Kentucky Derby 2023 Betting: Improving Mage is ready for the big time
Read this articleSaham Headlines Competitive Group in $150,000 Hawthorne Derby
On Saturday at Hawthorne Park, the featured race is the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby. Restricted to three-year-olds, the Grade 3 event will be contested will be run at a mile and an eighth on the turf and has drawn a full field of twelve.
Saham tops the wide open field as the morning line favorite at odds of 4-1 for trainer Brendan Walsh. A dark bay son of Lemon Drop Kid, he has been on the board in six of his ten starts and is a three-time winner. He earned his first graded stakes victory last time out in the Jefferson Cup Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. He will have jockey Joe Rocco, Jr. in the irons as he tries to go for his second straight stakes win and they will break from post position eight.
Nucifera trying for first black type victory
Second choice at 9-2 on the morning line is Nucifera for trainer Graham Motion. Bred and owned by Flaxman Holdings, the bay colt is a son of More Than Ready and has won three of his seven career starts. He is trying to earn his first stakes victory and was third in the Better Talk Now Stakes in his stateside debut after beginning his career in France. Alex Cintron will be aboard and they will break from post position nine.
Syntax (IRE) attempting to return to form
Also in the field at morning line odds of 8-1 is Syntax (IRE), one of two horses in the race for trainer Bill Mott. A chestnut son of Haatef, he has been on the board in seven of his eleven starts and has three victories. He won the Kent Stakes (G3) at Delaware Park over the summer and is trying to return to form after finishing sixth in the Jefferson Cup Stakes (G3). Christopher Emigh will be aboard and they will break from post position seven.
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