In the weeks leading up to the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3, the US Racing handicappers will lay out $100 worth of betting options on selected races.
Captain Cook is the likely favorite in New York’s final major Kentucky Derby Prep Race.
The colt has staged a dramatic turnaround in the two races since the purchase by the St Elias Stable and transfer to trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. He posted a maiden win by 9 ¼ lengths and followed that with a decisive victory in the Withers Stakes.
The major concern, from a handicapper’s perspective, is the layoff. The Withers was Feb. 1, more than two months ago. Dutrow, who won the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) with Big Brown, called the break in the action “beautiful because I love time.”
We’ll see on Saturday if time is really on his side.
Sand Devil has the recency advantage on Captain Cook, having contested the Gotham Stakes (G3) on March 1, a solid second in a swiftly run race.
After posting three wins against New York-breds to start his career, Sand Devil made his open-stakes debut in the Gotham. He had trouble initially, stumbling away from the gate as the 7-5 favorite.
He recovered to press the pace, finishing 3 ¼ lengths behind Flood Zone, the 17-1 upset winner.
Sand Devil can make amends with a clean start, and his trainer, Linda Rice, runs the hottest barn in Aqueduct. She just wrapped up a third straight winter Big A training title.
Here is the main stretch-running threat.
This will be his third U.S. start and second for trainer Chad Brown.
The first American start was a rallying third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
He joined Brown’s barn over the winter and launched his 3-year-old campaign with a third-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). With a race under his girth, the stretch to 1 1/8 miles here should play to his strength. Joel Rosario rides for the first time in place of the injured Tyler Gaffalione.
Trainer Todd Pletcher is running out of contenders and time to get a horse into the 2025 Kentucky Derby and stretch his streak to 22 straight years of contesting the world’s most famous race.
Grande ships up from Gulfstream after convincing wins in his first two starts. This will be his stakes debut, and it will be a demanding test in a 12-horse field.
It’s hard to picture Pletcher and owner Mike Repole being shut out of this year’s Derby. This is one of their last shots, and you can bet they will be all-in.
Pletcher has won the Wood seven times. One more score would tie the record held by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons and send Pletcher back to the Run for the Roses.
Total Investment: $106
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
