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As a 5/1 favorite to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Pioneer of the Nile was looking hot early on at Churchill Downs. The horse covered the distance in 1:00.80 during this week's workouts. The time was the fourth-fastest of 19 at the distance over a surface that seemed to be playing slower as the morning wore on.
From Bloodhorse.com:
"Pioneerof the Nile, who made the recent Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) his fourth consecutive stakes victory, covered the distance in fractional times of :12.20, :24.20, and :36.40. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40."
Trainer Bob Baffert told Bloodhorse he is pleased with the way Pioneerof the Nile is getting over the sandy loam surface at Churchill Downs.
"I ended up working him seven-eighths and let him gallop out strong. I got him in :26-and three, and he galloped out all the way down the backside. So it was a good little work and it was not really hard on him."
Baffert said Pioneer of the Nile would work one more time before the May 2 Derby, most likely on Monday or Tuesday of next week.
Pioneerof the Nile has a record of 5-0-1 in eight races and has earned $1,234,200.
For Gambling911.com, the Kentucky Derby represents the biggest single betting day of the year.
"We are anticipating around 3 million hits to the website on that Saturday," said Gambling911 Senior Editor, Payton O'Brien. "It's a very exciting time for us and we will be covering the Derby odds ad nauseum between the time the post up positions are announced to the end of the race."
For now, only a handful of online gambling websites are offering odds on the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Bookmaker.com has odds on Pioneer of the Nile and a whole list of other horses potentially taking part in the big race.
Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
