In the weeks leading up to the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3, the USRacing handicappers will lay out $100 worth of betting options on selected races.
Apparently, this is a test Getaway Car needs to pass if trainer Bob Baffert wants to add another Derby contender to his growing roster. The front-runner makes the trip East after prevailing by a nose over Caldera in the 1 1/16-mile Sunland Derby on Feb. 16. The big question is: Can he hang on going 1 1/8 miles? He’s the 9-5 favorite in a field of nine and comes in with three wins and a pair of seconds in seven starts. He’s been beaten by top Derby stablemates Citizen Bull, Gaming as well as Journalism in the Los Alamitos Futurity.
Juan Hernandez has been aboard for all seven races, but the nation’s top rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., gets the call for this one. A quick start from post 6 is imperative.
With the withdrawal of second betting choice John Hancock, this lightly-raced son of Uncle Mo moves into that role. He makes just his third career start, but he broke his maiden last out by pressing the pace until taking charge around the turn and romping by 6 ½ lengths at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn on Jan. 25. Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat returns to ride for trainer Brad Cox and could simply wear down Getaway Car.
Don’t be fooled by the name: This son of Audible is a Virginia bred and likely to see a bunch of betting action as a 10-1 longshot. With Getaway Car and Rapture likely to be in front, this deep closer should come flying home under Raul Mena. He closed well and finished second in the 1-mile Jerome Stakes and ran a closing third after a poor start in the 1 1/8-mile Withers Stakes on Feb. 1, both races at Aqueduct.
He's also finished in the top 3 in five of six starts with two wins, a second and a third. Trained by Michael Gorham, Omaha Omaha has 30 2025 Kentucky Derby points, and he should be in the mix to pick up more than enough points to clinch a spot in the Derby.
He looks like a toss, but with the dynamic duo of trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez, this maiden winner is worth a look at 12-1.
If nothing else, the son of Blame is experienced in the Kentucky Derby prep races although he ran fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes as a 2-year-old and finished third in the Gun Runner and eighth last out in the Risen Star Stakes – 19 lengths behind the winner Magnitude.
$15 win, $15 place, #7 RAPTURE (total $30)
$5 exacta box, #7 RAPTURE/#6 GETAWAY CAR/#4 OMAHA OMAHA (total $30)
$1 trifecta box, #7 RAPTURE/#6 GETAWAY CAR/#4 OMAHA OMAHA/#9 RENDER JUDGMENT (total $24)
$1 exacta wheel, #7 RAPTURE/ALL (total $6)
$1 exacta wheel, ALL/#7 RAPTURE (total $6)
$1 exacta wheel, #4 OMAHA OMAHA/ALL (total $6)
Total investment: $102
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.
