The 137th running of the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Twenty of the top 3-year-old Thoroughbred horses will compete for a $2 million purse.
The favorite is Dialed In after a victory at the Grade 1 Florida Derby. He has won three of his four races dating back to last year with one second-place finish. His biggest competition is Uncle Mo, who was undefeated heading into the Grade 1 Wood Memorial but finished third in that race. He won his previous four races, including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November.
Nehro is third in the odds but has only won one of his last five races. He was runner-up in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. Archarcharch is next and has won three of his last six races since November. The other three finishes were second, third and fourth. The 3-year-old colt won his last time out at the Arkansas Derby in April.
Beyond that, Pants On Fire is a potential sleeper, coming off a win at the Grade 2 Lousiana Derby. That was back in March so he should be well rested for the dirt at Churchill Downs. He finished sixth at the Grade 2 Risen Star in February. Animal Kingdom beat Kentucky Derby contenders Decisive Moment and Twinspired at the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes. Other than that race, he hasn’t faced the competition he will see on Saturday but has finished no worse than second in four career races.
Comma To The Top hasn’t won since the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity in December. He followed that up with fourth at the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby, fourth at the Grade 2 San Felipe and second at the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby behind fellow Kentucky Derby runner Midnight Interlude. Comma To The Top has the speed but it’s a question of longevity for him in this race. Brilliant Speed finished second at Dania Beach, third at Hallandale Beach and first in the Grade 1 Blue Grass over Kentucky Derby runner Twinspired. Speaking of which, Twinspired seems to be only good enough for the top three but he won the WEBN in February.
The big longshots have good value for your online betting, too. Derby Kitten just won the Grade 3 Coolmore Lexington Stakes and placed second at both Alligator Alley and Overnight Stake. Santiva disappointed his last time out, coming in ninth at the Grade 1 Blue Grass. But before that, he was runner-up at the Grade 2 Risen Star, he won the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club and he finished second the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity. The biggest longshot is Watch Me Go, who recently finished sixth at the Grade 3 Illinois Derby. But, he turned some heads when he won the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and two Allowances. He also finished third at the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis race.
Kentucky Derby Outright Odds (provided by William Hill)
Dialed In: 4/1
Uncle Mo: 9/2
Nehro: 6/1
Archarcharch: 10/1
Midnight Interlude: 10/1
Mucho Macho Man: 12/1
Shackleford: 12/1
Soldat: 12/1
Master Of Hounds: 16/1
Pants On Fire: 20/1
Stay Thirsty: 20/1
Twice The Appeal: 20/1
Animal Kingdom: 25/1
Comma To The Top: 25/1
Brilliant Speed: 33/1
Decisive Moment: 33/1
Derby Kitten: 33/1
Santiva: 33/1
Twinspired: 33/1
Watch Me Go: 50/1
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