LosPonies Picks: Betting the Santa Anita Derby

America’s Best Racing's Brand Ambassador Jose Contreras analyzes the 2014 Santa Anita Derby and outlines a betting strategy for the Grade 1 prep race for the Kentucky Derby.
The 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby will be held on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
My pick: #5 California Chrome. I think he's much better than this group. He's versatile. He's shown he can win on the lead or from mid-pack and is coming into this race in great shape.
My bets on a $20 budget:
$4 exacta: 5 with 6,7 (total $8)
$1 trifecta: 5 with 1,6,7 with 1,2,3,6,7 (total $12)
$1-million Santa Anita Derby
Saturday, Santa Anita Park, Race 8, 6:30 p.m. ET
1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds
Television: NBC Sports Network – 5:30 p.m. ET

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Morning Line

1

Rprettyboyfloyd

Rafael Bejarano

Denise E. Breuer

20-to-1

2

Friendswith K Mill

Tyler Baze

Doug F. O'Neill

20-to-1

3

Hoppertunity

Mike E. Smith

Bob Baffert

3-to-1

4

Big Tire

Edwin A. Maldonado

Mark Glatt

20-to-1

5

California Chrome

Victor Espinoza

Art Sherman

6-to-5

6

Candy Boy

Gary L. Stevens

John W. Sadler

9-to-5

7

Schoolofhardrocks

Joseph Talamo

David E. Hofmans

10-to-1

8

Dublin Up

Kent J. Desormeaux

Peter Miller

30-to-1