How to make money with Game Winner in the 2019 Kentucky Derby

May 02, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

The scratch of morning-line favorite Omaha Beach leaves two-year-old champion Game Winner (#16) (9-2) as the inherited favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Bob Baffert trainee has been a model of excellence to this point, and he would be a fitting winner of the storied race.

On six straight occasions, the favorite at post time has come out victorious in the Run for the Roses. Even with the chalk coming through in recent years, there is plenty of money to be made, and we saw hefty returns two years ago. Always Dreaming wore the Garland of Roses in 2017 as the 9-2 favorite and spearheaded sizable exotics of — $336.20 ($1 exacta), $8,297.20 ($1 trifecta) and $75,974.50 ($1 superfecta).

Playing Game Winner in the Win/Place/Show pools could yield solid returns in this competitive field. But in a year where there is little separation between the contenders, vertical wagers are likely to be quite healthy once again. Finding a few runners to key along with Game Winner is a wise plan of attack.

Multiple graded winner War of Will (#1) (15-1) was assigned the dreaded rail post, but he has the ability to overcome it. The War Front colt was a stylish maiden winner on the Churchill Downs main track in November, when he rolled to a five-length victory on a sloppy, sealed surface. The Mark Casse pupil might lead this field for a long time if he breaks well. He enters the Kentucky Derby training as well as any in the field.

Baffert’s Improbable (#5) (5-1) finished an excellent second to Omaha Beach in the Arkansas Derby (G1) over a sloppy, sealed Oaklawn Park strip. The City Zip colt is all class and rolled home a facile stakes winner in his lone try beneath the Twin Spires. The chestnut has never finished worse than second from five starts and rates a big chance with a step forward in his third race off a layoff. I like his chances to be in range throughout the race.

Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) victor Tacitus (#8) (8-1) was victorious on a good surface at Aqueduct to break his maiden last season and comes into the Derby as a logical contender for conditioner Bill Mott. The gray son of top sire Tapit has overcome adversity in both of his wins this season and has looked the part during morning training at Churchill Downs. He also has a very favorable wet-track pedigree.

SUGGESTED TICKET STRUCTURES

Exacta Key Box

Game Winner with Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will

Trifecta Part-Wheel

Game Winner with Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will with ALL

Game Winner with ALL with Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will

Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will with Game Winner with ALL

Superfecta Part-Wheel

Game Winner with Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will with Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will with ALL

Game Winner with Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will with ALL with Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will

Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will with Game Winner with Improbable, Tacitus, War of Will with ALL

Good Luck!