Betting Kentucky Derby Prep Races: Top Graded Races to Watch This Weekend

With the Kentucky Derby fast approaching, now is the perfect time to get ahead of the action by betting Kentucky Derby prep races. This weekend’s top graded stakes, including the Ashland Stakes, Wood Memorial, Bluegrass Stakes, and Santa Anita Derby, will help shape the Derby field while offering prime wagering opportunities.

Check out the top stakes thoroughbred races of the week so that when horse racing odds land, you’re ready to handicap the races.

Betting Kentucky Derby Prep Races for the Top Graded Races this Weekend
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Keeneland Race Park – Aqueduct Race Track – Santa Anita Park

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The most important weekend for Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby preps has arrived.

On Friday, famed Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky has the Grade 1 Ashland for fillies looking to march into the Oaks field.

Then on Saturday, Aqueduct runs the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, New York’s top three year old prep and Keeneland runs the Grade 1 Bluegrass for three year olds hoping to land enough points for a start in the Run for the Roses.

The day ends with the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby for three year olds colts at the Great Race Place in Arcadia, California.

Check out all the info you require to be ready to handicap once racing forms land and morning line horse racing odds set for this weekend’s top graded stakes.

Writer’s Picks on the Top Thoroughbred Stakes Races Happening this Weekend

Grade 1 Ashland Stakes

1 1/16 miles dirt – 3 year old fillies
Friday, April 5th, 2025
Keeneland Race Park

Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Five G is the likely chalk.

The George Weaver trained miss improved big time in the GP Oaks and should be difficult depending on her post.

Don’t discount Muhimma, though.

The nation’s top rated filly ran a respectable third in the Honeybee in her last.

Muhimma could bounce back big time in this.

Her connections, Godolphin owns and Brad Cox trains, don’t get any better.

Other contenders include La Cara from the Mark Casse barn, Supa Speed trained by John Sadler, and Running Away, the Busanda Stakes winner.

All three will have to step it up to challenge Five G or Muhimma for the win money.

Bet Grade 1 Ashland Stakes: Keeneland Race Park

Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes

1 1/8 miles dirt – 3 year olds
Saturday, April 6th, 2025
Aqueduct Race Track

The Wood Memorial used to be a Grade 1.

It’s now a Grade 2 primarily because Kentucky Derby preps like the Arkansas, Florida, and Santa Anita derbies attract the big name owners and trainers.

This year, there’s an intriguing under the radar Triple Crown prospect in Todd Pletcher’s Grande.

Pletcher doesn’t have a star three year old in his barn.

Grande might be the one.

The last out allowance winner doesn’t face a typically strong Derby prep field.

Handicap Grande and keep an eye on the odds movement.

Bob Baffert hopes to get enough points for Rodriguez to start on the First Saturday in May.

Although it could be difficult given that Rodriguez must ship to New York, don’t look past Baffert to quality another horse for the Roses.

Garamond finished third in the Grade 3 Gotham.

If Chad Brown has him right, the Uncle Mo sired colt campaigned by Juddmonte could get it done.

The horse to really consider putting on top is Captain Cook.

Richard Dutrow is a master at getting any horse in any race ready to win.

The Captain won the Withers in the last and is eligible to improve.

Bet Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes: Aqueduct Race Track

Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes

1 mile turf – 3 year old fillies
Saturday, April 6th, 2025
Keeneland Race Park

It’s going to be tough to beat Mark Casse.

MC has a seriously strong hand heading into the Appalachian.

The top two choices both run for Casse, Grade 3 Florida Oaks winner Nitrogen and the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride’s top finisher, Vixen.

Brendan Walsh’s Lush Lips finished second to Nitrogen in the FL Oaks.

Consider if you believe she turns the tables on her rival.

The rest will have to work hard to keep up.

Still, don’t leave Saffie Joseph trained Ramsey Pond out of the exotics.

The Herecomesthebride run was a disaster.

But Saffie wouldn’t have her in this if he didn’t believe she could bounce back with a top effort.

Always include the Saffie horse if you can.

Doesn’t matter the race.

He doesn’t run them unless he thinks he can win.

Bet Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes: Keeneland Race Park

Grade 1 Madison Stakes

7 furlongs dirt – 4 year old fillies and up
Saturday, April 6th, 2025
Keeneland Race Park

So far only six will go in the Grade 1 Madison.

No worries.

The race should be one of the most competitive and exciting of the year.

Why? Because of the six, three rank in the top five of the best filly and mare sprinters in the country.

The likely chalk is Scylla from the Bill Mott barn.

Scylla finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last November.

She’s a serious contender to take home top honors and is a must use.

So are the other two monster sprinters in this: Emery and Mystic Lake.

Emery finished second in the Grade 2 Inside Information behind Mystic Lake.

Saffie Joseph Jr. trains Mystic Lake.

Brad Cox trains Emery.

So we’ve got a Mott, a Cox, and a Saffie runner in the Grade 1 Madison.

If only those three ran, the race would still be worth betting and watching. 

Bet Grade 1 Madison Stakes: Keeneland Race Park

Grade 1 Bluegrass Stakes

1 1/8 miles dirt – 3 year olds
Saturday, April 6th, 2025
Keeneland Race Park

Keeneland’s top race this weekend is the Grade 1 Bluegrass for 3 year olds.

No fillies will run in this year’s Bluegrass, they rarely do, which means the colts will determine who gets the nods for a Kentucky Derby starting spot and which sophomores will have to wait for the Preakness Stakes.

River Thames, Todd Pletcher’s highest rated three year old, failed to hold off Sovereignty in the Fountain Of Youth in the last.

Todd hopes he’s taught River Thames how to rate because it’s doubtful RT can win this on the lead.

Heading into the winter, Chad Brown trained Chancer McPatrick was one of the top rated three yar olds but a second place finish in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby has many thinking Chancer is overrated.

Brown is hoping for a last ditch effort to get into the Derby field.

Own Almighty could parlay a TB Derby victory into a Bluegrass win.

The Brian Lynch trained colt has some talent for sure.

One runner to keep an eye on is Render Judgement.

Kenny McPeek ran his three year old in the Virginia Derby and it ran second.

McPeek can get them to improve big time race to race.

Bet Grade 1 Bluegrass Stakes: Keeneland Race Park

Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby

1 1/18 miles dirt – 3 year olds
Saturday, April 6th, 2025
Santa Anita Park

This year’s Santa Anita Derby is a battle between three of the best trainers in the nation.

Bob Baffert saddles Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull, the likely chalk, and Barnes, the second place finisher in the Grade 2 San Felipe.

Mike McCarthy goes with Journalism, one of the future book favorites to win the Kentucky Derby, and Bullard, a fast rising son of Gun Runner.

John Shirreffs is the wild card.

Shirreffs has a couple of last out maiden runners in this years SA Derby.

Baeza broke the maiden in the last.

Westwood finished second in it’s maiden race.

If either upsets, the payout should be tremendous.

If Journalism or Citizen Bull wins, expect the victor to go off the favorite in the Kentucky Derby.

The Santa Anita Derby isn’t a large field but the talent is breathtaking.

So handicap and look for a price.

Bet Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby: Santa Anita Park

Horse Racing in April this Weekend | Bet the Horses MyBookie Live Horse Racing Odds

Betting Kentucky Derby Prep Races with MyBookie’s Live Horse Racing Odds in April

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