2018 Kentucky Derby Betting Preview

Horse racing shows up on even non-horse bettors’ radars this weekend as the 144th Kentucky Derby begins the race to the Triple Crown.

If the oddsmakers at Bovada Sportsbook are correct, this looks like one of the deepest Derby fields in years with six entries getting triple-digit odds. Leading the pack as the favorite is Justify at +350.

Justify is the latest entry from famous trainer Bob Baffert. He’s trained four previous Derby winners, with the latest being Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015. Justify heads into the Derby without a lot of race experience, having only three races under his belt. However, he did win all three, including the Santa Anita Derby. Justify has drawn a good starting position, as he’ll come out of No. 7, which has seen six Derby winners in the past.

Following Justify on the Kentucky Derby odds at Bovada Sportsbook are Mendelssohn at +400 and Audible at +650.

Mendelssohn will try to deliver the first Derby win for trainer Aiden O’Brien. Mendelssohn took a different route to the Derby, racing overseas where he won the UAE Derby. He has raced in the U.S. before, winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year. History appears to be against Mendelssohn, as none of the 13 previous horses that have also run in the UAE Derby have won the Kentucky Derby, and Mendelssohn has also drawn the 14th post, which has had only one winner in Kentucky Derby history.

Audible is one of four horses entered in the Derby by trainer Todd Pletcher. He finally won his first Derby last year when Always Dreaming made it to the winner’s circle. Audible has won his last three races, including wins in the Holy Bull Stakes and the Florida Derby. He’s drawn arguably the best starting position in No. 5, which has housed a record 10 Derby winners.

Other contenders drawing triple-digit odds are Magnum Moon at +750, Good Magic at +800 and Bolt d’Oro at +850.

Magnum Moon won the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby but has drawn a tough starting position at No. 16.

Good Magic got off to a disappointing start this season by finishing third in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, but rebounded with a win in the Blue Grass Stakes.

Bolt d’Oro began the year as the Derby favorite, but lost some of his luster after finishing second to Justify in the Santa Anita Derby.