Kentucky Derby 2018: Complete Odds and Early Favorites to Consider
The Run for the Roses is still a few days away, but a few horses from the field of competitors in this year's Kentucky Derby have separated from the pack and distinguished themselves as contenders.
As the first leg of this year's Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby is one of horse racing's most historic events and is known as the most exciting two minutes in sports for good reason.
The May 5 race at Churchill Downs will feature some of the most athletic colts in the world, all of whom will be looking to become the first horse to clinch the Triple Crown since American Pharaoh accomplished the feat in 2015.
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With that in mind, let's take a look at two of this year's top contenders.
2018 Kentucky Derby
When: Saturday, May 5
Post time: 6:50 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Stream: NBC Sports
Purse: $2 million
Kentucky Derby Contenders (odds courtesy of OddsShark)
Justify +300
Mendelssohn +400
Audible +650
Magnum Moon +800
Bolt d'Oro +900
Good Magic +1100
Vino Rosso +1600
Hofburg +1800
Noble Indy +2000
Solomini +2200
My Boy Jack +2500
Enticed +2500
Promises Fulfilled +3300
Free Drop Billy +3300
Flameaway +3300
Restoring Hope +4000
Firenze Fire +4000
Lone Sailor +4000
Quip +4000
Combatant +4000
Reride +5000
Snapper Sinclair +5000
Bravazo +5000
Dream Baby Dream +6600
Early Favorites
Justify +300
The oddsmakers favorite to win this year's derby, Justify, looks to be the horse to beat going into the final days of race preparation.
The colt is looking to put the "Apollo Curse" behind him, as Justify looks to become the first horse to not race as a two-year-old to win the derby since 1882.
While history is not on Justify's side, just about everything else is.
No horse has looked better in training this week than Justify; and trained by Bob Baffert, the same man who led American Pharoah to a Triple Crown victory, the young colt is in good hands going into next Saturday's race.
Bolt d'Oro +900
For all the hype the likes of Mendelssohn (+400), Audible (+650) and Magnum Moon (+800) have been getting over the past couple of days, it's easy to forget about the rest of the field.
But one horse that should not be overlooked is Bolt d'Oro, who could be (no pun intended) the dark horse of this race.
The three-year-old colt got off to a fast start in his career as a two-year-old, winning his first three starts including the Del Mar Futurity and FrontRunner Stakes.
Now a three-year-old, d'Oro hasn't had quite the same amount of success as he had a year ago but is looking strong during training the past couple days, recording a 1:24 over seven furlongs, per The Blood-Horse.
At +900, Bolt d'Oro is an attractive price for the ambitious bettors keeping an eye on the derby as the payout from a victory could pay dividends. Don't sleep on this colt just because he isn't favored to win—everyone likes an upset.
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