“I really think Hear The Ghost would of won the Santa Anita Derby if he wasn’t scratched due to a leg injury,” stated Horse Racing Picks Expert Trixie Hammer of LadyandtheTrack.com. “My next favorite is definitely Bob Baffert’s Flashback. He’s really got a good shot at winning the Triple Crown if he makes it through tomorrow. He’s a crazy looking grey colt that runs his ass off. Bob Baffert also has Super Ninety Nine. He’s in a good position so I expect Super Ninety Nine to at the very least show. Fan favorite Goldencents is also in my top three. I like jockey Kevin Krigger. Kevin and Goldencents have an obvious bond and a lot of heart.”

Leave it to Trixie to get the inside edge, she reached out to professional horse racing handicapper Vito Salatino to get his take on the 2013 Santa Anita Derby: “Bob Baffert has won six Santa Anita Derby’s and has three in tomorrow’s race including Flashback, Super Ninety Nine, and Power Broker. Super Ninety Nine will shoot out of the gate and control the tempo. With Flashback drawing the rail it gives Gomez the opportunity to get him relaxed and just wait to make a move. Flashback is definitely the better of all in here. I Like Flashback to win and go on to Kentucky. I also like Goldencents with Jockey Krigger to finish second. Rounding out the Trifecta, my pick is Baffert’s Power Broker to place third.”

2013 Santa Anita Derby Odds by Bovada.lv

1 – Flashback – 6-5 odds – Gomez/Baffert
2 – SCRATCHED
3 – Power Broker – 4-1 odds – Bejarano/Baffert
4 – Tiz A Minister – 5-1 odds – Talamo/Aguirre
5 – Goldencents – 9-2 odds – Krigger/O’Neill
6 – Super Ninety Nine – 9-2 odds – Garcia/Baffert
7 – Summer Exclusive – 20-1 odds – Maldonado/Miller
8 – Storm Fighter – 15-1 odds – Stevens/Headley
9 – Dirty Swagg – 30-1 odds – Baze/Cho

I’ll Have Another is trained by Doug O’Neill and will be beneath Jockey Mario Gutierrez who was the colts mount in recent wins. Gutierrez cut his teeth racing at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver BC, Canada before moving to California and Santa Anita Park. O’Neill has saddled the winners of three Breeders Cup races and trained three Eclipse champions.

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Gate – Jockey, Trainer, Morning Line Odds Saturday May 5, 2012
1  Daddy Long Legs, Colm O’Donoghue, Aidan O’Brien, 30/1
2  Optimizer, Jon Court, D. Wayne Lucas 50/1
3  Take Charge Indy, Calvin Borel, Patrick Byrne, 15/1
4  Union Rags, Julien Leparoux, Michael Matz, 9/2
5  Dullahan , Kent Desormeaux, Dale Romans, 8/1
6  Bodemeister, Mike smith, Bob Baffert, 4/1 (FAVORITE)
7  Rousing Sermon, Jose Lezcano, Jerry Hollendorfer 50/1
8  Creative Cause, Joel Rosario, Mike Harrington 12/1
9  Trinniberg, Willie Martinez, Bisnath Parboo, 50/1
10 Daddy Nose Best, Garrett Gomez, Steve Asmussen 15/1
11 Alpha, Rajiv Maragh, Kiaran McLaughlin , 15/1
12 Prospective, Luis Contreras, Mark Casse,30/1
13 Went The Day Well, John Velazquez, H Graham Motion, 20/1
14 Hansen, Ramon Dominguez, Make Maker, 10/1
15 Gemologist, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 6/1
16 El Padrino, Rafael Bejarano, Todd Pletcher, 20/1
17 Done Talking, Sheldon Russell, Hamilton Smith 50/1
18 Sabercat, Corey Nakatani, Steve Asmussen, 35/1
19 I’ll Have Another, Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neil,  12/1
20 Liason, Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 50/1

Creative Cause is from the stables of owner Heinz Steinmann and is trained by Mike Harrington. Jockey Joel Rosario made his first appearance in the 2010 Kentucky Derby aboard Make Music for Me finishing fourth. Rosario, of the Dominican Republic, won his first graded stakes race in 2008 aboard Zappa in the San Pasquel (GII) and his first Breeders’ Cup race in 2009 with Dancing in Silks. His top mounts have included Creative Cause, Acclimation, Blind Luck, Harmonious, Dakota Phone, Dubawi Heights, Twirling Candy and Zazu.

The son of two top performers with seven-figure bankrolls, Creative Cause is by European champion and leading international sire Giant’s Causeway, and out of Grade 1-winning racemare Dream of Summer. He should have enough stamina to negotiate the classic distance.

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Union Rags trainer Michael Matz who last won with Barbaro in 2006 hopes for a second Derby win coming off 9/2 Horse Racing Odds. Union Rags will be beneath jockey Julien Leparoux who will be looking for his first Derby win, but has three Breeders Cup victories. Union Rags was defeated his last time out finishing third in the Grade-1 Florida Derby behind winner Take Charge Indy, ridden by Calvin Borel. Gate-3 was the lucky gate for Borel and Take Charge Indy at Florida, the same gate draw he gets for the Derby. Take Charge Indy is a good value under Borel from the 3-post at 10/1 odds.

Creative Cause  will start from the 8th post, a great draw for trainer Mike Harrington and jockey Joel Rosario. The colt finished second at Grade-1 Santa Anita Derby behind I’ll Have Another, ridden by Mario Gutierrez. Creative Cause has a great chance to finish in the money with a post advantage over Bodemeister and Union Rags on his inside. Following the draw, Creative Cause was installed coming off at 12/1 Horse Racing Odds while Doug O’Neil trained I’ll Have Another is at 12/1 from No. 19.

Todd Pletcher was a happy man drawing Gate 15 for his speed horse Gemologist. Pletcher’s colt is installed at 6/1 morning line on the outside of Hansen, listed at 10/1 from No. 14. Dullahan, trained by Dale Romano was looking to avoid a far outside draw and got it with No. 5. This is a great spot for the Blue Grass Stakes winner and odds makers agree listing him at 8/1.

My personal favorites for the race are: Get Expert Horse Racing Picks from the Top Horse Racing Handicappers before the start of the first race in the Triple Crown series, sign up for free Horse Racing Picks on all races including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

1 Bodemeister
2 Gemologist
3 Take Charge Indy
4 Creative Cause
5 Hansen