We are just over four months away from the first Saturday of May and the Kentucky Derby (G1), and it is not too early to get a bet down.
Sportsbook is offering future wagering on horses, trainers and jockeys for the Run for the Roses, which will be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6.
Trainer Mark Casse is one of Canada’s best conditioners and is the current betting favorite in early Derby wagering on trainers at Sportsbook at odds of +600.
Casse trains Classic Empire, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in November at Santa Anita and is the current betting favorite at +500 at Sportsbook and is the leader in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby four times including in 2015 with American Pharoah, who went on to become the first Triple Crown Sportsbook in nearly four decades.
Baffert always has a barn full of talented Derby contenders and this year is no different. His current odds to be the winning trainer of the Derby stand at +800 at Sportsbook.
His most promising colt is Mastery, an undefeated son of Candy Ride who won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) in his last start and is perfect in three outings.
Baffert also has contender Klimt, Sportsbook of the Del Mar Futurity (G1). The colt followed that up with a runner-up finish in the Frontrunner (G1) but was a disappointing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Baffert’s Show Me Da Lute has just two starts under his belt, including a fifth in the Los Alamitos Futurity last time out in his stakes debut.
Trainer Todd Pletcher does not have a stellar record in the Derby, winning with only Super Saver in 2010, but again this year has a talented group of juveniles. His current Derby odds at Sportsbook are +1000.
Among his best hopefuls so far are Syndergaard, Theory, Sonic Mule, and Fact Finding.
Handicapper Michael Dempsey will be covering the Road to the Kentucky Derby for OddsShark and his full card reports with selections, analysis, fair odds line and wagering recommendations for major tracks can be found daily at turfnsport.com.