Hey, horse racing fans! The first leg of the Triple Crown is rapidly approaching. The Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. With 150,000 fans usually in attendance, the one and a quarter mile race has been called “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

No horse has won the Triple Crown in 21 years. You may have your picks in mind but history has proved that any qualifying horse can’t be dismissed when handicapping the Kentucky Derby. Horses with odds greater than 50/1 have won two of the last five Derby events. But, proven horses step up more often than not. Since 1996, most races have been won by horses at odds lower than 9/1.

The top three horses this year are Eskendereya, Lookin at Lucky and Sidney’s Candy. Eskendereya won the Grade 2 Foundation of Youth Stakes in Florida with a late charge overcoming more than eight lengths. Recently this month, the Todd Pletcher-trained horse won the Wood Memorial Stakes by nearly 10 lengths. Lookin at Lucky had four wins in 2009 and won the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park this year. Bob Baffert is the trainer and he has produced three Kentucky Derby winners in his career. Sidney’s Candy hit everyone’s radar after setting a track record at Del Mar for five and one half furlongs. The horse captured the Santa Anita Derby this year and is trained by John W. Sandler.

A couple long shots include Ice Box and Pounced. Ice Box won the Florida Derby this year and is trained by Nick Zito, who won two Kentucky Derby races in the nineties. Pounced emerged last year with a Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf race win and is trained by John Gosden.

Visit Eurobet for the best Kentucky Derby odds.