2022 Kentucky Derby Odds, Betting Preview & Predictions
2022 Kentucky Derby Odds, Betting Preview & Predictions
Woodford Reserve will once again be the primary sponsor for this year’s Kentucky Derby, the 148th running of the fast two minutes in sports. With positioning, and more importantly Kentucky Derby odds, drawn on Monday, the 20-horse field is taking their final positions ahead of Saturday’s 6:57 PM Est start.
For the first time since 2019, Churchill Downs will be back to the 160,000+ fan capacity, as the iconic setting should provide for another legendary day of races. Unlike in years past, this year’s field has no clear-cut favorite, according to the latest Kentucky Derby odds, with a handful of horses in the 3/1-10/1 range that has what it takes to win.
Let’s take a closer look at Kentucky Derby odds, where things sit ahead of the big race, and who I have my eye on to bring home the top prize.
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Latest Kentucky Derby Odds
| Horse | Kentucky Derby Odds |
|---|---|
| Zandon | 3-1 |
| Epicenter | 7-2 |
| Messier | 8-1 |
| Mo Donegal | 10-1 |
| White Abarrio | 10-1 |
| Taiba | 12-1 |
| Smile Happy | 20-1 |
| Charge It | 20-1 |
| Cyberknife | 20-1 |
| Crown Pride | 20-1 |
| Simplification | 20-1 |
| Zozos | 20-1 |
| Happy Jack | 30-1 |
| Tiz The Bomb | 30-1 |
| Barber Road | 30-1 |
| Classic Causeway | 30-1 |
| Ethereal Road | 30-1 |
| Summer is Tomorrow | 30-1 |
| Tawny Port | 30-1 |
| Pioneer of Medina | 30-1 |
As the starting line walk approaches, just as he has been all week, Zandon (3/1) holds the top spot on the odds board, followed closely behind by Zandon (5/1). While there are some mid-tier horses such as Messier (7/1) and Mo Donegal (11/1) that have a real shot to win, the longer odds are where the big payouts might come.
Horses such as Simplication (22/1) and Barber Road (40/1) are two to keep an eye on as the day unfolds.
Kentucky Derby Betting Preview
Since being posted on Monday, we have already seen some line movement as the week has gone on. Opening up at 7/2 with the second-highest odds on the board, Epicenter has moved up to 3/1, as Zandon has sunk from 3/1 to 5/1.
Elsewhere on the Kentucky Derby odds board, Cyberknife has seen his odds improve, moving from 20/1 at open to 16/1 as of Friday afternoon. Other horses have seen a complete lack of interest, pointing towards no chance of winning, as Tany Port, Summer is Tomorrow, and Classic Causeway all started at 30/1 before dropping to 50/1, 66/1, and 40/1, respectively.
Kentucky Derby Picks & Predictions: Free Churchill Downs Picks
Messier to Show (+200) (Bet $100 to win $200)
For starters as a reminder, to win this bet, Messier must finish in the top-3 for it to cash. Here’s why I like that to happen.
Originally trained by legendary horse trainer Bob Baffert, Tim Yakteen is the “official” trainer now, but Messier already has the tutelage of the best of the best. As for Baffert for those who don't know, prior to Medina Spirit being stripped of his 2021 Derby, he was the all-time leader in Derby wins.
Jockey John Velazquez will be in the saddle, a winner of 15 Breeders’ Cups as well as three Kentucky Derbies in his own right.
What Horse To Bet On Today?
Epicenter
I was on Epicenter early in the week and so I agree with the line movement we saw since then. Trained by North America’s most winningest trainer, Steve Asmussen, he’s also got a legendary jockey in the saddle in Joel Rosario.
Winner of four of his past five races, including the similarly long Lousiana Derby, Epicenter has all the tools in his arsenal to perform great in this race. Whether to be to win, show (top-3), or place (top-2), Epicenter is a horse you will want on your ticket.
TVG $200 Risk-Free Bet For Kentucky Derby
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Just follow the very simple instructions below to claim the 2022 TVG promo code for the Kentucky Derby, giving you a $200 risk-free bet:
Step One) Click this link or click CLAIM NOW to ensure you qualify for the exclusive TVG promotion
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Step Three) Once you’ve entered your details and used our TVG promo code, you will need to deposit into your account. Remember, your first bet is risk-free up to $200, so we recommend depositing between $100 to $200 to maximize the value from the promo code.
Step Four) Now you’ve deposited, you need to make your qualifying bet. Your first single horse win-type bet is the qualifying bet. Therefore kind the horse you fancy in the Kentucky Derby and place your bet.
Johnny has been covering the sports betting markets and handicapping games for the better part of the past decade. Along the way, he has written for publications such as All-In Magazine, Blitz Predict, FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, and most recently, OddsChecker. In addition to giving out picks on Twitter, Johnny is the host of the podcast The Daily Sports Bet -- a 10 minute or less listen with actionable insights and no fluff or BS. Starting the podcast in June, he closed out 2021 up 26 units with a winning percentage of 55%.