It’s called “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports.” Few events can match the anticipation of Kentucky Derby Betting. Derby Day will finally arrive on Saturday. This will be the 144th “Run for the Roses” at Churchill Downs. The best three-year-old thoroughbreds in the world will race a mile and a quarter for immortality later this week. For the owners is a purse of $2 million. For fans and horse players all kinds of combinations will be bet. In addition, Justify drew post position seven as the new favorite. But this year’s field looks as balanced as can be remembered.
2018 Kentucky Derby
Date and Time: Saturday, May 5, 2018, 6:50 p.m. ET
Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
2018 Kentucky Derby Betting Odds at SBG: Bolt D’oro +400, Good Magic +500, Enticed +1500, Solomini +1200, Mendelssohn +350, Noble Indy +1500, Audible +500, Justify +250, My Boy Jack +700, Magnum Moon +400, Hofburg +2500, Flameaway +2000, Quip +1500, Restoring Hope +4000, Bravazo +3000, Lone Sailor +3000, Promises Fulfilled +2500, Vino Rosso +1200
2018 Kentucky Derby TV Coverage: NBC
Justify
Justify is trained by one of the best in Bob Baffert. With four Derby wins Baffert brings credibility. Mike Smith will get the mount. Also, Smith road Giacomo to Kentucky Derby Betting victory in 2005. In three starts Justify is yet to lose a race. He emerged as a favorite by winning the Santa Anita Derby against Bolt D’oro. To sum up, Smith has raved about the horse’s raw talent and upside.
Mendelssohn
Mendelssohn has garnered respect and attention. Irishman Aidan O’Brien is the trainer. He is yet to win a Derby after five tries. But O’Brien is well respected as a top tier trainer. Ryan Moore gets the ride. Also, he rode in only one Kentucky Derby finishing seventh with Lines of Battle in 2013. Mendelssohn is best known for winning the UAE Derby.
Bolt D’oro
Bolt D’oro was a trendy pick early in the pre-Derby futures season. He is trained by Mick Ruis who is in his first Kentucky Derby. Victor Espinoza is jockey and has three Derby wins for his career. Although Bolt D’oro has won four of his six starts the loss at Santa Anita stung. Also disappointing was the third place run at the Breeders Cup Juvenile. This is a horse that has gotten a lot of hype in fact. And not so much with results. Yet.
Audible
Audible is another appealing possibility. Todd Pletcher is the trainer. Pletcher is tied with D. Wayne Lucas for most Derby starters ever (48). He has trained two Kentucky Derby winners including Always Dreaming last year. Javier Castellano gets the mount. Castellano has never won the Blanket of Roses. A win in the Florida Derby catapulted Audible to top tier favorite status.
Magnum Moon
Magnum Moon has been a later online sportsbook favorite. Todd Pletcher is also training this horse. Luis Saez is the jockey. Saez has five career Derby starts with a top finish of seventh. A win in the Arkansas Derby caught gambler’s attention.
Pletcher
Pletcher will enter yet another contender with Vino Rosso. A Wood Memorial win always commands respect. John Velazquez will be on board in fact. He has ridden in 19 Kentucky Derby’s. The jockey has two career Derby wins including last year.
Matchup to Watch
Bolt D’oro is a classic Kentucky Derby Betting beaten favorite. This serves to bring a better price. Also, Justify is getting bet down to poor value. And the chalk has not run as many races as the rest of the field. Potential is always a dangerous word in gambling. In fact, this race will be one of the best Kentucky Derbys yet.
Kentucky Derby Betting Odds Picks
Look for Bolt D’oro to show why he was an original favorite.
Kentucky Derby Betting Online Pick: 1-Bolt D’oro, 2-Mendelssohn, 3-Audible