Kentucky Derby 2015 Contenders: Compelling Odds for Favorites in the Field

Early odds were placed on the 2015 Kentucky Derby's contenders, and bettors wasted little time placing wagers on their favorites. As a result, the lines have already shifted, as the prices of horses getting plenty of betting action have become slightly more expensive.

Of course, wagering on a horse this early in the proceedings can be a risky endeavor. The post-position draw has yet to take place, and there's always a chance of an unfortunate starting position—most notably the dreaded No. 1 gate right alongside the rail. Although, early betting can also be favorable, as a good draw will likely further increase a contender's price tag.

So, here's the burning question with just five days until the first leg of the Triple Crown commences: What are the most compelling odds for horses in this year's field? Let's first take a look at the latest lines provided by Vegas oddsmakers and delve into recent betting trends.

2015 Kentucky Derby Odds

Horse	Odds
American Pharoah	13-5
Dortmund	4-1
Carpe Diem	15-2
Mubtaahij	10-1
Materiality	14-1
Firing Line	16-1
Frosted	16-1
International Star	20-1
Upstart	20-1
El Kabeir	33-1
Far Right	33-1
Bolo	40-1
Danzig Moon	40-1
Itsaknockout	40-1
Mr. Z	40-1
Ocho Ocho Ocho	40-1
Keen Ice	50-1
Tencendur	66-1

Kentucky Derby odds provided by Odds Shark.

Analyzing Betting Trends

American Pharoah opened as the odds-on favorite at 2-1, and he remains the favorite at 13-5. With a bit of a higher price tag, it's safe to say he's been seeing plenty of betting action over the past week, and that should continue right up until post time.

Plenty of hype surrounds Pharoah, as the three-year-old colt has been dominant this year, recently winning the Arkansas Derby by eight lengths over Kentucky Derby contenders Far Right and Mr. Z after a sparkling performance. Take a look at his smooth stride, excellent stamina and great finishing ability at Arkansas:

Adding to Pharoah's allure, 35-year veteran clocker Gary Young had some lofty praise regarding the horse during an interview with Jonathan Lintner of The Courier-Journal: "[American Pharoah] 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."

Uncredited/Associated Press

Dortmund, another Bob Baffert-trained horse, enters the Derby as the second favorite. One of the biggest horses in the field, Dortmund's long legs give him an excellent stride and allow him to maintain a strong pace. He's a good closer, winning the Santa Anita Derby by 4 ¼ lengths; however, it's unclear if the added distance at Churchill Downs will be a factor here.

Still, it's difficult to see many negatives in wagering on Dortmund, as he's unbeaten in six career races, beating several Kentucky Derby contenders, including Firing Line (twice), along the way.

Carpe Diem rounds out the top three entering the Derby, holding as the third favorite with 15-2 odds. He's been brilliant in 2015 thus far, winning the Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes in convincing fashion. Here's a look at his phenomenal run at Keeneland, defeating Derby contenders Danzig Moon and Ocho Ocho Ocho:

The colt's pre-Derby work has been solid as well. Here's what trainer Todd Pletcher had to say during an interview with Claire Novak of Bloodhorse.com:

"

I thought he breezed great. There's very little I would change about the work. Sometimes in the dark they'll be a little more settled and last time we were out there around 10:15 a.m. or whatever it was, there was a little bit of a crowd there and he was probably just a little excited about that.

But (today) he was very settled, (in a) very good, progressive breeze. He picked it up each eighth, finished very well, galloped out good, and got it in over a perfect surface, so we're happy with it.

"

If you're looking for some sleepers to wager on, take notice of the recent betting trends of Mubtaahij and International Star.

Mubtaahij was impressive earlier this year, winning the UAE Derby (G2), and that earned him Kentucky Derby odds of 12-1. Since then, his odds dropped to 9-1, but he recently began to receive some action and has been bumped up to 10-1.

International Star finished first in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings. He put on a sparkling display in March, winning the Louisiana Derby, defeating Derby contenders Stanford and War Story. He opened April at 22-1 and dropped to 16-1 but has since seen plenty of action and now sits at 20-1 odds.