BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

Kentucky Derby Odds, Favorites, Picks And Insight For 2022 Run For The Roses

Following

The horses are nearing the starting gate for the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby. The post position draw and morning line odds were released today, and the countdown to “the most exciting two minutes in sports” and America’s most popular horse race is set.

Post time for the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY is 6:57 p.m. ET on Sat., May 7.

Kentucky Derby Odds 2022

The opening Kentucky Derby odds show Zandon as the 3/1 favorite breaking from the No. 10 post. Zandon is a closer who won the Blue Grass Stakes from off the pace, and he’ll be one of the last horses into the starting gate as the 20-horse Derby field is loaded in gates 1 and 11 then 2 and 12 and so on until gates 10 and 20 are filled and “they’re off in the Kentucky Derby.”

Previously, I made two advance future bets with sportsbooks offering fixed odds on the Kentucky Derby. My early interest lies in Zandon, which I bet at 15/1 odds, and White Abarrio at 40/1, who is now 10/1. The flashy and consistent galloping gray has won 4-of-5 starts including the Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes. White Abarrio also finished 3rd in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs - a race that had an outsized impact on this year’s Derby trail

Horse racing fans looking to add more fun and excitement to their interest in the race that have not yet signed up for an account on TVG can enjoy up to a $200 risk-free bet. See additional promotions from TVG, where you can watch and wager live on races from across the country and get added details on the jockeys in the Kentucky Derby.

The staff and handicappers at TVG have provided some of their early Kentucky Derby picks to win with some insight on the horses.

Kentucky Derby Picks

Favorites: Zandon, Epicenter, Taiba

Longshots: Cyberknife and Barber Road

Zandon

  • Trainer: Chad Brown
  • Jockey: Flavien Prat

Zandon has kept up with the top of his class through the Derby prep season. Though the son of Upstart finished only third behind Epicenter and Smile Happy in the Risen Star Stakes, it was his first start since November and it showed room for improvement. That improvement materialized in the Blue Grass Stakes, where he rallied from last to leave Smile Happy and everyone else well behind him. With many of the top Derby prospects preferring to run on or near the lead, he could get the right trip with top jockey Flavien Prat a proven rider in just four Derby starts already winning with longshot Country House and two other in-the-money finishes.

Epicenter

  • Trainer: Steve Asmussen
  • Jockey: Joel Rosario

Epicenter comes into the Kentucky Derby as the divisional leader. The son of Not This Time ran well in all of his Kentucky Derby preps, and he has shown that he can win from either on the pace or sitting just off of it. Though the Louisiana Derby has not had the strongest record in the Run for the Roses compared to other preps, recent winners like Hot Rod Charlie and Gun Runner have run excellent races in the Derby, meaning you cannot completely count the race out.

Taiba

  • Trainer: Tim Yakteen
  • Jockey: Mike Smith

Taiba is lightly raced and 2-for-2 after winning his stakes debut in the Santa Anita Derby. The former Bob Baffert trained colt was handed off to his former assistant trainer Tim Yakteen so he could be eligible for the Derby following Baffert’s 90-day suspension in March. West Coast horses have been historically strong in the Kentucky Derby. Taiba is a new face: the Gun Runner son did not debut until March, and then beat his stablemate Messier in the Santa Anita Derby in just his second start.

As formful as the Kentucky Derby has often been during the points era, it always makes sense to use a longshot or two, especially in the exotics. From Mandaloun to Country House, back to Commanding Curve and Lookin at Lee, who we cashed in multiple exacta bets in 2017 when he finished second at 33/1 odds, it’s usually a good bet to lean on some longshots in the Derby to rise to the challenge at a price.

Cyberknife

  • Trainer: Brad Cox
  • Jockey: Florent Geroux

Cyberknife bloomed a little later than some of his fellow Derby contenders, but he has gotten good at the right time. Though he was well beaten in the Lecomte Stakes, an allowance victory got this son of Gun Runner back on track and he won the Arkansas Derby with complete authority. With tactical speed and a smart pedigree for the Classic distance on both top and bottom, Cyberknife is a strong contender with longer morning line odds of 20/1.

Barber Road

  • Trainer: John Ortiz
  • Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez

Barber Road has finished second or third in five stakes races including three graded stakes this year. That includes the always-live Arkansas spur of the Derby trail. He can run a good race from near the pace or well off of it, and keeps showing up as the distances get longer. Barber Road has all the tools to make the longshots pay off once again.

Kentucky Derby contenders

Recognized that the full range of wager types will be available to bettors on Kentucky Derby day. Win, place, and show bets remain the most popular wagers around, but with big odds available on some of the 20 runners, exotic wagers are a great option too. Most people still bet right “on the nose”—or for a horse to win—but multi-race and multi-horse wagers often offer more of a reward.

Whatever flavor of bet you go for, consider some of these leading favorites or contenders, and a few longshots. Should you cash in, you may end up enjoying some Woodford Reserve - the straight bourbon whiskey sponsor of the Kentucky Derby - as you celebrate in style in the Run for the Roses.

You can bet on it.

Follow me on TwitterCheck out my website