A couple of weeks ago the Wynn Las Vegas opened their Kentucky Derby futures book and now a couple more books have followed suit. Bovada and Nevada’s William Hill sports book chain have put up their own Kentucky Derby betting numbers.
The crop of rising three year olds came into a little more focus after the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile though the runner up in that race is the current Kentucky Derby betting favorite. Carpe Diem is the 15/1 favorite at Bovada and William Hill despite finishing second in the BC Juvenile. In most years, the winner of the BC Juvenile becomes the presumptive Kentucky Derby favorite–at least until the 3 year old season begins.
The winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Texas Red, is next on the list. He’s 16/1 at Bovada but 40/1 at William Hill. Texas Red won the BC Juvenile as a 13-1 longshot and little about his prior resume suggested he was capable of taking the victory. His only previous win had come in a maiden special weight event at Del Mar and he finished third in his only graded stakes action. He did have a veteran jockey in Kent Desormeaux aboard and as we so often emphasize two year old horses are always tough to handicap.
At Bovada, Texas Red has company for the second slot in the betting odds. American Pharaoh missed the BC Juvenile due to an injury (or her unwillingness to get on the plane depending on which version of events you believe) but until withdrawing was the pre-race betting favorite. American Pharaoh is 16/1 at Bovada and 30/1 at William Hill. Despite not making the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile field, American Pharaoh is a two time Grade 1 winner which is as solid of a resume as you’ll find for a two year old.
At William Hill there are several other horses available at 30/1 and 40/1. At 30/1 there is Daredevil and at 40/1 a horse named Blofeld is available at the same price as Texas Red. The Wynn Las Vegas was the first two open a Kentucky Derby betting futures market but they’ve yet to update their prices to take into account the results of Breeders’ Cup weekend.