Hence is coming into the Kentucky Derby (G1) off a victory in the Sunland Derby (G3) at Sunland Park, not one of the traditional Derby prep races.
However, the race did produce Mine That Bird, who posted a huge upset at 50-1 in the Run for the Roses in 2009, and in 2015 Firing Line won the Sunland Derby and came back to finish in the runner-up spot in the Kentucky Derby.
The colt is listed at 22-1 in early Kentucky Derby wagering at Sportsbook.
The colt took four tries to break his maiden, getting the job done in January at Oaklawn Park in the slop. He then went to the Rebel Stakes (G2) where he was an outsider at 23-1 and ran like one, checking in seventh and beaten 13 lengths.
The colt was sent off at 11-1 in the Sunland Derby and after getting outrun early came with a strong late rally to win by 3 3/4 lengths.
That effort now looks better as the runner-up Conquest Mo Money came back to run second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in his next outing and fourth-place finisher Irap came back to win the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland in his next outing.
The 97 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in his Sunland Derby victory stacks up well with the major players in the race.
The colt is by Street Boss out of the A.P. Indy mare Floating Island. A.P. Indy had to scratch out of the Kentucky Derby as the second choice on the morning line with a bone bruise but went on to win the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in 1992 and have a very influential stud career.
Steve Asmussen is a Hall of Fame trainer but is still looking for his first Kentucky Derby win. He has started 15 runners, with the best finish a second by Nehro in 2011.
This colt is flying under the radar and is worth including in exotic tickets if he goes off near his current odds of 22-1.
- Race record: 6-2-1-1
- Career earnings: $462,601
- Sportsbook Odds: 22-1
- Last race: Won Sunland Derby (G2) at Sunland Park
Replay
Handicapper Michael Dempsey will be covering the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown for OddsShark and his full card reports with selections, analysis, fair odds line and wagering recommendations for major tracks can be found daily at turfnsport.com.
Click here for a full odds breakdown and preview of the Kentucky Derby.
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