2024 Kentucky Derby Prep Races this March
The Must-See Races this Month
It’s an action-packed month for horse racing bettors as we head towards the Kentucky Derby in May.
There are many 2024 Kentucky Derby prep races for March, including two big ones at the end of the month.
It gives bettors a look at the best early hopes for the Churchill Downs feature.
Finding Early Value
Horse racing betting lines for the 2024 Kentucky Derby are open, so it’s important to look at the early prep races.
The next of the 2024 Kentucky Derby prep races is the Tampa Bay Derby this Saturday. Some of the more promising types are expected to line up, and there are 50 points awarded to the winner.
A win in the Tampa Bay Derby all but secures a place in the Derby field, and past winners of the $400,000 race include Tapit Trice, Tacitus, Street Sense, and Verrazano.
Champion trainer Todd Pletcher owns six wins in the race, including 2023 winner Tapit Trice, who would subsequently win the Blue Grass Stakes before finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby.
It’s not always the best Derby form guide, but it’s an important race on the calendar, so keep an eye on betting markets.
Louisiana Derby and Jeff Ruby Steaks
Held on the same day in March (23rd), the Louisiana Derby and Jeff Ruby Steaks are massive 2024 Kentucky Derby prep races.
It pays to look at the horse racing results from these races, in particular, the $1 million Louisiana Derby held at Fair Grounds.
The race has unearthed many top-quality thoroughbreds, including 2022 winner Epicenter, 2021 winner Hot Rod Charlie, and 2016 winner Gun Runner.
Once again, Pletcher has dominated the race with five wins, so he’s a trainer to watch out for when odds are released.
We often feature a Pletcher-trained runner in our horse racing picks for the Derby, so we can’t see 2024 being any different.
The Jeff Ruby Steaks—yes, that’s spelled correctly—is another prep race worth 100 points to the winner. Past winners include Two Phil’s and Tiz the Bomb, so it can be a solid form guide.
However, on March 23, the Louisiana Derby is the better of the two races to follow.
End the Month with a Bang
The Arkansas Derby and Florida Derby are arguably two of the most important 2024 Kentucky Derby prep races on the calendar.
They have spawned a plethora of Derby performers, and the favorite is likely to come through either of these races.
Recent winners of the Arkansas Derby include Angel of Empire, Cyberknife, Omaha Beach, American Pharoah, and Bodemeister.
It’s a long list of past champion winners and includes fan favorites, Smarty Jones and Curlin.
We expect the winner of the Arkansas Derby to be well-positioned with Kentucky Derby betting markets. It’s a hot race to win, and the winner is guaranteed a spot in the field at Churchill Downs.
Equally as important is the Florida Derby, which is run for $1 million on the same day.
Past winners include Forte, White Abarrio, Tiz the Law, Maximum Security, and Nyquist. Some of the best thoroughbreds in American history have won the Florida Derby, so all eyes are on the Gulfstream Park feature.
Once again, Pletcher is the winningest trainer with seven wins. John Velazquez owns five wins as a jockey, so they’re worth following at the end of the month.
Fun fact: Williamstown Kid was the longest-priced winner in 1966 when paying 91-1, and the shortest-priced winners came in 1976 and 1979 respectively when Honest Pleasure and Spectacular Bid won paying 1/20.
For Horse Racing odds analysis, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
