Expert Pick of the Week: 2024 Pennsylvania Derby

Sep 18, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A total of 11 sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Parx dirt in Saturday’s $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Chad Brown’s Unmatched Wisdom was outrun following a slow break in his latest endeavor in the Travers S. (G1) on August 24, but the once-beaten colt is much better than he showed at Saratoga on that occasion, and he gets top billing in a well-matched cast. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Purchased for $450,000 as a juvenile, the late-blooming colt commenced his career on May 10 at Aqueduct and romped over a muddy, sealed surface when finishing 6 1/4 lengths clear under the wire. The dark bay colt reappeared at the same venue on June 22 in a nine-furlong allowance contest, and he was equally as impressive when waltzing home a 5 3/4-length victor after going postward at 1-5 odds.

Unmatched Wisdom made his stakes debut in the Curlin S. at Saratoga on July 19, and the rising star led at every call en route to a measured, one-length score to keep his unblemished mark intact. He has posted a pair of solid morning drills since his subpar effort in the Travers, and he is a very good fit in this field. The Klaravich color bearer has good early foot, but he doesn’t need the lead to win, and I expect him to be relaxed early on in a field full of pace, prior to asserting himself in the stretch on Saturday. Flavien Prat, who has had a sensational 2024, comes in to guide the talented three-year-old.

#1 Unmatched Wisdom stays undefeated in the Curlin S. at Saratoga under Flavien Prat for trainer Chad Brown! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YAU04CFFzv

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) July 19, 2024

Juddmonte homebred Dragoon Guard is a neck shy of being unbeaten from five career attempts and will be a factor for sure for conditioner Brad Cox. The gray son of Arrogate possesses a high cruising speed with seemingly no distance limitations, and he has posted a quartet of strong morning drills in advance of his Grade 1 debut, as well. Regular pilot Florent Geroux will be in the stirrups.

Doc Sullivan is a colt who could add a lot of value in the field for trainer Michael Miceli. The consistently good son of Solomini has finished first or second in eight races in succession, five of which have come in the stakes ranks, and he has earned hefty Brisnet Late Pace figures in his two route races to date in advance of this assignment. The New York-bred faces a big class rise in this endeavor, but the form is excellent as is the rail draw, and the underrated sophomore picks up Jose Ortiz, too.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #8 Unmatched Wisdom on top of #7 Dragoon Guard and #1 Doc Sullivan in the 2024 Pennsylvania Derby is the Best Bet of the Week.