With four of the top-5 finishers in the 2015 Kentucky belonging to the class of the five top horse racing betting favorites to win the Derby, it is safe to say that fifth-place finish by Danzig Moon (who entered at a distant 22-to-1 odds to win at Kentucky) was perhaps the biggest surprise of May 2nd. Danzig Moon’s racing was particularly impressive, bearing in mind he took a costly bump earlier in the race while sandwiched between Bolo and Carpe Diem, yet he still kept his feet and blew by his Blue Grass Stakes conqueror Carpe Diem in the final turn to finish fifth behind race winner American Pharoah.
Following that respectable performance, there is an increasing sense of belief that Danzig Moon may even perform better at the Preakness this Saturday. A short preview of what can be expected from Danzig Moon over the weekend is detailed below.
Taking a Look at the 2015 Preakness Horse Racing Betting Odds on Danzig Moon
2014 Preakness Starter, Kid Cruz, Set for Local Return in $300,000 Pimlico Special May 15 http://t.co/cE28a2LrO7 pic.twitter.com/UNaBk6tRE6
— Pimlico (@PimlicoRC) May 5, 2015
Background Profile of Danzig Moon and Horse Betting Odds
Owner: John C. Oxley
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Breeder: William D. Graham
Odds to Win the 2015 Preakness Stakes: 15-1
Major Win(s): 1st-place finish in the one-mile MSW on February 2015
Other Noteworthy Finishes: 2nd-place finish at Blue Grass Stakes-G1 on April 2015, 2nd-place at MSW on October 2014.
Entering the Pimlico Racetrack with a mean attitude and a “bad boy” swagger enough to scare even the toughest of opponents, the bay son of Malibu Moon (who is the sire of 2013 Kentucky Derby Winner Orb) is not only a worthy horse to bet on at the Preakness, but also one to keep an eye on if you are seeking entertainment.
Though he only has a maiden win in six starts, Danzig Moon’s trainer Mark Casse and his Norman Casse (who also helps with the training) are confident that, following the strong racehorse attributes shown by the three-year-old colt at the Derby, bigger achievements could be in the offing for him this Saturday.
Reason Why Danzig Moon Can Win the Preakness Stakes 2015
If the up-ticking trend by Danzig Moon is anything to go by, then the American Pharoah and Co. could be in for a rude shock on Saturday. After his maiden win at Gulfstream Park in February, Danzig Moon placed in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in April, followed by a strong run in the top-heavy 18-horse field at the 2015 Kentucky Derby.
The improvement hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Norman Casse saying, “He came out of the Derby really well and deserves one more chance” and his father also adding, “I think he’s continuing to improve. We’re hoping he improves again from the Derby to the Preakness.”
In addition, Danzig Moon gets a No. 4 post at the Preakness, which should be able to work to his advantage, as the inside posts (drawn by American Pharoah, Dortmund and Mr. Z) can be problematic with large fields, mainly because the horses are often steered towards the rail after the break. In addition, starting to run from the inside posts can be impeded by outsiders trying to come on the inside lanes.
Winning X-factors
Mark Casse is a seven-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s top trainer (2006-2008, 2011-2014). In his career, Casse has won more than $95 million in purse earnings and 1,800 races. He also claimed the Eclipse Award in 2009, winning $18,560,565 in purses and 247 of 1,284 races.
In 2006, Leparoux led all jockeys with $12,491,316 in purses and 403 wins, both records for “bug” riders, which earned him the Eclipse Award as top apprentice. The best performance for Leparoux in the Preakness was a second-place finish with Macho Again in 2008.
Final Betting Remarks
With just one win in his career, it’s not going to be easy for Danzig Moon to get the win in a field with high-caliber horses and great winning records. Still, we’ve seen many unexpected wins in the Preakness Stakes betting lines, so it wouldn’t be far-fetched for Danzig Moon to be the horse to surprise us with a win, going by his surging talent.
