Kentucky Derby 2016: Complete Odds and Analysis for Top Contenders

The 2016 Kentucky Derby doesn't begin until next Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, but it's not too early to look ahead at the top contenders and odds for "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports."

Post positions are yet to be drawn, which will have a rather significant impact on the odds and may impact the line between those projected to finish in the money and those who won't. Having said that, there appear to be a few who stand out above the rest of the prospective world-class field.

Below is a look at the latest odds from OddsShark.com, followed by analysis of the top horses in this year's 142nd edition of the Run for the Roses.

Horse	Odds
Nyquist	+333
Exaggerator	+800
Mohaymen	+800
Gun Runner	+1000
Brodys Cause	+1200
Destin	+1400
Mo Tom	+1600
Suddenbreakingnews	+1600
Mor Spirit	+1800
Outwork	+2000
Creator	+2000
Danzing Candy	+2500
Shagaf	+2500
My Man Sam	+2500
Swipe	+3300
Lani	+3000
Smokey Image	+3300
Chery Wine	+4000
Gift Box	+4000
Matt King Coal	+4000
Zulu	+5000
Whitmore	+5000
Dazzling Gem	+5000
Toms Ready	+5000
Airoforce	+5000
Cocked and Loaded	+5000
Flexibility	+5000
Greenpointcrusader	+6600
Adventist	+6600
Disreetness	+6600
Collected	+6600

Breakdown of Top Kentucky Derby Contenders

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

Nyquist is the clear favorite—and rightly so. With seven wins in as many career starts against stiff competition, he has proved time and again he has the goods to be a viable future Kentucky Derby champion.

Fresh off a triumph at the Florida Derby, Nyquist won his fourth Grade 1 race to go with two Grade 2 victories. Trainer Doug O'Neill said Friday he doesn't mind the heightened expectations and extra attention being paid to Nyquist.

"[...] You might say it's good pressure," said O'Neil, per the Associated Press' Richard Rosenblatt (via ABC News). "I'd rather be the Derby favorite than a horse that snuck in."

Nyquist was sired by Uncle Mo, who won five of his eight official starts and could've contended in the 2011 Kentucky Derby.

Unfortunately, Uncle Mo was scratched from Churchill Downs that year due to a gastrointestinal track problem. The horse's trainer, Todd Pletcher, lamented the missed opportunity was a "personal failure" and called Uncle Mo the Derby favorite.

Speaking of pedigree, among the two perceived biggest challengers to Nyquist, Mohaymen seems to be best suited for the winner's circle in Louisville based on his family tree.

Mohaymen boasts a lineage that features Triple Crown champions Secretariat and Seattle Slew as relatives, according to PedigreeQuery.com. North America's leading sire of the prior two years, Tapit, produced Mohaymen from as loaded a lineage as any horse in the Kentucky Derby field.

Although he suffered his first career loss in six starts at the Florida Derby and finished fourth, Mohaymen can't be counted out in the Triple Crown opener. He's won often enough to still be regarded as a top favorite and may even close the gap on Nyquist's odds margin based on the post he draws.

Steve Haskin of BloodHorse.com weighed in on how effortless Mohaymen's workout from Friday seemed:

As for the No. 2 co-favorite, Exaggerator, those who are willing to wager on him have to bear in mind that he has been less consistent than Nyquist and Mohaymen, with four wins in nine career races.

Further cause for concern is the fact Exaggerator has more wear and tear on his hooves than the other two current Churchill Downs favorites. While he didn't show any ill effects in a magnificent, 6 1/4-length victory at the Santa Anita Derby—on a sloppy track no less—Exaggerator may have reached his apex in that race.

But if Exaggerator does manage to come out on top in the Kentucky Derby and runs like he did at Santa Anita Park earlier this month, he's as well-built as any horse to handle the swift, two-week turnaround to the Preakness Stakes.

There are elements to like about all three of the top contenders, which should create yet another captivating Kentucky Derby this year.