Road to the Kentucky Derby: Seven Weeks

2012 Online Horse Betting

The road to the 2012 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs is we on its way and with seven weeks to go until the Louisiana and Florida Derby, online horse racing fans are starting to get a good look at who just might be in the mix. Over the next 11 weeks, we will follow Union Rags, Fountain of Youth, Algorithms, Hansen and Could My Adonis who will be racing in the 2012 Road to the Kentucky Derby on NBC.

Santa Anita Derby
The 2012 Santa Anita Derby is set to take place April 7th, 2012 at Santa Anita Park. This Grade 1 Stakes horse race generally draws a strong field of West coast based thoroughbreds however with 6 weeks to go until race day, the field remains wide open. So far we are assuming the I'll Have Another, Fly Lexis Fly and Creative Cause are hoping to race at Santa Anita Park. Bob Baffert also hopes to race Liason who's sire Indian Charlie won the 1998 Santa Anita Derby and then finished 3rd in the 1998 Kentucky Derby. Coming off a win in the Cash Call Futurity in December, Liason will definitely be a horse worth watching this spring.

San Felipe Stakes
March 10th will feature the final Kentucky Derby prep race before the Santa Anita Derby. This grade 2 horse race is worth $300,000 at a length of 1 and 1/16 Miles and could feature Creative Cause. Fresh off a break since finishing 3rd in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, trainer Mike Harrington has high hopes for this Kentucky bred sire of Giant's Causeway. Already this season, Creative Cause has earned $521,000 with multiple graded stakes wins and a 2nd place finish at the Del Mar Futurity behind Drill. (also owned by Baffert)

Steven Asmussen is also likely to send a horse or two to the 2012 San Felipe Stakes. His Kentucky bred sire of Bluegrass Cat by the name of Sabercat is stabled at Santa Anita and coming off a big win at the Delta Jackpot.