2016 Kentucky Derby Odds: Nyquist and Exaggerator Continue to Top Betting Board

With a little more than a week left until the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby, not much has changed atop the betting odds board regarding the favorites to win the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

Unbeaten Nyquist remains the +300 favorite (bet $100 to win $300) on the Kentucky Derby odds at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark, with Exaggerator still listed as the second choice at +800 (bet $100 to win $800).

The 2016 Kentucky Derby will take place on May 7, with bettors wondering if any horse will be able to duplicate what American Pharoah accomplished last year in winning the Triple Crown for the first time since Affirmed in 1978.

Many believe Nyquist has a shot considering his perfect 7-0 record, which includes wins in the 2015 FrontRunner Stakes, 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and 2016 Florida Derby, all Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races.

It also helps that the Summerhill Farm-bred colt is trained by Doug O’Neill, who worked with 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner I’ll Have Another. O’Neill would love to have another shot at winning the Triple Crown after I’ll Have Another was forced to scratch from the Belmont Stakes due to tendinitis.

But Nyquist (130 points) finished second in the Road to the Kentucky Derby point standings behind leader Gun Runner (151), who is +1000 to win at Churchill Downs along with Mohaymen.

Gun Runner has won four of his five starts, including the 2016 Risen Star Stakes and 2016 Louisiana Derby. He also finished fourth at the 2015 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes behind winner Airoforce (+5000), Mor Spirit (+1800) and Mo Tom (+1600).

Mohaymen was previously the second choice of oddsmakers before Exaggerator’s strong finish in the qualifying races moved him up.

Exaggerator participated in five Road to the Kentucky Derby races overall, winning the 2015 Delta Downs Jackpot and more recently the 2016 Santa Anita Derby on April 9, which really turned him into a serious contender at Churchill Downs.

The last two qualifying races were won by Creator (+2000) and Collected (+6600). Creator won the Arkansas Derby on April 16 and ended up ranked sixth in the point standings with 110, just behind Outwork (120) and Brody’s Cause (114), who are +2000 and +1200, respectively.