Kentucky Derby: Breaking Down Latest Odds, Predictions for 2013's Biggest Race

The biggest horse racing event on the calendar is less than a week away now as the 2013 Kentucky Derby prepares to run its course on May 4, 2013.

We don't yet know the full field for the prestigious race, nor do we yet know the all-important post positions for the Kentucky Derby. Both of those will play a key role in determining who is crowned champion this year, but with odds already starting to appear, we can gain a good idea of which horses are to be considered contenders and pretenders for the Derby.

Read on for all the latest odds and predictions for the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

2013 Kentucky Derby Details

Date and Time: Saturday, May 4, 2013, at 7-7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Churchill Downs; Louisville, Ky.

Grade I, 10 furlongs, Purse: $2.18 million

2013 Kentucky Derby Odds (via allhorseracing.ag)

*** NOTE: Points courtesy of KentuckyDerby.com; odds and points correct as of April 29, 2013, at 6 p.m. ET. Subject to change.

Horse	Points in 2013	Odds
Verrazano	150 points	4/1
Orb	150 points	6/1
Revolutionary	110 points	8/1
Goldcents	129 points	15/2
Overanalyze	110 points	10/1
Normandy Invasion	44 points	10/1
Itsmyluckyday	50 points	14/1
Javas War	122 points	16/1
Vyjack	70 points	16/1
Will Take Charge	60 points	20/1
Lines of Battle	100 points	20/1
Mylute	42 points	25/1
Palace Malice	50 points	25/1
Oxbow	36 points	35/1
Mylute	42 points	35/1
Black Onyx	50 points	40/1
Frac Daddy	44 points	45/1
Charming Kitten	20 points	50/1
Golden Soul	14 points	50/1
Falling Sky	30 points	75/1

2013 Kentucky Derby: Latest News and Information

While most of the movement in the big race this year will take place after the post positions are announced and the full field of 20 can be completely analyzed, there's been some interesting developments this week regarding the Derby.

According to the Kentucky Derby's official Twitter account, Govenor Charlie, Code West and Winning Cause have all been pulled out of the race this year.

Tiz a Minster will also not run in the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

Those withdrawals have seen some interesting money line moves for Palace Malice (in from 28/1 to 25/1) and for Mylute (in from 35/1 down to 25/1). 

More information will come after the post-position draw on Wednesday, May 1.

2013 Kentucky Derby Predictions

The Favorite: Orb (6/1) may go off as the race favorite this year and deservedly so. This is an extremely talented horse who has shown a great improvement over his past few starts, and given his pedigree and the fact he's very suited to this distance, it'll be hard to knock off Orb this year.

The Best Bet: Normandy Invasion (10/1) rattled home at the Wood Memorial for a second-place finish and will be looking to do the same this year if the pace is slow, which it may well be. He has an excellent pedigree of speed and residual stamina, and is therefore suited to this race—which could lead to another strong finish down the outside this weekend.

The Long Shot: Mylute (now 25/1) was my outside pick when it was 35/1, and I'm sticking by that. This isn't the greatest field this year, and if Orb is blocked for a run, then Mylute has more than enough talent to hit the line first. He was very strong over longer distances in the Grade II Louisiana Derby, and with Rosie Napravnik as jockey, he may well surprise a few people this weekend.

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