How to Make Money Betting California Chrome in the Pennsylvania Derby

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome surveys the track at Parx Racing. The colt makes his first start since the Belmont in Saturday's Pennsylvania Derby. (Photos by Equiphoto)
For the first time in the history of the Pennsylvania Derby, the race attracted the Kentucky Derby winner to Philadelphia. California Chrome came within two lengths of the Triple Crown and now arrives at Parx Racing for his first start since the Belmont Stakes.
California Chrome has been away for 103 days. Is he the same? Has he improved? Will he be in top shape?
I do think California Chrome will fire a big effort off the layoff. Horse racing is a game of what have you done for me lately, and I have a feeling many people are forgetting the dominant performances that he showed earlier in the year. He was a debut winner so that makes you think he should have no problem with the layoff, and his set of workouts has been steady up to this point. From what I’ve seen while watching him train, I think he’s bigger and stronger. He definitely needs an alert break from the inside post to establish a good position early in the race.
Here are the horses I consider the main contenders in order of preference:
Bayern: There is not a lot of speed in here and he will be dangerous if he gets away with a comfortable pace. California Chrome soundly defeated him in the Preakness, but he looks to be a new horse since then with victories in the Woody Stephens and Haskell Invitational Stakes. His Travers Stakes effort was disappointing but you can never leave out a horse with this kind of speed.
BAYERN WINS THE 2014 HASKELL

Protonico: He’s improving at the right time. I believe that having racing experience on a track is a good advantage, and he comes off a graded stakes win at Parx. He was able to overcome traffic trouble to come away with the victory. He’s also got a good pedigree.
Tapiture: He’s another one that was easily defeated by California Chrome in the Kentucky Derby when he had a troubled trip. He rebounded with a pair of wins since the run for the roses, including a nose win in the West Virginia Derby over fellow Pennsylvania Derby contender Candy Boy. In my opinion, the West Virginia Derby was a two-horse race and he did what he was expected to do.
Candy Boy: He tried to take on California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby to no avail. His best efforts seem to be when he chases from the middle of the pack. He’s got a pair of solid seconds in his last couple of starts and has finished in the top four in nine of his 10 starts.
How do we make money betting California Chrome?
Even though he is even money on the morning line, I think we are going to get higher odds at post time because of his layoff and the current form of some of his other foes. I think we might get 8-to-5 odds at post time. If that’s the case, I would bet to win. I think that is more than a fair price on him in this field of eight.
We’re not going to get rich but if you would tell me I could double or almost triple my money by betting California Chrome in an 8-horse field while facing many runners he’s defeated before, I would be pretty happy with my chances.
Also, key him in first and second in exactas and trifectas:
Exacta: 1 with 3,4
Exacta: 3,4 with 1
Trifecta: 1 with 3,4 with 2,3,4,7
Trifecta: 3,4 with 1 with 2,3,4,7
$1-million Pennsylvania DerbySaturday, Parx, Race 12, Post Time 5:40 p.m. ET1 1/8 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds

PP

Horse

Jockey

Wgt

Trainer

M-L Odds

1

California Chrome

Victor Espinoza

124

Art Sherman

1-1

2

Candy Boy

Joel Rosario

122

John Sadler

12-1

3

Protonico

Javier Castellano

122

Todd Pletcher

6-1

4

Bayern

Martin Garcia

124

Bob Baffert

7-2

5

Noble Moon

Irad Ortiz, Jr.

122

Leah Gyarmati

15-1

6

Classic Giacnroll

Kendrick Carmouche

117

Lisa Guerrero

15-1

7

Tapiture

Rosie Napravnik

122

Steve Asmussen

5-1

8

C J's Awesome

Edgar Prado

117

Kenny McPeek

12-1

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