Horse Racing: Pennsylvania Derby Contenders and Odds

Taiba and Cyberknife headline Pennsylvania Derby contenders and odds for the biggest race in the US this weekend.

The $1 million feature at Parx Racing has a field of 11, also including the likes of Zandon, White Abarrio, and Tawny Port.

Cotillion Stakes betting odds are also available for the feature race.

Cyberknife Slicing Opposition

The 3-year-old colt won the Haskell Stakes when beating Taiba and he’s looking to repeat the dose as a leading Pennsylvania Derby hopeful.

His most recent run was a placing in the Travers Stakes behind Epicenter and the son of Gun Runner didn’t lose any admirers.

“Baffert said at the time of the Haskell that he wished he had another week to train Taiba, so he should be set to go Saturday,” said Al Gold, who races Cyberknife under the Gold Square banner.

“Cyberknife has been working well and we needed to do something before the Breeders’ Cup. Hopefully we’ll be ready and we should have a really good matchup again.”

Pennsylvania Derby contenders and odds have Cyberknife on the second line of betting at 3-1, so there is good betting support.

Taiba Favored to Win

Taiba has been best-backed to win the Pennsylvania Derby following a second placing in the Haskell Stakes.

His form prior included a 12th in the Kentucky Derby and consecutive wins at Santa Anita. He won the Santa Anita Derby, but he still has plenty to prove.

Drawing wide should help the colt according to trainer Bob Baffert.

“He likes to be in the clear, so that is good,” Baffert said. “He doesn’t like being on the inside. I would rather be the five or the six, but this will be ok. Cyberknife is a tough horse; they are all good horses in here. Million-dollar races are not easy; they are not supposed to be easy.”

Bettors get favorable odds but we’d prefer to back Cyberknife at the better quote. Taiba should be featuring in the first two home, so we wouldn’t leave him out of selections.

Secret Oath is No Secret

Secret Oath will enjoy not seeing the backside of Nest after being beaten in the American Oaks and Alabama Stakes.

Cotillion Handicap betting odds have Secret Oath well-backed to return to winning form and her form this year has been excellent.

She finished fourth behind Early Voting in the Preakness Stakes, which came against the boys. Early Voting horse odds showed she had little chance to win, but it was still a good effort in defeat.

Her biggest threat in the Cotillion Handicap is Gerrymander, who ran fifth in the Alabama Stakes last start.

The 3-year-old filly didn’t run up to her best, but she’s good enough to turn the tables based on her Mother Goose win at Belmont.

“She seems to be doing fine. I was disappointed she didn’t fire in the Alabama. I liked her going into the race and thought she would do better than that, but she was through midway through the race,” Chad Brown said. “Hopefully, we can draw a line through that one because she seems to be back on track.”

It should be an exciting edition of the Cotillion Stakes and we expect Secret Oath and Gerrymander to fight it out to the finish.