2013 Derby Result

Congratulations - Riders Up! Selection Orb, Shug and connections on winning the Kentucky Derby.

This year's running of the Kentucky Derby was a magnificent effort.  Excellent race in the slop.  As my selection analysis detailed, Orb was my favorite horse the past month.  He trained magnificently leading up to the fastest 2:02.4 in sports.  This training made him the prohibitive morning line favorite and expected betting favorite.  Would be correct to make the chalk the selection for RidersUp.  I made an alternate pick in Revolutionary with Orb my number 2.  Oddly Revolutionary became the betting favorite as the Borel factor played a much greater role than normal most likely due to the rain.  My betting strategy outlined a WPS show bet for both Orb and Revolutionary.  When Orb's odds rose much greater than his morning line odds -- I had to load up beyond my normal bet.

As to the race which I watched comfortably from 36,000 feet via Virgin America (kudos to them), at the 1/4 pole when the time of :22.2 flashed on the screen,  I knew both Orb and Revolutionary were going to be flying down the stretch.  Further cemented when the 1/2 time of :45.1 went up making it the second fastest half in Derby history -- I knew I was in the money.  Orb looked strong and Revolutionary was edged for 2nd by Golden Soul.  Note that both Verrazano and Goldencents were crushed by the excruciating early speed and finished way back.  

My RidersUP $100 WPS on the 3-Revolutionary returned $270 (thus a $30 loser) while 16-Orb yielded $1,280 (a $980 winner).  Thus RidersUp Selection produced $950 in earnings on its annual WPS bet. 

As to the exotics, unfortunately Golden Soul crept into 2nd place thus killing any of my exotics.  Of note had you simply boxed my five deep closers -- again pace plays a roe in any horse race -- on a $2 Superfecta, it would have returned $57,084 on $240 bet.

Chalk this Derby analysis as spot on and look forward to the Preakness.  Orb has a legitimate shot at winning the Triple Crown.  Preakness will be the biggest test between the final two legs as it is shorter and some fresher horses will appear.  I will be rooting for Orb , Shug and the Janney/Phipps families to become the first Triple Crown Winner since 1978.

"RidersUp! See You in the Winner's Circle"