in Triple Crown Betting Trends

Pete with jockey Laffit Pincay

Showing Up? Ever hear of him? Well neither did I until Saturday.

He is the colt who won the Lexington Stakes this weekend at Keeneland Racetrack in Kentucky. He has had only three races, which is usually not enough to get my support, but he is unbeaten and is bred for the mile and a quarter he will have to go in the Derby.

He ran down the Gotham winner Like Now this Saturday in the stretch and drew off to win easily. Showing Up is ridden by Cornelio Velasquez and trained by Barclay Tagg, a winning combo on the Florida winter circuit.

An interesting line here is the fact that Showing Up has the same ownership as a top pick in the Run for the Roses, Barbaro. The Lael Stable (Roy & Gretchen Jackson) own both and will have a situation that has never happened before in Derby history, one owner entering two undefeated horses.

Only five times in 131 years has an unbeaten horse won the Derby, the two we all know are Seattle Slew and Smarty Jones, the rest were even before my time.

So Saturday, May 6th now becomes even more complex to handicap. A large field, some really good horses, some great horses, and all will be in peak form.

I say in all sincerity this is the toughest Derby in my 40 years of following racing.

I never bet favorites and the price on the favorite here may be 3-1. Can you imagine getting 3-1 on Brother Derek, Lawyer Ron, or Barbaro?

On a sad note, With A City, winner of the Lane’s End Stakes on April 15th at 48-1, was euthanized on Sunday. He had according to trainer Mike Maker, a “mysterious disease”. He was stricken on Thursday and deteriorated quickly. According to Maker, he was given every test and treated for everything. A necropsy may tell us more. With A City was on the Derby trail and had won four races in his career for a total of $359,680.

I’m normally not a big bettor on Stake races but this years Derby looks like a race you can get a price no matter who you bet at betus.com.

I’ll be giving a free pick if you email me at the address below.

Furlongs-

Jockey JR Velazquez was injured (shoulder) and will miss the Derby and maybe the entire Triple Crown series. Trainer Todd Pletcher said that Pat Valenzuela would ride Keyed Entry, and Garrett Gomez will be his “stable” rider for now.

On Saturday in California, 2005 Sprint Champion Lost in the Fog was beaten by Carthage in a blazing 109 flat for six furlongs. Lost in the Fog carried a career high 125 pounds. Carthage won by 3 lengths. Jock Russell Baez said Lost in the Fog got tired at the 1/8th pole.

Get your BetUS accounts now for the Triple Crown.. Derby May 6th…Preakness May 20th….Belmont June 10th….

Pete Cataldo can be heard every Wednesday at 3pm EST on www.BetUSradio.com. You can email himat jrclemente@hotmail.com.