Kentucky Derby 2015: Early Odds and Predictions for Entire Entry Lineup
The most exciting two minutes in sport will be back before our eyes on Saturday, as the 141st instalment of the Kentucky Derby takes centre stage; blink and you’ll miss it.
Twenty thoroughbred horses will descend on Louisville with just 10 furlongs separating them from glory, and while the race will have favourites and outsiders, such is the nature of it that anyone can win.
Here’s a look at the field’s odds for Saturday’s race, with a glance at two horses who could be worth backing.
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| Horse | Odds | Predicted Finish |
| American Pharoah | 13-5 | Top 5 |
| Dortmund | 4-1 | Top 5 |
| Carpe Diem | 15-2 | Middle 10 |
| Mubtaahij | 10-1 | Top 5 |
| Materiality | 14-1 | Middle 10 |
| Firing Line | 16-1 | Top 5 |
| Frosted | 16-1 | Middle 10 |
| International Star | 20-1 | Bottom 5 |
| Upstart | 20-1 | Middle 10 |
| El Kabeir | 33-1 | Top 5 |
| Far Right | 33-1 | Middle 10 |
| Bolo | 40-1 | Bottom 5 |
| Danzig Moon | 40-1 | Bottom 5 |
| Itsaknockout | 40-1 | Middle 10 |
| Mr Z | 40-1 | Middle 10 |
| Ocho Ocho Ocho | 40-1 | Bottom 5 |
| Keen Ice | 50-1 | Middle 10 |
| Tencendur | 66-1 | Middle 10 |
Odds via Odds Shark.
Can American Pharoah Live Up To Favourite Tag?
When Saturday’s $2 million race gets underway, many a penny will have been placed on Bob Baffert’s American Pharoah.
The two-year-old, who romped to victory by eight lengths in the recent Arkansas Derby, is the red-hot favourite at 13-5—and for good reason, too.
Not only has he won his last four races in convincing fashion, he’s looked outstanding in his pre-race workouts.
American Pharaoh took to the Churchill Downs track under jockey Martin Garcia on Sunday and set a blistering five-furlong pace of just over 58 seconds, per TVG’s Joaquin Jaime:
Private clocker and bloodstock agent Gary Young was quite simply astounded at American Pharaoh’s progress, per John Asher of the Kentucky Derby’s official website: "I have been doing this for 35 years, and he might be the best horse I’ve ever seen. He’s simply like Michael Jordan and stays in the air like he did in his rookie year. He stays in the air longer than any horse and you get the feeling that there’s not one gear left, but he may have two, three or four gears."
American Pharaoh’s pace is quite simply effortless; he glides ahead with seamless power and precision, and it would be far from surprising to see him crowned on Saturday.
Jockey Victor Espinoza will be on the favourite’s back once again, and if their recent formula for success together is anything to go by, another big win awaits.
Written in the Stars for Itsaknockout
For believers in fate, Itsaknockout will be one of the first names on betting slips for the 2015 Kentucky Derby.
It just so happens that the colt will take to Churchill Downs just hours before one of the biggest fights this side of the millennium: Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao.
Middleweight boxer Tureano Johnson posed the big question to his boxing fans via Twitter:
"How many boxing fans are betting ItsaKnockOut to win the #KentuckyDerby2015
— Tureano Johnson (@Tureano1984) April 27, 2015"
While Itsaknockout is one of the race’s rank outsiders at 40-1, just being in the field gives the Starlight Racing horse a big chance of glory.
That’s how it goes in the Kentucky Derby: A good starting position, a strong first corner and just having lady luck on your side can be the recipe for success.
Plus, co-managing partner of Starlight Racing Jack Wolf told Josh Peter of USA Today that Itsaknockout is in good shape heading into the race: “It's going to be pretty exciting. Looks like he's coming into the race in good order.”
Just how close Itsaknockout can come to the front of the pack remains to be seen, but they’ll undoubtedly be a long shot up there challenging.
The Kentucky Derby is famous for the mouth-watering drama it serves up, and even though American Pharaoh and Itsaknockout come into the race with contrasting billings, anything can happen.
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