With the 150th Kentucky Derby looming on the horizon, anticipation is building among racing enthusiasts. The official morning line odds were announced on April 29th, however, top betting sites have also unveiled futures odds for the prestigious Run for the Roses, kicking off the Triple Crown series.
Just a heads up, it’s important to consider your local regulations and available markets before diving into horse racing betting. For example, in Colorado, Bet365Â (check out our Bet365 Review) offers fixed odds, which can be an interesting option to explore.
This means that the odds you bet on, before the race, will determine your payout. However, this is the only state where fixed odds are available in the US. The most common option is the pari-mutuel model, where the payout is determined by the closing numbers, so keep that in mind.
Be sure to check what your local providers have available in your area.
Please remember to check your state’s legislature as horse racing betting might not be yet regulated where you reside.
Watch the 2024 Kentucky Derby
- When: Saturday, May 4, 2024
- Time: 02:30 PM ET
- Where: Churchill Downs
- How to Watch: NBC/Peacock
| Post Position | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Morning-Line Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dornoch | Danny Gargan | Luis Saez | 20-1 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | Chad Brown | Tyler Gaffalione | 3-1 |
| 3 | Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez | 20-1 |
| 4 | Catching Freedom | Brad Cox | Flavien Prat | 8-1 |
| 5 | Catalyctic | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Jose Ortiz | 30-1 |
| 6 | Just Steel | D. Wayne Lukas | Keith Asmussen | 20-1 |
| 7 | Honor Marie | Whit Beckman | Ben Curtis | 20-1 |
| 8 | Just A Touch | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux | 10-1 |
| 9 | Encino (Scratched) | Brad Cox | Axel Concepcion | 20-1 |
| 10 | T O Password | Daisuke Takayanagi | Kazushi Kimura | 30-1 |
| 11 | Forever Young | Yoshito Yahagi | Ryusei Sakai | 10-1 |
| 12 | Track Phantom | Steve Asmussen | Joel Rosario | 20-1 |
| 13 | West Saratoga | Larry Demeritte | Jesus Castanon | 50-1 |
| 14 | Endlessly | Michael McCarthy | Umberto Rispoli | 30-1 |
| 15 | Domestic Product | Chad Brown | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 30-1 |
| 16 | Grand Mo The First | Victor Barboza, Jr. | Emisael Jaramillo | 50-1 |
| 17 | Fierceness | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez | 5-2 |
| 18 | Stronghold | Phil D’Amato | Antonio Fresu | 20-1 |
| 19 | Resilience | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | 20-1 |
| 20 | Society Man | Danny Gargan | Frankie Dettori | 50-1 |
| 21 | Epic Ride | John Ennis | Adam Beschizza | 50-1 |
| 22* | Mugatu* | Jeff Engler | Joe Talamo | 50-1* Alternate |
2024 Kentucky Derby Race Info
- Race: 12
- Post Time: 6:45 PM ET
- Race Status: Grade 1
- Distance: Race 1 1/4 miles
- Conditions: Dirt
- Purse: $5,000,000
- Track: Left-handed
The excitement surrounding the “most exciting two minutes in sports” intensifies as the field for the 2024 Kentucky Derby has been set and with the post-position draw taking place on Saturday, April 27th, the morning-line odds are available.Â
A glance at the odds reveals a fiercely competitive field this year. Sierra Leone has emerged as the current favorite at 5/2 odds, overtaking the initial frontrunner, Fierceness, who now sits at 7/2.
The Field
Joining the fray are five three-year-old Thoroughbreds boasting odds ranging from 8/1 to 20/1. Despite longer odds, certain contenders have caught the eye of handicappers. Just a Touch, with odds at 16/1, has garnered acclaim from experts, making him a compelling prospect.
Trainer Brad Cox could have orchestrated an impressive showing at the Run for the Roses, with two more horses originally set to contend. Catching Freedom is priced around 12/1, while Encino got odds of 25/1, however, he was scratched from the race on April 30th. Catching Freedom enters on the back of a triumph at the Louisiana Derby, boasting three wins in five starts.
| HORSE | FUTURES ODDS |
|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | +250 |
| Fierceness | +300 |
| Forever Young | +800 |
| Catching Freedom | +1000 |
| Just a Touch | +1400 |
| Stronghold | +1400 |
| Endlessly | +2000 |
| Honor Marie | +2000 |
| Resilience | +2000 |
| Domestic Product | +2500 |
| Dornoch | +2500 |
| Epic Ride | +2500 |
| Just Steel | +2500 |
| Mystik Dan | +2500 |
| Society Man | +2500 |
| T O Password | +2500 |
| Track Phantom | +2500 |
| Catalyctic | +4000 |
| West Saratoga | +5000 |
| Grand Mo the First | +6600 |
Early Assessment
Insights into the Beyer Speed Figures (BSF) for the field offer valuable context. Developed by Andrew Beyer in the 1970s, BSF provides a standardized measure of performance, aiding in race analysis.
According to horse racing analyst Dave Bontempo, 28 of the last 32 Kentucky Derby victors boasted a BSF of at least 95. Remarkably, 11 of the past 14 winners recorded a BSF exceeding 100.
The prominence of BSF underscores Fierceness’ favoritism, having registered the two highest figures in the field, including a recent 110 in the Florida Derby. Notably, Forever Young presents an intriguing wildcard at 8/1 odds, though lacking BSF data due to being a Japanese contender.
