Road to the Kentucky Derby: Jerome Stakes and Shams Stakes

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on both coasts this weekend with the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, Jan. 7 and the Sham Stake at Santa Anita the following day. Both races are one-mile in distance and award the same number of Kentucky derby points: 10 for first, four for second, 3-2-1 for third through fifth place.

The Jerome Stakes is a competitive eight-horse field with several potential win candidates. Half the field is comprised of talented New York-bred horses. General Banker is the leading money winner in the race.

Luman Knight has won, second and third in his three career starts in Kentucky. He finished third at the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. This is his first attempt at a mile.

Neural Network won his first career start against NY-breds in November. The third-place finisher came back to win the next time out.

Arctic Arrogance is the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Remsen finished second in his last start.

Jerome Betting Strategy: Win wager on Lugan Knight and Neural Network in exacta box and on top of exactas with Arctic Arrogance and Valenzan Day. Road to the Kentucky Derby: Jerome Stakes and Shams Stake.

Authentic won the 2020 race at Shams Stakes. Bob Baffert trains four of the six horses in the field. National Treasure finished second in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Speed Boat Beach has three wins in four starts.

Spun Intended is worth taking a shot on. Trainer Baffert has four entries in this race. Spun intended crushed a maiden field by 6 1/2 lengths last time out.

National Treasure is the horse to beat and the betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Speed Boat Beach has won at a mile on the turf. He set a track record in his lone dirt start.

Sham Betting Strategy: Limit wagering to win and place bets on Spun Intended. Road to the Kentucky Derby: Jerome Stakes and Shams Stake.