Horse Betting World

“Comma” Can Go Right to Top of Derby Prospect Betting List

By Mike Dempsey

Comma to the Top puts his five race win streak on the line on Saturday as the heavy betting favorite in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Golden Gate Fields.

The race is one of three key Kentucky Derby prep races, along with the $250,000 Robert B. Lewis (G2) at Santa Anita and the $225,000 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.

The Steve Asmussen trained Tapizar figures to be the heavy betting favorite in the Robert B. Lewis, while 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver’s little brother Brethren figures to take his share of the betting action in the Sam F. Davis.

There is plenty of outstanding wagering action throughout the country on Saturday in addition to the key Derby Preps.

Gulfstream Park has an outstanding 11-race betting card featuring the return of Sunshine Millions Classic winner Tackleberry in the $150,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship.

The feature at Aqueduct on their nine-race card is the $65,000 Dearly Precious, which drew a field of six three-year-old fillies who will go six furlongs on the inner track.

Wild About Sonny is the 2/1 morning line betting choice off a good looking first level allowance win at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 13.

Let’s head out to Golden Gate Fields for the El Camino Real Derby:

Golden Gate Fields Race 8 The El Camino Real Derby (G3) Post time 4:15 PT
Comma to the Top 6/5
Silver Medallion 5/2
Positive Response 7/2
Anthony’s Cross 10/1

Comma to the Top is cross-entered in the Robert B. Lewis (G2) at Santa Anita, but the connections do not intend to run him against Tapizar, so it’s off to Golden Gate Fields where the colt is going to be a deserving heavy favorite. The gelding took the CashCall Futurity (G1) last out, his fifth consecutive victory. He can run on any type of surface, and is perfect in two trips over the Tapeta here, winning a $40,000 starter allowance race followed up by a first level allowance victory. The gelding popped a bullet work over at Hollywood Park on Feb. 6 and is going to be very tough to beat in this spot.

Silver Medallion is coming off a win in the Eddie Logan at Santa Anita going a mile on the turf course. He did not beat a very tough group that day. His lone start on a synthetic surface was a distant seventh place finish in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland last fall. The switch to the Asmussen barn seems to have suited this guy, and he is certainly bred to be a runner. He is a half to stakes winners Fantastic Day ($360K) and Sweet Talker ($1.09 million). The colt still appears to have some upside potential and looks clearly best of the rest in this spot.

Wagering:
WIN: #1 to win at 7/5 or better.
EX: 1,4 / 1,4,5,6
TRI: 1,4 / 1,4,5,6 / 1,4,5,6,7