Best Santa Anita Derby Betting Sites 2024 - Guide to the Top Racebooks
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Bookmakers Review
- Last Updated: February 6, 2024
The Santa Anita Derby is a top horse race for three-year-olds in the United States. It happens every April at Santa Anita Park in California. The race is 1+1/8 miles long on dirt and has a $400,000 prize. It’s a key race before the Kentucky Derby, offering winners 100 points and a guaranteed spot in the Run for the Roses. Since 1935, this has been the West Coast’s biggest horse race.
Betting on the Santa Anita Derby is a big deal for many fans. It’s not just about picking the fastest horse. It’s about understanding the odds and crafting a strong betting strategy. Keep reading for key horse racing info and everything you need to bet on Santa Anita Derby day.
| SPORTSBOOK | TRUST SCORE | BONUS | ONLINE SINCE | OVERNIGHT ODDS | BEST FOR | Bet Now |
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$500 Cash Bonus
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1996
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100% Free Play
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2001
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$250 Free Bet
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2001
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55% Cash Bonus
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2002
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$750 Cash Bonus
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2011
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Reduced Juice
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1998
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100% Cash Bonus
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1994
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Bet €10 For €30 Free Bet
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2008
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100% Free Bet
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1997
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Free Bet Specials
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2000
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Best Santa Anita Derby Betting Sites
Our experts have selected the leading five horse race betting sites that excel in offering the best options for the Santa Anita Derby:
- BetOnline – Offers high betting limits
- Bovada – Big sign-up bonus available for bettors
- Heritage Sports – Easy-to-use mobile betting site
- BetAnySports – Get reduced juice and boosted winnings
- BookMaker – Great all-around site for horse racing
Reviews of the Best Santa Anita Derby Betting Sites
Our experts test every horse racing platform, placing real bets, contacting customer service and more. Here are the top options for betting on the big race at Santa Anita.
1. BetOnline: Offers High Betting Limits
Key Features:
- Home of the most generous promos
- Opinionated lines give players more variety
BetOnline sets the bar high for the Santa Anita Derby, offering big profits and high betting limits. It’s an ideal platform for those willing to bet big, thanks to a re-bet feature in the sportsbook and a substantial maximum deposit limit of $500,000 for Bitcoin users.
The site gets ahead of the competition by providing early fixed-odds futures on the Santa Anita Derby well in advance, sometimes more than six months before the race. While it may not cover as wide a range of potential entrants as some other sites, BetOnline often offers more favorable odds for many of the horses it does list. On the day of the Santa Anita Derby, bettors have access to pari-mutuel betting, and there’s an added bonus of a racebook rebate that can reach up to 9%, enhancing the betting experience.
2. Bovada: Offers Generous Bonuses & Fast Payouts
Key Features:
- Offers fast payouts for winners
- Low rollovers on welcome bonuses
Bovada stands out as a leading offshore betting platform that offers a special welcome bonus for new users: a 75% sign-up bonus for crypto payments, going up to $750. This bonus comes with a 5x rollover requirement, which is much lower than what many competitors demand, and it applies to horse racing bets as well. The site also has an impressive loyalty program for its users.
For those looking to bet on the Santa Anita Derby, Bovada gets ahead by offering early futures betting on the race’s victor, locking in fixed odds for early bets. Once the starting positions for the horses are announced, bettors can dive into a variety of pari-mutuel bets including win, place, show, exacta and trifecta options, all with the promise of same-day payouts for winning bets.
3. Heritage Sports: Best for New Bettors
Key Features:
- Extremely simple interface
- VIP-level customer service for all users
Heritage Sports simplifies the betting process for newcomers looking to place bets on the Santa Anita Derby. Bettors can stake up to $1,000 on straightforward win, place and show bets, and up to $200 on more complex exotic wagers, with the top payout reaching $10,000 for each race.
With a minimum bet set at just $2, it’s an accessible option for those betting for fun or trying out horse race betting for the first time. While Heritage Sports is widely recognized for its sports betting offerings, including competitive odds and a rewarding cashback program, it also caters to horse racing enthusiasts.
4. BetAnySports: Offers 10% Profit Boost for Horse Racing
Key Features:
- Pays customers 10% extra on winning bets
- Competitive rebates and reduced juice
BetAnySports introduces a unique feature called Racebook+ for the Santa Anita Derby, offering a 10% bonus on top of any pari-mutuel bet’s standard odds. For instance, if a bet on the Santa Anita Derby was set to return $800, with Racebook+, the payout increases to $880.
Additionally, they have a rebate program that gives bettors 6% cash back on all horse race wagers, regardless of the outcome. BetAnySports sets its maximum payout for the Santa Anita Derby at $100,000, making it an attractive option for serious bettors. The platform is known for its ease of use, dependable withdrawal process and excellent customer support.
5. BookMaker: Releases the Earliest Horse Racing Odds
Key Features:
- Industry-leading loyalty program
- Releases the earliest odds for the Santa Anita Derby
BookMaker often leads the way in offering early fixed-odds betting on the Santa Anita Derby. They start by evaluating the top two-year-old horses and set early odds on these future stars. These odds are adjusted as the horses enter their three-year-old season and compete in races leading up to the Santa Anita Derby.
As the Santa Anita Derby approaches, bettors have access to a wide array of betting options. These include bets on which horse will win, place or show, as well as more complex wagers like exactas and trifectas. BookMaker is known for offering competitive odds on the Santa Anita Derby, making the betting process straightforward and user-friendly. It’s a top pick for anyone looking to bet on this key prep race.
2024 Santa Anita Derby Horses & Jockey Silks
Some of the sport’s most accomplished horses lined up Saturday April 6th to run this historic 9-furlong race. Trainer Bob Baffert was gunning for his sixth win but was bested by Phillip D’Amato-trained Stronghold.
