Kentucky Derby 2018 Odds: Early Look at Vegas' Lines for Each Horse in Field
Justify remains the joint-favourite, along with Mendelssohn, with oddsmakers to win the 2018 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 5.
However, there are many other strong contenders in the field, including Magnum Moon. Meanwhile, My Boy Jack is the outside option brave bettors should back.
Here are the latest odds to win, ahead of Tuesday's draw, per Bovada (h/t OddsShark and Mike Dempsey):
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- Justify: +400 (wager $100 to win $400)
- Mendelssohn: +400
- Audible: +600
- Magnum Moon: +800
- Bolt d'Oro: +900
- Good Magic: +1100
- Vino Rosso: + +1600
- Hofburg: +1600
- Noble Indy: +2000
- Solomini: +2200
- My Boy Jack: +2200
- Entitled: +2500
- Promises Fulfilled: +3300
- Free Drop Billy: +3300
- Flameaway: +3300
- Restoring Hope: +4000
- Firenze Fire:+4000
- Lone Sailor: +4000
- Combatant: +4000
- Reride: +5000
- Snapper Sinclair: +5000
- Bravazo: +5000
- Instilled Regard: +5000
- Sporting Chance: +6600
- Givemeaminute: +1000
- Dream Baby Dream: +1000
As favourites go, Justify's case to win is as compelling as any in recent history. Dempsey cited the presence of Bob Baffert, who has trained four previous winners at Churchill Downs, including Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, as a key factor.
However, Dempsey also urged caution by referencing the so-called "Apollo Curse" superstition. The 1882 Run for the Roses was the last time the race winner hadn't competed as a two-year-old.
Even so, it's tough to look past Justify, who enters with a 3-0 record. If there is a strong candidate to upset the odds, it's joint-favourite Mendelssohn.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the powerful three-year-old streaked to an impressive victory at the UAE Derby in March. Ryan Moore's place in the saddle is one more reason why Mendelssohn should be fancied.
Moore also rode the horse to a win in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and the 34-year-old has a "long-held ambition to win the Churchill Downs spectacular," per Sky Sports.
Like Justify, Magnum Moon missed out on the experience of racing as a two-year-old. Even so, xbtv.com's Jeff Siegel told Ed McNamara of Newsday: "On his best day, Magnum Moon is fantastic."
Trained by Todd Pletcher, who saw Always Dreaming win here last year, Magnum Moon can easily make odds of 8-1 look tempting.
Of the outsiders, My Boy Jack, valued at 22-1, is an intriguing case.
SportsLine's Jody Demling (h/t CBS Sports) has credited the colt's pace as well as the consistency shown previously at Churchill Downs: "My Boy Jack will be closing late in the Derby, which should have a very strong pace. He always runs a solid race."
My Boy Jack has been building a solid reputation, with West Point Thoroughbreds recently purchasing an interest, per Blood-Horse. West Point's Terry Finley praised the "versatility" of the Keith Desormeaux-trained son of Creative Cause, according to the same report.
Outside picks will find it tough to spring a surprise in a field front-loaded with this many top contenders. It's probably still safe to back Justify, but Mendelssohn and Magnum Moon won't make things easy on race day.
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