have an outside chance in the Derby. The runner up trained by Steve Asmussen will also go to the race next month with stablemate Pyro. The crowd for closing day at Oaklawn Park was in excess of fifty six thousand proving that the crowds show up for top class racing at this great racetrack.

As we are so close to the Derby this weekend's running of the Lexington Stakes at Keenland will give hope to at least one horse of competing in the showpiece race. That's because the winner will make enough money to take his chance next month. This race is wide open but I do like the chances of Tomcito and Salute The Sarge who ships in from California. Tomcito ran very well behind Big Brown finishing third in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream considering it was his first run since arriving from Peru. He should be around [4.0] for the win. Salute The Sarge should be at least [10.0] for the win but he has some decent form in California notably when beating Georgie Boy last year.

Over at Santa Anita on Saturday the Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap over ten furlongs looks very competitive but I think Immortelle can make up for her unlucky defeat last time out when she was beaten a head behind Costume and will relish the extra distance. She should go off at around [4.5] for the win in this race. Also I think that Black Mamba could be a danger to all as she was not suited by the slow pace last time out at Santa Anita.

On a final note; at Ascot later on this year three races from the meeting on the 27th of September will have a guarantee of a place in the Breeder's Cup taking place at Santa Anita in October.

Greg Avioli, president of the Breeder's Cup, has made this decision to attract more foreign horses to a superb meeting that in recent years has seen some of the Europeans deciding to stay at home, especially last year at Monmouth Park when only a handful showed up.
I hope a lot of trainers in Europe will take note of this decision and support the Breeder's Cup as it is the only true world championship of horse racing. There are many great meetings all over the world but now that the meeting has been expanded to suit everybody there is no excuse for not showing up. We will find out later on this year if this gesture by the Breeder's Cup will be appreciated or discarded. Only time will tell.