Precise is nice.
For West Virginia horse racing betting enthusiasts, the crucial factor for earning a profit in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby might lie in achieving pinpoint accuracy.
On Tuesday, Art Collector, the second-favored horse, had to be pulled out of the race due to a minor foot injury. As a result, Tiz the Law became the overwhelming favorite at odds of 3-5. If these odds remain unchanged, Tiz the Law would become the shortest-priced favorite at post-time since Spectacular Bid in 1979. This is particularly noteworthy considering there are 18 horses in the current race, whereas Spectacular Bid ran against only 10 competitors.
As of Tuesday’s draw, the field and corresponding odds are provided below.
Most bettors no longer find the win line appealing. Who would want odds of 3-5? This implies that a $100 bet would only yield a $60 profit, and the horse must outperform 17 other competitors. High-stakes gamblers will closely monitor the odds and may place a substantial bet if Tiz the Law’s odds increase to 4-5 or higher.
However, it is time for the majority of us to contemplate alternative choices.
Just to let you know, horse racing bets are not accepted by WV sportsbooks. Nevertheless, West Virginia sports betting customers have the option to place their wagers on the TVG horse betting app.
Kentucky Derby betting tips and strategies
Include some longshots in your exacta, trifecta, or superfecta ticket. This group of 3-year-old horses is not particularly exceptional. Apart from Tiz the Law, the upcoming contenders are Honor A.P., Authentic, and Thousand Words.
Throughout the summer, they have alternated in beating one another, resulting in a lack of consistency even among the second-best contenders. NY Traffic, who secured an impressive second place to Authentic in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in July, stands as a credible choice to finish within the top four. Initially, his odds were set at 20-1.
Authentic emerged as the horse with the most impressive overall performance among the group. With odds of 8-1, he stood out. Honor A.P., on the other hand, had odds of 5-1 due to his victory over Authentic in the Santa Anita Derby. However, it is important to note that Authentic encountered a setback at the start of the race, as he reared his head and veered off course, resulting in a loss of approximately three to four lengths. This incident ultimately proved to be the determining factor.
In a four-horse field, Honor A.P. was subsequently defeated by Thousand Words.
Sole Volante, King Guillermo, and Max Player showed promise at the beginning of the season but lost their momentum later on. However, should they regain even a fraction of their previous performance, there is a chance they could secure a spot among the top four contenders. It is important to note that they are considered as significant underdogs.
The race’s post positions are quite chaotic. Although the outside four horses boast impressive credentials, they might face the longest distance to cover. To stay close to the rail, they must make a quick start and aim to maneuver towards the inner track. However, navigating the first turn might become challenging, potentially jeopardizing the chances of at least one of these horses and creating an opportunity for the other mentioned contenders.
Bets to consider
Here are a few betting options to consider in the realm of exactas. Firstly, you can try your hand at predicting the top two horses in the correct order. For instance, a $5 exacta box, which includes two horses, would amount to a total cost of $10. Alternatively, you have the choice to split your bet. Let’s say you believe Tiz the Law will come in first and have another preferred horse for second place. In this case, you can place a $7 straight exacta bet on Tiz the Law to win and your other chosen horse to place. Additionally, you can reverse this bet by placing a $3 straight exacta with your other favored horse in the first position and Tiz the Law in second.
By placing a $2 exacta box bet on three horses, the bettor spends $12, which offers a small level of protection. Even if one of the horses performs poorly, the remaining two horses can still form the exacta combination.
You have the option to place a straight exacta bet by selecting Tiz the Law as your top choice and pairing it with the second-place horse, for instance, with a $20 wager. If a medium-to-longer shot finishes second, this bet could potentially yield a minimum return of $100.
Trifectas involve choosing the three horses that will finish in the exact order. By placing a $1 trifecta box bet with three horses, the total cost is $6. This box bet ensures that if the top three horses are correctly predicted, they will be in the correct order.
By spending $4, you have the option of playing a $2 trifecta key. This involves selecting one horse for the first position and two additional horses for the second and third positions. If you choose to combine these two bets, you would have a $3 trifecta ticket with the potential to win, all for a total cost of $10.
If you’re confident that a dark horse will secure a spot in the second, third, or fourth position, then the $1 superfecta becomes a worthwhile bet. However, please note that this wager can be expensive and should only be made if you truly believe that a long shot has a chance of finishing in the top four.
This episode of Teach Me To Sports Bet The Kentucky Derby provides valuable tips that can be helpful for novice horse bettors.
Get your horse bets in
Take a few moments to give yourself some space before placing your bet. On Derby day, there is a high volume of wagers being made, which can cause delays in the system. If you wait until one to two minutes before the race starts to place your bet, there is a chance it may not go through. To avoid getting emotionally invested and then being unable to bet, it is advisable to place one or multiple bets with approximately five to 10 minutes remaining.
Once you complete half a mile, you will gain an understanding of your performance. The track announcer will offer remarks regarding the pace. If the first half is completed in approximately 47 seconds, the horses near the front are not excessively strained by the tempo. However, if it is under 46 seconds, the pace may be exceptionally fast, creating an opportunity for someone to make a strong finish.
A few parting Derby betting tips
Part 1 Honorable Mention: Every horse in this race lacks experience running against such a massive field, which can have an impact on their positioning and ultimately determine the outcome.
Part 2: Notably, there won’t be any rain in the forecast, which is favorable as rain, also known as “slop” for a messy track, introduces a completely distinct range of factors.
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