Kentucky Derby Oddsmakers Give California Chrome Huge Betting Edge

The Kentucky Derby won’t be much of a contest Saturday if oddsmakers have properly judged the quality of the 19-horse field.

Just one day before the 140th edition of the Derby, California Chrome remains an easy betting favorite at less than 3-1 odds, according to the latest Kentucky Derby odds listed at OddsShark.com.

The Derby will be California Chrome's first start outside California, as he looks to become the first California horse to win there in half of a century (1962 champion Decidedly being the last to do so).

Danza, the top horse from award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher is next at 8-1. The other top challenger to California Chrome was scratched Thursday, when the handlers of Hoppertunity—who had been an 8-1 bet—pulled their horse.

Wicked Strong might have matched Danza’s 8-1, but he drew the despised No. 20 gate assignment in Wednesday’s draw. Only one horse has started wide right and won, and that was powerful Big Brown in 2008, according to Michael Dempsey of Turfnsport.com.

Here are the current Derby lines (with starting gate, trainer and jockey), courtesy of KentuckyDerbyOdds.ca:

01 - Vicar's in Trouble (M. Maker/R. Napravnik) 25/1
02 - Harry's Holiday (M. Maker/C. Lanerie) 66/1
03 - Uncle Sigh (G. Contessa/I. Ortiz Jr.) 33/1
04 - Danza (T. Pletcher/J. Bravo) 8/1
05 - California Chrome (A. Sherman/V. Espinoza) 11/4
06 - Samraat (R. Violette Jr./ J. Ortiz) 18/1
07 - We Miss Artie (T. Pletcher/J. Castellano) 40/1
08 - General A Rod (M. Maker/J. Rosario) 18/1
09 - Vinceremos (T. Pletcher/J. Rocco Jr.) 50/1
10 - Wildcat Red (J. Garoffalo/L. Saez) 16/1
*11 - Hoppertunity (B. Baffert/M. Smith) 8/1 (scratched)
12 - Dance With Fate (P. Eurton/C. Nakatani) 22/1
13 - Chitu (B. Baffert/M. Garcia) 28/1
14 - Medal Count (D. Romans/R. Albarado) 25/1
15 - Tapiture (S. Asmussen/R. Santana) 18/1
16 - Intense Holiday (T. Pletcher/J. Velazquez) 14/1
17 - Commanding Curve (D. Stewart/S. Bridgmohan) 40/1
18 - Candy Boy (J. Sadler/G. Stevens) 25/1
19 - Ride on Curlin (W. Gowan/C. Borel) 20/1
20 - Wicked Strong (J. Jerkens/R. Maragh) 10/1

Will the finish time be faster or slower than two minutes, two seconds? Will the attendance record from 2013 be broken? Check out the full list of Derby props and the latest lines.

Stats and data courtesy of OddsShark.com