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Five $2 Win Bets to Play on Kentucky Derby and Oaks Days

Apr 30, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Nysos wins the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Kentucky Oaks (G1) day and Kentucky Derby (G1) day at Churchill Downs are perfect opportunities for beginning horseplayers to try their hand at small win bets.

A $10 budget is all you need to place $2 win bets across five of the exciting and competitive stakes races taking place on Friday and Saturday, including the Oaks and the Derby.

Here are five win bets I’m looking forward to betting across the two days:

Kentucky Oaks Day

Race 11: Kentucky Oaks (G1)

Morning-line favorite #11 Good Cheer (6-5) is undefeated in six starts and figures to receive a perfect trip rating off the pace in this speed-packed field. She enters off easy victories in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), a pair of productive steppingstones to the Kentucky Oaks, and a $2 win bet should more than double our investment.

Kentucky Derby Day

Race 8: Churchill Downs (G1)

This seven-furlong dirt dash for older horses has drawn a strong field. We’ll try betting the undefeated #10 Nysos (4-1). He’s won all three of his starts by a minimum of 7 1/2 lengths, including the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and Bob Hope (G3). In the latter race, he defeated future Grade 1 winner Stronghold with ease. Nysos hasn’t run since February 2024, but he’s turned in strong workouts leading up to the Churchill Downs and should be fit for a winning return. With luck, our $2 win bet will return $10 or so.

Race 10: Derby City Distaff (G1)

Fillies and mares will sprint seven furlongs over the Churchill Downs dirt in the Derby City Distaff (G1). #2 Kopion (8-1) is an appealing mid-range longshot. She’s won all four of her sprint starts by a minimum of 2 3/4 lengths, including the La Brea (G1) and Santa Monica (G2). Her 4 1/2-length triumph in the latter race yielded a strong 106 Brisnet Speed rating, suggesting Kopion is a serious threat to win her first start outside of California. If her morning-line odds hold up, a $2 win bet will pay $18.

Race 11: Turf Classic (G1)

#7 Running Bee (5-1) has won half of his 16 starts and has done well over the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Turf Classic (G1), most notably winning the Monmouth (G3) last year. He exits a rallying triumph in the Tampa Bay (G3) and finished a good fourth in the Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland last fall, so on the whole Running Bee’s recent form is encouraging. Trainer Chad Brown has won four of the last six editions of this race, and Running Bee can add a fifth win in seven years. At 5-1, a $2 win bet will return $12.

Race 12: Kentucky Derby (G1)

#8 Journalism (3-1) overcame trouble to win the Santa Anita Derby (G1) with a powerful 108 Brisnet Speed rating. The stoutly bred son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin hasn’t tasted defeated racing one mile or longer and should relish tackling 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Even better, he’s drawn perfectly in post 8, setting the stage for a clean midfield trip behind the early speed horses. Journalism’s 3-1 morning-line odds translate to an $8 payoff on a $2 win bet, which would be fair given his impressive credentials.

Good luck!

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