The Kentucky Derby field was an odd one to put together this year. There were big upsets all over the country in the biggest races of the year, and that has taken a crop of three-year olds that was originally considered to be top heavy and turned it into a group that really could be primed to see a big upset happen.
The Kentucky Derby is one of the premier events of the year on the horse racing calendar and shouldn't be missed by bettors on Saturday, May 6, 2017. Post-time from Churchill Downs is scheduled for 6:34 p.m. ET, and all of the action can be seen live on NBC.
Kentucky Derby Morning Line Odds and Kentucky Derby Post Positions
1: Lookin At Lee 20/1
2: Thunder Snow 20/1
3: Fast and Accurate 50/1
4: Untrapped 30/1
5: Always Dreaming 5/1
6: State of Honor 30/1
7: Girvin 15/1
8: Hence 15/1
9: Irap 20/1
10: Gunnevera 15/1
11: Battle of Midway 30/1
12: Sonneteer 50/1
13: J Boys Echo 20/1
14: Classic Empire 4/1
15: McCraken 5/1
16: Tapwrit 20/1
17: Irish War Cry 6/1
18: Gormley 15/1
19: Practical Joke 20/1
20: Patch 30/1
Top Contenders
Classic Empire is an obvious choice to be the favorite at the Kentucky Derby. He won the Arkansas Derby after a poor start, and he proved to be a steady horse in the biggest race of his career. This is a much bigger field than he's used to, but aside from the weird Hopeful Stakes when he tossed Irad Ortiz and the Holy Bull Stakes when he was fighting a foot problem and finished third, has hasn't been beaten in his career. The fact that he's a 4 to 1 choice though, makes him the longest-priced favorite we've had in the Derby in the last four years. Each of the last three Derby favorites has come out on top.
There is a group of three just behind Classic Empire who will be expected to contend as well. Always Dreaming (5/1), McCraken (5/1) and Irish War Cry (6/1) are all going to be in the running to ultimately close as the favorite on the odds to win the Kentucky Derby, but almost certainly, they'll go off as the second, third and fourth choices in some order.
Aside from that, you've got a boatload of ponies with big question marks.
Thunder Snow might be the best horse in the field at 20 to 1, but he's got a poor post at No. 2 and has never raced in America in his career.
No. 6 State of Honor was the second favorite at the Florida Derby and finished five lengths off from Always Dreaming. He's now set at 30 to 1 to beat his nemesis and the rest of the field in the Derby.
Girvin, the winner of the Louisiana Derby and the Risen Star Stakes, isn't getting a lot of respect out of the No. 7 post at 15 to 1, but that's largely because horses who have come from the Fair Grounds have been horrible on Derby Day in recent years.
No. 9 Irap was a maiden before winning the Blue Grass Stakes as a 31 to 1 longshot, and now, he's set at 20 to 1 to win the Derby.
Gunnevera will break from the middle of the field at post No. 10, and he was almost even money at the Florida Derby and is suddenly set at 15 to 1.
Gormley? He won the Santa Anita Derby at 6 to 1 and seemingly has gotten no respect here in the Kentucky Derby at 15 to 1.
Kentucky Derby Picks
These last two horses we listed are the two we're keeping a close eye on come Derby Day. We don't think that any of these colts are necessarily all that much better than the rest. Classic Empire is the logical choice for sure, but Gormley is rated third in this field by Prime Power, and Gunnevera was good enough to be nearly odds-on against two really good horses just a few weeks ago at the Florida Derby.
Victor Espinoza has a history of doing well in this race, and we can't help but wonder if this is going to be his day again. Gormley presents fantastic odds, and we aren't going to shy away from him, especially at this whopping price of 15 to 1. Stick him in your exotics with Gunnevera and Classic Empire.
Kentucky Derby Odds: #18 Gormley - #4 Classic Empire - #10 Gunnevera
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
