Saturday, May 4th, marks the 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby. Most racing enthusiasts won’t be able to watch the action live to place their bets, so be prepared as a sports bookie for lots of action. Horse racing season is well underway.
Betting on the favorites hasn’t been a winning proposition for the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs for the last five years. According to some experts, the streak may well continue this year, so watch your limits.
Kentucky Derby 2024 Preview
Fierceness 5-2
After a massive win at the Florida Derby on March 30, Fierceness has the shortest odds going into the Kentucky Derby. This horse may be the forerunner, but he has issues with consistency. Fierceness has won two of his three previous races but hasn’t been able to win back-to-back. And since he won his last race…
But it was a huge win. He was 13 1/2 lengths ahead of his closest competitor, producing a fantastic Beyer Speed Figure of 110. Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice, while jockey John Velazquez has won it three times.
Fierceness’ post position is No. 17. Fun fact: no horse starting from post 17 has ever won the Kentucky Derby.
Sierra Leone 3-1
Close behind Fierceness is Sierra Leone at 3-1. His running style is to hang back for most of the race and use a burst of speed at the end to catch the other horses. But starting at post No. 2 will mean that he’ll be behind a crowd when he makes his move.
Sierra Leone has had an incredible career so far, missing winning all four of his starts by a nose. His most recent wins are in the Risen Star and Blue Grass Stakes. Trainer Chad Brown and jockey Tyler Gaffalione hope for their first Kentucky Derby win.
Catching Freedom 8-1
Another late runner, Catching Freedom, has two wins: the Smarty Jones Stakes and the Louisiana Derby. The Kentucky Derby has traditionally been won by front runners or at least stalkers. But the last two winners, Mage and Rich Strike, both rallied from far behind.
Trainer Brad Cox and jockey Flavien Prat are looking for their second win in the Run for the Roses.
Forever Young 10-1
The Japanese horse Forever Young comes into this race with a 5-for-5 record. The colt has won both the Saudi Derby and the UAE Derby. He won in Dubai by keeping pace with the leaders and pulling away in the final 200 meters.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi and rider Ryusei Sakai are attempting to be Japan’s first Kentucky Derby winners.
Just a Touch 10-1
He may be a long shot, but Just a Touch could win. He’s the son of Triple Crown winner Justify and is trained by Brad Cox, who has won the Triple Crown twice. Cox has two horses in this race. All three of his career races were in 2024, with his most recent race at Blue Grass Stakes. Just a Touch held the lead until the final stretch when Sierra Leone caught up and won.
Resilience 20-1
Although Resilience is 20-1, his speed figure has improved in three straight races. He finished fourth in the Risen Star behind Sierra Leone, Track Phantom, and Watching Freedom, all Kentucky Derby contenders. He won his next race at the 2024 Wood Memorial. If he keeps improving, he has a shot at the money.
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In 2023, wagering on the Kentucky Derby Day program from all sources set a new record of $288.7 million. All sources wagering on the Kentucky Derby race in 2023 also set a record at $188.7 million. With the increase in mobile betting and coverage of the event, the bets are expected to set a new record again. Be part of that action by joining BossAction today.
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