The winner of the Florida Derby on the weekend was Tiz The Law. That was an important race to note as the Florida Derby, hosted at Gulfstream is one of the big primers for the Kentucky Derby.
It is really seen as the springboard for the Kentucky Derby, really because since 2005 it has been the last prep race.
The numbers stack up for the Florida Derby and its importance going forward to the Kentucky Derby.
The Florida Derby has produced 24 Kentucky Derby winners.
Kentucky Derby moved
Because, as with most major sporting events, the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak has been so immense, the 2020 Kentucky Derby has been moved.
It will now be hosted on September 5th, 2020 which could still end up only being a temporary date.
But that leads to a fascinating question ahead of Kentucky Derby 2020 betting. Was the Florida Derby any use this year as guide form for the Derby?
There is usually only a five-week break between the Gulfstream action and the Kentucky Derby. Horses are therefore able to be trained to peak at the top form to move between the big fixtures.
As it stands in 2020 the gap is not five weeks, its five months. So that raises a whole new world of uncertainty over the 2020 Kentucky Derby betting market.
Tiz The Law
Tiz The Law proved once again that he is one of the best young thoroughbreds around. He of course now has raised his stock following his Florida Derby win on Saturday.
He was subsequently moved to the head of the Kentucky Derby 2020 betting market at a quote of 5/1* (betting odds taken from Ladbrokes at 07:28 GMT on Sunday 29th March 2020).
Tiz The Law streaked away in front of the empty stands at Gulfstream on Saturday, collecting 100 points in the standings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. That win gives him enough to take part.
Not even owners were allowed at the course on Saturday. Second-placed Shivaree, who outran 80/1 odds will probably be going to the Derby as well. Ete Indien, the promoting Fountain of Youth winner, took third.
Questions of form and readiness
But will Tiz The Law have peaked too soon in getting the job done at Gulfstream? Betting markets are of course reactionary. His win in Florida leaves Tiz The Law in great standing in the eyes of punters.
But come later in the year it is going to be hard to see who among the youngsters will indeed be ready to stay the distance in Kentucky at Churchill Downs.
There is of course the other side to all of that.
Five months is a long time. That gives a yawning amount of time for any horse to come into form, who isn’t already there. So this year’s Kentucky Derby, if it goes ahead in the autumn, is going to be an even more intriguing affair.
Next Kentucky Derby Prep
Attention will next turn to the Arkansas Derby, the next scheduled Kentucky Derby prep race. That is pencilled in for May 2nd, 2020.
The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the Blue Grass at Keeneland, the Santa Anita Derby and the Lexington at Keeneland, all of which should have been run before the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, have all been put on hold.
Kentucky Derby 2020 Odds
Tiz The Law 5/1
Charlatan 6/1
Authentic 7/1
Nadal 10/1
Maxfield 16/1
Mischievous Alex 16/1
Ete Indien 20/1
Honor AP 20/1
Azul Coast 25/1
Gouverneur Morris 25/1
High Velocity 25/1
King Guillermo 25/1
Max Player 25/1
Structor 25/1
Three Technique 25/1
Wells Bayou 25/1
Bar 33/1
* (betting odds taken from Ladbrokes at 08:08 GMT on Sunday, 29th March 2020)
Triple Crown Troubles
For another unknown element in Kentucky 2020 Betting, there is the current climate with racing tracks around the USA having been shut down.
Just over the weekend, Santa Anita in California had to shut its doors because of not being an essential operation.
Keeneland has already scrapped its annual spring meeting while Churchill Downs (home of the Kentucky Derby) is out of commission at least until mid-April, and that’s likely to get extended.
The second leg of the Triple Crown, The Preakness Stakes is under threat. The race is hosted at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland on the third Saturday in May. It is scheduled to run only three weeks after the original date of the Kentucky Derby. As it stands all Maryland courses are closed indefinitely.
The Belmont Stakes in New York is due to be hosted in early June. Organisers seem confident enough that the race is going to be run, but admitted that the date may change. New York track Aqueduct was recently shut after a worker there had tested positive for the coronavirus.