Jockeys always wear the silks representing the horse’s owner. Silks are registered and unique to each owner, so the colors and patterns remain the same. When any of these horses goes on to race in other events, like the Kentucky Derby, you will always know who’s who.
Below, you can see the horses that ran in the 2024 Santa Anita Derby in alphabetical order.
Curlin’s Kaos
Jockey: Diego Herrera
Trainer: Antonio Garcia
Owner: Zephyr Racing LLC and Alfred Pais
Silks Description: Red with a black Eye of Horus on the chest. Red cap.
Placed: 4th.
E J Won the Cup
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Owner: Superfecta King Stable
Silks Description: Light blue with yellow sleeves and a yellow logo across the chest. Yellow cap.
Placed: 3rd.
Imagination
Jockey: Lanfranco Dettori
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan and Tom J. Ryan
Silks Description: Blue with a yellow star on the chest and yellow argyle on the sleeves. Yellow cap.
Placed: 2nd.
Mc Vay
Jockey: Hector Berrios
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Owner: C R K Stable LLC
Silks Description: Bright purple with yellow diamond logo across the chest and yellow argyle sleeve details. Purple and yellow cap.
Placed: 7th.
Stronghold
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Trainer: Philip D’Amato
Owner: Eric Waller and Sharon Waller
Silks Description: Deep purple with green logo on the chest and green argyle sleeves. Green cap.
Placed: 1st.
Tapalo
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Trainer: John Sadler
Owner: Hronis Racing LLC
Silks Description: Deep green with white stripes across the torso and white accents on the sleeves. Green cap.
Placed: 5th.
Tessuto
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Trainer: George Papaprodromou
Owner: Kretz Racing LLC
Silks Description: Black with a white logo printed across the chest and light blue racing stripes down the sleeves. Black cap.
Placed: 8th.
Wynstock
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Edward C. Allred and Jack Liebau
Silks Description: Bright yellow with two stripes, black and red, diagonally across the torso. Red and black cap.
Placed: 6th.
Reading Santa Anita Race Day Odds
When betting on the Santa Anita Derby, odds play a crucial role in guiding bettors. These odds are usually listed in the American format, starting with a plus sign for underdogs. The figure following the plus sign indicates how much profit you’d make on a $100 bet. For instance, if a horse has odds of +300, a $100 bet would return $300 in profit if that horse wins.
Before the race, bettors can find fixed odds at various betting sites. These early odds offer a chance to lock in bets on horses bettors believe are undervalued.
Santa Anita Derby’s odds can also change based on many factors, such as horse performance, training updates and track conditions. Smart bettors keep an eye on these changes to find the best value.
Popular Betting Markets for This Race
The Santa Anita Derby, a cornerstone event for three-year-olds on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, offers a range of betting opportunities for horse racing enthusiasts.
Here’s what you can expect when placing your bets:
- Win: Put your money on the horse you think will cross the finish line first. This is the most straightforward and popular bet.
- Place: A safer bet where your chosen horse must finish in the top two.
- Show: If you’re looking for even more security, a show bet pays out if your horse ends up in the first three.
- Exacta: Test your prediction skills by picking the first and second place finishers in the exact order.
- Trifecta: A step up from the exacta, this bet requires you to correctly select the top three horses in their exact finishing order.
- Superfecta: For those seeking higher rewards (and risks), predict the first four horses in the correct order.
- Daily Double: Choose the winners of two consecutive races, starting with the Santa Anita Derby.
- Pick 3/Pick 4/Pick 5: These bets challenge you to select the winners of three, four or five consecutive races, offering the potential for significant payouts.
History of the Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby, a premier race for three-year-old thoroughbreds, has been a pivotal part of American horse racing since ran for the first time in 1935.
Run on a dirt race track at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, this Grade 1 race is the final stop on the road to Churchill Downs. Santa Anita Park hosts a cluster of prestigious races over the first weekend in April every year. The Southern California weather is typically perfect in early spring.
The legendary Seabiscuit took first place in 1938, and more recent stars like California Chrome in 2014 and Justify in 2018 went on to win other big races like the Preakness Stakes and in Justify’s case, the whole Triple Crown for the year.
The race not only highlights the potential champions of the sport but also significantly impacts the breeding value and legacy of its participants. Through the years, the Santa Anita Derby has not just been a predictor of Kentucky Derby success but has also become a cherished event in its own right for bettors and horse racing enthusiasts alike.
How do points work for the Santa Anita Derby?
There are seven races held over the weekend but, the official Santa Anita Derby is always the biggest race of the day, with tons of Kentucky Derby points to be awarded. The current system distributes points like this:
- 1st place: 100 points
- 2nd place: 40 points
- 3rd place: 20 points
- 4th place: 10 points
Santa Anita Derby FAQs
What race is the Santa Anita Derby?
It is the largest G1 prep race leading up to the Kentucky Derby. It is held in Southern California every spring.
Did Seabiscuit ever win the Santa Anita Derby?
Seabiscuit won the Santa Anita Derby in 1938 and would retire two years later after winning the Santa Anita Handicap at the same track. At the time of his death, Seabiscuit was thought to have sired 100 horses.
What is the distance of the Santa Anita Derby?
The Santa Anita Derby is a 1 ⅛-mile dirt race.
What is the biggest race at Santa Anita?
The Santa Anita Derby is the park’s biggest race of the winter/spring season.
Where are the big three horse races?
The big three horse races are held across the United States at iconic tracks including:
- • Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky) – Kentucky Derby
- • Pimlico Race Course (Baltimore, Maryland) – Preakness Stakes
- • Belmont Park (Elmont, New York) – Belmont Stakes
