A lot of promising horse athletes are now starting to prepare for many notable horse racing events this year. One of the most anticipated is the Kentucky Derby. As you might have known, last year was not a great ending for the said event due to many controversies that took place.
For this year’s Run For The Roses, the fans can expect fresh three-year-old horses that will compete at Churchill Downs, Kentucky, on May 2, 2020. It will also bring another opportunity for the bettors to bet for their favorite entries as well as join in different activities during the Derby.
According to reports, there are 347 Kentucky Derby contenders and Triple Crown nominees who sent out their interest to run for this event. With this, horse racing fans can expect a huge crowd in the Kentucky Derby season in May. Also, the wagering games will get more exciting as there are many strong contenders this year.
If you’re one of those eager horse racing fans who want to partake in this upcoming horse racing event, here are some little insider tips regarding these 347 Kentucky Derby hopefuls. It includes the list for the most popular horse racer, including the trainers who got the most number of entries.
Bob Baffert Sends Nineteen Nominees
Bob Baffert is taking another huge leap this year as he sends out nineteen nominees to the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown races. This Hall of Fame trainer got his recent achievement after Mucho Gusto won the $3 million Pegasus World Cup held at Gulfstream Park.
Out of these nineteen nominees, he sends out five strongest horse racers to run in the 2020 Kentucky Derby. These five horses are also on the top list for entries with the highest betting odds. Undeniably, he is confident to start the Triple Crown season kicking off the Derby excellently.
Thousand Words is his leading Derby nominee who recently won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. He also sends Nadal, who’s an impressive achiever in Maiden Races. Also, completing the Derby line-up is Authentic, who was a Sham Stakes winner and Eight Rings who did well in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November.
American Pharoah Comes the Leading Sire
American Pharoah was a 2015 Triple Crown winner who sent out a total of fifteen offspring to the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown races this year. Next to him is Uncle Mo with thirteen offsprings. He is then followed by Into Mischief with twelve offsprings, Constitution with ten, Liam’s Map, which is also ten. Completing the ranking is Curlin and Tapit with nine offspring.
Although American Pharoah leads the most number of offspring for the Derby, Tiz the Law, which is Constitution’s offspring, tops the leaderboard in betting odds. He had shown impressive speed in the Holy Bull Stakes last weekend and took home the crown.
Todd Pletcher Has the Most Number of Nominees
Todd Pletcher is also another Hall of Fame trainer who sent out the most number of Derby and Triple Crown races nominees this year. If Bob Baffert has mapped out nineteen nominees, then Pletcher has twenty-six. He wants to make sure that he can participate in all Triple Crown races and possibly clinch the crown.
Leading his entry to the Triple Crown races is Gouverneur Morris. He was the winner of the Maiden Special Weight that took place last September 2, 2019, at Saratoga. After that, he competed in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, which he took second place.
Thirty-Five Nominees Came Outside North America
The 2020 Kentucky and Triple Crown races are notable racing events attended by local and international horse athletes. Out of the 347 nominees, the fans can expect thirty-five official entries from outside North America.
Ireland has eleven horses, six of which were trained by Aidan O’Brien. It is also expected that Royal Dornoch, a Juddmonte Royal Lodge titleholder, will run in the U.S. Triple Crown series.
A Lot of Interesting Nominees Will Join
The Derby and the Triple Crown nominees have five entries with Bourbon names on it. It includes Bourbon Wisdom, Don Bourbon, Disturbin Bourbon, Bourbon Street, and Bourbon Bay. Other interesting names include Woopigsooie, The Big Kahuna, Hollywoodhellraisr, No Shirt No Shoes, Churn N Burn, As Seen On TV, and Morning QB.
Takeaway
Undeniably, the 2020 Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown Series are the most celebrated horse racing events in the United States. Both have produced a lot of horse racing superstars, including the highest-paid and most famous horse race trainers. Thus, if you like to join the fun in the upcoming Triple Crown Season, make sure you are ready for wilder racing shows and concert parties.
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