She packed Rocket Can’s bags late last night pre-flight. Pre-flight to the Kentucky Derby, where Rocket Can is a noble steed competing, to show people he’s not the horse people think he is back home…

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The Kentucky Derby is the most exciting and prestigious horse race in the world, attracting the best three-year-olds from across the country and beyond. This year, a colt named Rocket Can has a chance to blast off by winning the Kentucky Derby after finishing second in the Holy Bull Stakes and Fountain of Youth Stakes earlier this year.

In this article, we will explore who Rocket Can is, what his racing profile and history are, what his strengths and weaknesses are, what his current odds are, what his name means, and what his chances are of winning the Kentucky Derby 2023.

Kentucky Derby EXPERT PICKS:

Going to Bet the Kentucky Derby? Ride along with WagerTalk’s Horse Experts SIG and Marco D’Angelo. Both Sig and Marco can be seen on WagerTalk’s Horse Racing Show “The Pony Pundits”.

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Who is Rocket Can?

Rocket Can is a three-year-old bay colt who was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC and purchased for $400,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. and trained by William Mott. He is sired by Into Mischief, a Grade 1-winning son of Harlan’s Holiday who has produced several champions and leading sires, and out of Tension, a daughter of Tapit who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Tough Tiz’s Sis. Rocket Can is named after a phrase that means to move very fast or to be very successful¹.

What is Rocket Can’s racing profile and history?

Rocket Can made his debut on August 6 at Saratoga, where he finished fifth in a seven-furlong maiden race after breaking slowly and racing wide. He then improved to seventh in his second start on September 3 at Saratoga, where he showed more speed but faded in the stretch. He earned his first win in his third start on October 30 at Churchill Downs, where he led from start to finish in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race and won by 2 1/4 lengths over Spielman and Bengals Go.

He then stepped up to stakes company in his fourth start on February 4 at Gulfstream Park, where he finished second in the $200,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) behind Rocket Show, who rallied from last to first in the stretch and beat him by a neck. He earned 20 points for that effort, which put him in 12th place on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He then followed up with another second-place finish in his fifth start on March 4 at Gulfstream Park, where he finished second in the $300,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) behind Forte, who dominated the race by eight lengths. He earned 40 points for that effort, which gave him a total of 60 points and secured him a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.

Rocket Can arrived at Churchill Downs on April 18 after traveling from Florida. He has been working well on the track under the supervision of Mott’s assistant Kenny McCarthy. He breezed four furlongs in :48.20 on April 24 and five furlongs in :59.60 on May 1. His trainer Mott said he is very pleased with his condition and hopeful for his chances.

What are Rocket Can’s strengths and weaknesses?

Rocket Can has several strengths that make him a viable contender for the Kentucky Derby. He has proven himself on dirt, which is not always easy for horses who are bred for turf or synthetic surfaces. He has shown consistency with each race, as he has never finished worse than fifth. He has displayed speed and stamina, as he can set or press the pace and sustain it for long distances. He has also shown courage and determination, as he has never given up and fought hard to win or place.

However, Rocket Can also has some weaknesses that could hinder his chances of winning. He has never raced against Forte or any other top contenders before, which means he will face a much higher level of competition than he has ever faced before. He has never raced at Churchill Downs before, which means he will have to adjust to a new surface, configuration, and atmosphere than he is used to. He has never raced with more than nine horses before, which means he will have to deal with more traffic and potential interference than he is used to.

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Kentucky Derby EXPERT PICKS:

Going to Bet the Kentucky Derby? Ride along with WagerTalk’s Horse Experts SIG and Marco D’Angelo. Both Sig and Marco can be seen on WagerTalk’s Horse Racing Show “The Pony Pundits”.

BUY SIG’S PICK! SIG covers the Biggest Tracks from around the Country on Daily Basis for WagerTalk supplying his selections and betting strategies in his Daily Horse Racing Report.

BUY MARCO’s PICK! Marco actually Owns, Breeds and Races horses and has done so since 1986. So when Marco shares his selections you are getting information from someone that knows the sport from the Inside.

Buy either. Or both. You can reserve your spot for that 1st Saturday in May and Save $10 when you purchase from SIG or Marco by using Coupon Code: KD10!

Basics of Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing is a popular form of betting and entertainment, with various types of wagers available to suit different preferences. Although there is race history or horses that have raced before, horse racing has the advantage of being somewhat unpredictable, which in turn creates some large payouts for small wagers.

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