Pennsylvania Derby 2023 will be held at Bensalem, PA, just 15 miles from Philadelphia off I-95. It will be held on September 23, 2023 as a Grade 2 race on a 1 1/8 mile track at Parx Racing.
The field of entrants is 11 horses and should be a competitive affair. Let’s look at each horse and then make our picks and predictions.
Pennsylvania Derby Entries
Modern Era- this horse is 50-1 odds to win and after eight races this horse is still a maiden. The best finish is third in a race at Parx. The son of Honor Code is trained by Uriah St. Lewis. This horse is at the inside but will fade quickly and shows little chance to finish in the money.
Dreamlike- is the son of Gun Runner and is trained by Todd Pletcher. Opening odds finds this horse with 10-1 odds to win the Pennsylvania Derby. Broke his maiden at Saratoga at 1 1/8 mile. Look for a slight chance to get into the money.
Saudi Crown- won his first two races in a Keeneland maiden and then an allowance at Churchill Downs in May and then lost by a nose a the Grade 3 Dwyer. He is 7-2 odds to win and is trained by Brad Cox.This horse has a chance to win this Pennsylvania Derby.
Magic Tap- is the son of Tapit and is trained by Steve Ausmussen. He is 5-1 opening odds to win. This horse has been lightly raced and with only four starts, the first two were victories, it is not evident this horse can keep up. A chance for this horse.
Scotland- The son of Good Magic and is trained by bill Mott, this horse opened at 6-1 odds to win the Pennsylvania Derby. He has won 3 of 4 races in his career and led the Travers on a sloppy track until he faded at the end. Look for this horse to finish well.
Daydreaming Boy- Opened at 12-1 odds, this son of Goldencents is trained by Louis Linder Jr. He has spent his race life at Parx racing and doesn’t appear to be a threat in this one.
West Coast Cowboy- He won his maiden at Gulfstream over a year ago and finish third at the Holy Bull. Using Lasix he won an allowance race. Opened with 12-1 odds. This son of West Coast is trained by Saffie JosephJr. Likely not finishing in the money.
Gilmore- son of Twirling Candy is trained by Brendan Walsh but spent the first three years of his life under the tutelage of Bob Baffert.He finished second at the El Camino Real Derby and won his maiden at Los Alamitos. At 10-1 odds, this horse is possibly a money winner.
Crupi- is the son of Curlin and another Todd Pletcher trained horse. Opened at 15-1, as a 2-year old, he finished third three times. Now in 2023, he won his maiden in July and won at Saratoga in September. Not likely to help you win money.
Il Miracola- is the son of Gun Runner and trained by Antonio Sano. Last November he broke his maiden and never finished well in five Derbys. Odds at open are 8-a but don’t expect much out of this entry in the Pennsylvania Derby.
Reincarnate- is trained by Bob Baffert and the son of Good Magic. He broke his maiden in November at Del Mar and won the Grade 3 Sham then third in the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby. Opening odds are 3-1. This horse won the Los Alamitos Derby in July. This horse is projected to win by many experts.
Pennsylvania Derby Picks and Predictions
There is a slew of horses we can eliminate in this Derby but the ones to watch are Saudi Crown. Magic Tap, Scotland and Reincarnate. I like the thought of Magic Tap, even though he is lightly raced. Saudi Crown is intriguing but I will stay with the favorite and Bob Baffert’s Reincarnate to win.However, you are a longshot bettor, then I go with unnoticed Il Miracola.
