Early Look At The 2017 Kentucky Derby

Posted by Eric Williams on Wednesday,April 19, 2017 3:45, EDT in

With the first leg of the Triple Crown quickly approaching, thoroughbred horse racing betting aficionados everywhere are in the process of formulating their 2017 Kentucky Derby wagering picks.

If you’re in need of some expert betting information on the “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” then you should know that a handful of horses are already receiving interest at the betting counter. With the biggest race in North America less than a month away, let’s take an early look at the odds that are currently available. The 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby takes place on May 6, live from Churchill Downs in Louisville Kentucky.

Early Look At The 2017 Kentucky Derby

Race Location

Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Race Information

Distance: 1¼ miles (10 furlongs)
Track: Dirt, Left-handed
Qualification: 3-year-old
Weight: Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg)
Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg)
Purse: US$2 million, 1st $1,425,000

The Kentucky Derby is the most famous horse race in the United States and takes place on the first Saturday in May. The now legendary event is often called “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Run for the Roses.” The Kentucky Derby takes place live from Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky and features the top three-year-old thoroughbreds in the world.

A year ago, Nyquist, the 2/1 betting favorite, hung on to beat Exaggerator (8/1) and Gun Runner (10/1) for the win. Mohaymen (10/1) held off two other hard-charging horses for fourth place as the top four bet horses all hit the totaliser. Listed below are horses that will likely be a part of the 20-horse field for the 2017 Kentucky Derby.

Odds to win 2017 Kentucky Derby – May 6, 2017

Classic Empire 5/2
Always Dreaming 3/1
Irish War Cry 13/2
Gunnevera 7/1
Irap 7/1
Tapwrit 8/1
McCraken 17/2
Gormley 10/1
Thunder Snow 12/1
Malagacy 15/1
Girvin 18/1
J Boys Echo 18/1
Practical Joke 18/1
Battalion Runner 20/1
Hence 20/1
Lookin At Lee 40/1
Cloud Computing 45/1
Battle of Midway 50/1
Untrapped 50/1
Fast and Accurate 60/1
Patch 60/1
Royal Mo 60/1
Sonneteer 60/1
State of Honor 60/1

Analysis: Classic Empire closed out  the 2016 campaign as the best juvenile in the nation after winning the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but you should know that Juvenile winners have struggled to win the Kentucky Derby in recent times with only Street Sense (2007) and Nyquist (2016) being able to win both races. Unfortunately, Classic Empire finished third behind Irish War Cry and Gunnevera in the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) on Feb. 4, mostly because of a foot abscess. Nevertheless, Classic Empire has been installed as the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby after looking fully recovered by winning lat week’s Arkansas Derby.

Always Dreaming has recorded three consecutive first place finishes, most recently winning the Xpressbet Florida Derby on April 1 where he won by five lengths over State of Honor and Gunnevera. Many horse racing bettor believe that Always Dreaming should be the favorite at the Kentucky Derby and it’ easy to see why, seeing as how he’s won three of his career five races while never finishing lower than third place.

Longshot contender Malagacy may have never raced as a 2-year-old a year ago, but the now 3-year-old thoroughbred won the Rebel Stakes on March 18 in his very fort race before finishing fifth at the Arkansas Derby last weekend. More importantly, trainer Todd Pletcher says Malagacy is the kind of horse that runs best when he faces elite competition and generally stalks the leader before accelerating late.

“Part of the reason why we considered running him for maiden claim first time out was he had … kind of shown his lazy side in the morning, really,” Pletcher said. “But it was a blessing that he actually got a temperature.”