Kentucky Derby 2023 Betting: Improving Mage is ready for the big time
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A field of eight – including some names many racing fans will be familiar with – is set to contest the King Cotton Stakes January 30 at Oaklawn Park in six furlong sprint that presents a challenging handicapping puzzle.
Ivan Fallunovalot (5/2) is an Oaklawn Park specialist with four wins in six career starts in addition to two second-place finishes. The TW Howard trainee has delivered some freakish performances over the Hot Springs, Arkansas strip, including multiple triple digit Beyer Speed figures - one of which came while winning last year's edition of the King Cotton Stakes. The six year-old gelding has not raced since finishing ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint October 31 at Keeneland, but returns to his favorite track and has been training like a beast, including a four furlong in 45.04 seconds - the fastest of ten works at the distance - January 23 at Oaklawn. Howard connects at a 20% clip with runners returning from 61-180 day layoffs in a limited sample size.
Old pro needs form reversal
Alsvid (4/1) is not the runner he once was and would need a return to his previous form to be considered a major contender in this race. That said, the veteran runner has also shown an affinity for the Oaklwan Park surface and worked sharply before finishing third January 15 in a $50,000 optional claimer. The Chris Hartman trainee could improve while making his second start off the layoff. Alsvidwill try to snap a six-race losing streak.
Gentleman's Bet another horse for course
Gentleman's Bet (6/1) is yet another horse very comfortable at Oaklwan Park. The Ron Moquett trainee has won 3 of 6 over the local strip and is set to make his first start since finishing a close second in the DeFrancis Dash November 14 at Laurel Park. Moquett connects at a 14% with runners returning from this kind of layoff.
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