2015 Kentucky Derby: Prize Money Purse, Latest Vegas Odds Payouts and More
There's quite a lot on the line at Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
The 141st running at Churchill Downs offers much more than just a place in history and the beginning of a potential Triple Crown pursuit—it offers a significant amount of cash to the winner and those closest behind.
Bettors stand to earn on the event, too.
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The trick is to interpret the results of the post positions draw and all the surrounding factors well, so let's take a look at the odds and rewards and then break down some good moves folks can make before the gates open Saturday evening.
2015 Kentucky Derby Viewing Info
Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
When: Saturday, May 2, at 6:24 p.m. ET
Watch: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
2015 Kentucky Derby Post Positions and Odds
| 1 | Ocho Ocho Ocho | Elvis Trujillo | Jim Cassidy | 25-1 |
| 2 | Carpe Diem | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | 17-2 |
| 3 | Materiality | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | 16-1 |
| 4 | Tencendur | Manny Franco | George Weaver | 50-1 |
| 5 | Danzig Moon | Julien Leparoux | Mark Casse | 33-1 |
| 6 | Mubtaahij | Christophe Soumillion | Mike de Kock | 12-1 |
| 7 | El Kabeir (scratched) | Calvin Borel | John Terranova II | 33-1 |
| 8 | Dortmund | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | 15-4 |
| 9 | Bolo | Rafael Bejarano | Carla Gaines | 40-1 |
| 10 | Firing Line | Gary Stevens | Simon Callaghan | 16-1 |
| 11 | International Star | Miguel Mena | Mike Maker | 25-1 |
| 12 | Itsaknockout | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher | 33-1 |
| 13 | Keen Ice | Kent Desormeaux | Dale Romans | 40-1 |
| 14 | Frosted | Joel Rosario | Kiaran McLaughlin | 16-1 |
| 15 | War Story | Joe Talamo | Tom Amoss | 50-1 |
| 16 | Mr. Z | Ramon Vazquez | D. Wayne Lukas | 50-1 |
| 17 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | 13-5 |
| 18 | Upstart | Jose Ortiz | Rick Violette Jr. | 22-1 |
| 19 | Far Right | Mike Smith | Ron Moquett | 40-1 |
| 20 | Frammento* | Joe Bravo | Nick Zito | 50-1 |
All Kentucky Derby odds courtesy of Odds Shark. Note: Per Fox Sports, Stanford (No. 11 post) was scratched with Frammento taking his spot. Horses will move up one gate with Frammento starting from Gate 20. Per Jonathan Lintner of USA Today, El Kabeir (No. 7 post) scratched, leaving No. 1 vacant.
Payout
| $2 million | $1.24 million | $400,000 | $200,000 | $100,000 | $60,000 |
Payout info via TheTripleCrown.com.
Safest Tandem to Bet: Dortmund and Martin Garcia
Look, this would be American Pharoah most times, but even the field's most dominant horse might get lost in the pack out of a spot that has never won the Kentucky Derby, as recent developments above explain.
Instead, pay close attention to another Bob Baffert-trained horse. Dortmund was a great bet before Stanford's scratch and looks even better with the favorite in a tough spot.
What's not to like about Dortmund? The history is there considering he's sired by Big Brown, who looked to sweep to Triple Crown history after wins in the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before an unfortunate injury.
The performance is there, too, as Dortmund is a winner in six straight, the latest a triumph in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. The jockey is there as well thanks to the presence of Martin Garcia up top, who knows what it's like to be atop both American Pharoah and Dortmund.
For his part, Garcia seems comfortable with Dortmund.
"I'm happy with Dortmund," Garcia said, per Jennie Rees of The Courier-Journal. "I rode American Pharoah first time out and he didn't like the track at Del Mar. He was really nervous, didn't run at all. Then with the one race experience, he won the Del Mar Futurity."
Thanks to a quick burst, elite endurance and a favorable post position with one of his biggest adversaries diminished, Dortmund makes for a great bet.
Sleepers to Trust: Firing Line and Gary Stevens
Folks on the hunt for a decent payout and not looking to throw cash around in a blind manner on severe underdogs need look no further than the Simon Callaghan-trained Firing Line.
It's hard to ignore Firing Line coming out of a strong No. 10 post, especially after a strong path to the Kentucky Derby perhaps highlighted by a win in the Sunland Derby.
"Perhaps" because, while a second-place finish in February's Robert B. Lewis Stakes wasn't the desired end result, it's quite critical to point out Firing Line lost by just a head to the winner—Dortmund.
In other words, Firing Line has shown in the past he can run with the best. He will also be directed by the legendary Gary Stevens, a 52-year-old jockey who boasts eight victories in Triple Crown races, including three at the Kentucky Derby.
Firing Line features great opening speed, and under Stevens' guidance, it wouldn't be a shock to see him break away from the pack and stay up front with one or two others for the entire race.
Fresh off more than a month of rest and preparation with Stevens up top, Firing Line might be the name to topple all others at Churchill Downs and perhaps begin a Triple Crown pursuit of his own.
Stats and information via KentuckyDerby.com unless otherwise specified.
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