The West Coast spur of the road to the Kentucky Derby reaches its exciting end Saturday, April 6 with the Santa Anita Derby (G1)! One of the most eagerly anticipated horse racing betting events of the spring, it features eight of the best three-year-olds in this year’s crop going 1 ⅛ miles on dirt for a $750,000 purse and 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby points.
Do note that the points go to eligible horses, and Bob Baffert is not eligible for points. However, his horses can win money and they may be preparing for other spots like the Preakness, Belmont, or major summer races. So, expect every horse in the field to be fighting for it whether or not the Derby is the major goal!
The Santa Anita Derby is, historically speaking, one of the most important prep races for the Kentucky Derby. Ten horses have done the Santa Anita Derby-Kentucky Derby double, including Triple Crown winners Justify (2018) and Affirmed (1978). California Chrome (2014) and I’ll Have Another (2012) are other recent stars to have won both of these races.
Read on to find out the leading contenders for the Santa Anita Derby and to find out the best places to bet the Santa Anita Derby online.
It used to be that you had to go to the track or to the casino in Las Vegas to enjoy the best betting experiences. But, thanks to the internet, you can now get real Las Vegas excitement and odds from your phone, tablet or computer! Sign up with one of our recommended sportsbooks, and you can bet the Santa Anita Derby and races all year long from anywhere.
There are many choices for online betting sites, but our experts can help you make the the most profitable choice quickly and easily. Our reviews cover the best online betting sites: choices that will all provide you real Vegas odds, trusted money management, and smooth user interfaces.
Our expert insight also helps you find the site with the best betting bonuses for how you like to play. Each site’s bonuses benefit different bettors, so taking a few minutes now to find out which rebates, deposit bonuses, and referral benefits will pay off the most for how you like to bet can help you build your bankroll by hundreds, or even thousands of dollars!
Here are our top recommended betting sites for the Santa Anita Derby:
This is the official field for the 2024 Santa Anita Derby including draw numbers, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds:
Remember that, if you bet on track, you are not guaranteed to get these morning-line prices. Instead, the prices on track change all the way until post time as the odds are based on final pool totals.
Instead, your best bet is to play the Santa Anita Derby at an online sportsbook. Online sportsbooks let you lock in real Las Vegas odds just by placing a bet on sporting events and major horse races. You can guarantee yourself the best odds at the time you bet, and then just watch the race confident that you know what you’ll get when your horse wins!
 |  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Imagination | +160 | +160 | +160 |
| Stronghold | +250 | +250 | +250 |
| Tapalo | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Mc Vay | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Wynstock | +800 | +800 | +800 |
Now that you have your betting account set up, let’s get to know the top contenders. Keep reading to get to know the best horses in the 2024 Santa Anita Derby.
Imagination will be the favorite and it would be no surprise to see him run to the money. The field he beat in the San Felipe was suspect, but two back he was only a neck beaten by Maymun, a talented stablemate in the Bob Baffert barn who would have been the heavy favorite had Baffert entered him in this spot. With tactical speed and grit against other speed horses, he has the tools to run well.
However, at a better price, the more interesting win bet is Tapalo. He is the only horse in the field who has tried nine furlongs: he ran a good second in the El Camino Real Derby behind Endlessly, who came back to win impressively in the Jeff Ruby (G3). Though that race was on a Tapeta surface, he is a winner on Santa Anita dirt as well. He has both the early gas and the tactical gear to be an interesting spoiler.
Stronghold emerged as an underneath type in Southern California last autumn, running second in both the Bob Hope (G3) and the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). He beat lesser foes in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) last out, a race that gives him something to build on against these foes. With a reliable stalking gear and a consistent ability to find the frame, expect another underneath piece.
Wynstock, the other Baffert runner, has upside on a switch back to a fast track. He ran poorly over the mud in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn last out, but ran well in his pair of two-turn tries over fast dirt in southern California last year. He is fast enough to get the lead, and though there will be better horses trying to chase him down, he could keep on for a piece.
You’ve created your betting account and gotten to know the field. So, it’s time to place your wagers! These are the best bets for the 2024 Santa Anita Derby!
