Winter may have its ups and downs weather-wise, but February and March can be the best time of the year for horseplayers as three year olds battle in stakes races most every weekend hoping to secure one of 20 spots in the starting gate on Kentucky Derby Day! The “Run For The Roses” is Saturday May 5th at Churchill Downs but the race to the gate begins on Saturday February 3rd.
Wagering on several Derby preps that day will be available at all 3 Virginia Bets OTBs — at Ponies & Pints and Breakers Sports Grille in Richmond, and at Buckets Bar & Grill in Chesapeake. Advance betting on Gulfstream’s entire Saturday card will be available all day and evening on Friday. Virginia residents can also bet via four on line partner companies — TVG.com, Xpressbet.com, Twinspires.com and NYRABets.com.
*3 Kentucky Derby Prep Races — 10 Graded Stakes Races
DERBY PREP AT GULFSTREAM – $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (Gr. 2), plus:
*$200,000 Swale Stakes (Gr. 3)
*$200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (Gr. 3)
*$100,000 Dania Beach Stakes (Gr. 3)
*$100,000 Sweet Chant Stakes (Gr. 3)
DERBY PREP AT SANTA ANITA – $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (Gr. 3) Stakes, plus:
*$200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (Gr. 2)
*$200,000 San Marcos Stakes (Gr. 2)
*$200,000 San Pasqual Stakes (Gr. 2)
DERBY PREP AT AQUEDUCT – $250,000 Withers Stakes (Gr. 3)
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Derby Preps Up Next on Saturday Feb. 10
*$250,000 Sam Davis Stakes (Gr. 3) at Tampa Bay Downs
*$200,000 San Vincente Stakes (Gr. 2) at Santa Anita
*Kentucky Derby Future Wager
