Sports betting enthusiasts looking to get into horseracing have picked a perfect time of year, as the Triple Crown of America is underway. Last weekend, long shot I’ll Have Another shocked the world as it came from the back of the field to win the Kentucky Derby over favorite Bodemeister. I’ll Have Another, is trained by Doug O’Neill, who hasn’t had a prolific horse in a major stakes race, since Canadian thoroughbred Square Eddie in 2006. Today we will look at how important a good trainer is to winning the betting online Triple Crown.
Much like a bettor new to horseracing, the Triple Crown has the potential to help a trainer go from relative unknown to overnight sensation. For example, the aforementioned Doug O’Neill hadn’t really done much since 2006, but now after his colt’s victory at Churchill Downs last weekend, has become famous. If O’Neil and jockey Mario Gutierrez can guide I’ll Have Another to the first American Triple Crown victory in 34 years, the reputation of the trio will be long lasting. But how important is having a good trainer in winning such a daunting trilogy of races?
In theory, having great chemistry between trainer jockey and horse is almost as important as the chemistry between horse and jockey. Essentially, the trainer spends all of their time with the colt, while the jockey comes in for training runs and the actual races. On any given race day, the jockey could be riding seven or eight different horses. At the same time, the trainer may only have three or four horses on the card. Therefore, the trainer’s in put on their colt’s MLB blog condition can be the make or break to the success or demise in the Triple Crown. Sometimes having the most reputable trainer isn’t as good as having a trainer with a limited amount of colts to focus on.
With Kentucky Derby betting lines set to open later this week for next week’s first leg of the Triple Crown, handicappers from all across North America are looking for an edge over the sportsbooks. For all intents and purposes, there are plenty of variables that go into handicapping which horse has the best odds at winning the run for the roses. Today, we will look at why a horse with a good jockey, or a last minute jockey change, can affect the odds and outcome of a race. Winning the Kentucky Derby can set up a horse and jockey tandem for a shot at the Triple Crown.
On paper, nothing is more important to a horse’s success or demise then a jockey. Say what you will about the trainer who helps prepare the horse, or the owner and farm that fund and feed the horse, a good jockey goes a long way to success. In the majority of Kentucky Derby races, one jockey will be riding a specific colt or mare for every race that horse is involved in. Therefore, if a jockey is fired and replaced last minute, the NBA standings of the horse can be affected dramatically.
No horse benefited from a change, better then Animal Kingdom at the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Leading up to the Kentucky Derby, Uncle Mo ridden by John Velazquez was the consensus favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. However, Uncle Mo had to pull out of the race due to illness, leaving Velazquez without a horse. As luck would have it, Animal Kingdom’s jockey was injured in a training run, and could not ride Animal Kingdom on race day. When this happened, Velazquez stepped in, and took the 30 to one underdog Animal Kingdom, and rode it to victory at the Kentucky Derby. Velazquez and Animal Kingdom would narrowly lose to Shackleford in the Preakness, before Animal Kingdom suffered a season ending injury at the Belmont Stakes.
