The Kentucky Derby on Saturday is shaping up to be a five-horse race, but long-shot bettors as usual will be eyeing all 20 of the thoroughbreds vying for the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs, the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Of the five horses in the 144th running of the derby in Louisville identified as strong contenders, going into Friday oddsmakers were picking Justify as their overwhelming favorite, according to the Bleacher Report.
Jockey Mike Smith, who already owns four victories in Triple Crown races, will be aboard Justify, bending the real odds even more in their favor.
Mendelssohn had opened as the early favorite, Sporting News reported, and while the horse is now rated second-best in "the Run for the Roses" by oddsmakers, jockey Ryan Moore boasts over 2,000 victories in Great Britain, Bleacher Report noted.
Magnum Moon was at 6-1, while both Bolt d'Oro and Audible were at 8-1.
Mangum Moon is descended from 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.
Bolt d’Oro has gotten off to a bad start, having been favored to take the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but ending in third, The Courier Journal reported.
A pulled muscle has slowed his training, but the horse has returned to form and reportedly is top condition for Saturday when “they’re off.”
Meanwhile, the buzz around Audible has gained the horse some betting interest from the Amazon subsidiary of the same name, CBS Sports reported.
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