by Renee Israel
At odds of 14/1 Alpha is not at all a bad bet for the 2012 Kentucky
Derby to be run at the Churchill Downs racetrack at Louisville
tomorrow, 5th May. Alpha has definitely shown the potential to win a big race,
though on more than one occasion his performance has belied that potential. And
punters should keep in mind that historically the Kentucky Derby has been a
graveyard of the favourites with very few of them winning the garland of roses
in the 137 year history of the race.
Alpha has an excellent pedigree. He is sired by Bernardini, who was the
winner of the Preakness Stakes and second in the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2005.
What his perhaps more important is that his dam, Munnaya, was sired by Nijinsky
II, a British Triple Crown champion. Later Nijinsky II became one of the top
sires in Europe and America and his crop has done well. Alpha's trainer is
Kiaran McLaughlin, who has worked under D. Wayne Lukas and after 2006 has
enjoyed independent success. The jockey is Rajiv Maragh from Jamaica and Alpha
is owned by Godolphin, the global operation that belongs to Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, prime minister and ruler of Dubai. None from the trainer,
jockey and owner have won the Kentucky Derby before and are giving it everything
that they have got.
Alpha's career record of 6-3-2-0 is not top class, but above par for the
course. What is encouraging is that in 2012 Alpha has won two of the three races
run and has come second in the third. In the Wood Memorial on April 7 he
finished neck-to-neck second after suffering a trip. That trip led to a cut that
became infectious and Alpha is still on medication. But trainer McLaughlin is
not worried. He said that the colt has not missed any significant training time
and has been performing well in the work outs. "I couldn't be happier where we
are today with him," McLaughlin added.
Bet365 Online Odds for the Kentucky Derby
Because British punters like to wager on the Kentucky Derby, all UK white
listed online betting sites cover the event. One of the more popular ones is
Bet365 online. The odds for all the starters for the Kentucky Derby at Bet365
online are as follows.
Bodemeister 4/1
Union Rags 5/1
Dullahan 15/2
Gemologist 8/1
Creative Cause 12/1
Ill Have Another 12/1
Take Charge Indy 14/1
Alpha 14/1
Daddy Nose Best 14/1
Hansen 14/1
Daddy Long Legs 18/1
El Padrino 20/1
Went That Day Well 25/1
Sabercat 33/1
Optimizer 33/1
Done Talking 33/1
Liaison 40/1
Prospective 40/1
Trinniberg 40/1
Rousing Sermon 50/1
