How to bet the Oklahoma Derby

A well-matched field of eight sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles over the Remington Park dirt in Sunday evening’s $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3). #5 Publisher (7-2), one of two in the group for conditioner Steve Asmussen, is one of the more accomplished maidens in training and will break through with his first score in his local debut. By American Pharoah, the $600,000 yearling purchase has faced some top competition this season, with his best result coming in a runner-up performance in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. 

Oklahoma Derby Wagers

• $20 win #5 Publisher ($20)
• $8 exacta box 4-5 ($16)
• $.50-cent trifecta 4,5 with 4,5,8 with all ($12)

Publisher was sent to the sidelines following an unplaced effort in the Run for the Roses and reappeared in the Indiana Derby on July 5, where the colt checked in fourth without an ideal trip against a very good field. He has produced a handful of morning works in preparation for Sunday and figures to receive a good pace set up in a contest where the tempo should be honest and contested. Erik Asmussen inherits the mount. 

Grade-1 placed stakes winner #4 Bracket Buster (4-1) has not been ultra-consistent to this stage of his development for trainer Victoria Oliver, but the Vekoma colt has a lot of talent and wouldn’t be a big surprise in this spot. The $125,000 yearling purchase was last seen coming home second behind Sovereignty in the Travers S. (G1). That effort was flattered further when Magnitude, who was another 10 3/4 lengths back in third at Saratoga, came back to finish a very good second in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) last weekend. Bracket Buster is the quickest horse in the group and will be the one to reel in turning for home with Luis Saez in the silks. 

Rebel S. (G2) victor #8 Coal Battle (2-1) has been a very good performer since moving to the dirt in November for Lonnie Briley. The hard-trying son of Coal Front has a positive local experience as he bagged the Springboard Mile S. on the course in December, and the colt comes in fresh after a well-deserved break following his runner-up try in the Indiana Derby. I don’t love him at this distance, but he is too good to ignore, nonetheless, with Corey Lanerie retaining the ride.