2020 Kentucky Derby Rescheduled, Latest Betting Odds

The first Saturday of May is synonymous with the Kentucky Derby, but now for the first time since the Second World War, the Run for the Roses will not be run on that day.

Churchill Downs announced that it is postponing the first jewel of the Triple Crown until September 5, and it has not yet been determined when the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes would be run. It is expected that the Preakness will be run two or three weeks later, and likely the Belmont Stakes would then be run in October.

Futures Bettors Will Have to Wait

For horseplayers who have already placed Kentucky Derby future wagers, it looks like you will be holding on to your tickets for four additional months.

Churchill Downs, which has taken more than $1.5 million in Derby futures, announced all wagers would be “honored” for the September 5 date. Sportsbooks look likely to follow suit rather than offer refunds.

Part of the allure of Derby futures is finding a young horse months in advance that looks likely to peak on the first Saturday of May. That is no longer the case, and the extra four months will benefit some horses and perhaps not so much for others.

Some horseplayers are venting their frustration and want refunds. I reached out to a few longtime Las Vegas players to ask their opinion.

Among those I reached was legendary Las Vegas oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough, who told me, “William Hill is using ‘whenever and wherever.’ That has been standard Las Vegas policy through the years. It’s fair.”

Extra Rest Has Benefited Maxfield

One of the top juveniles last year was Maxfield, who was taking plenty of action in Derby future wagering. The colt broke his maiden in his debut and then won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland last October. An ankle injury sent him to the sidelines.

The colt returned to the morning work tab on February 17 and has had five works but was unlikely to be able to get a couple of prep races in and make it to Louisville on the first Saturday of May.

Now, with four months more for trainer Brendan Walsh to prepare the colt, he is worth taking another look at. He is currently listed at +1600 at Bovada in Kentucky Derby future betting.

Charltan is the Horse to Beat

Charltan is the current betting favorite at +550 and he too may benefit from the Derby being delayed by four months. The Bob Baffert trainee did not make his debut until February 16 where he ran huge breaking his maiden, then returned to trounce first-level optional claimers on March 14.

The colt may be the best of a strong group of three-year-olds in Baffert’s barn, but has not made a start in stakes company. With the likelihood that Churchill Downs adds some points races this spring and summer, he has plenty of time to qualify for the Derby.

Tiz the Law is the second choice at Bovada at +650 and the delay likely won’t help him. The colt looked primed to peak on the first Saturday of May.

The Barclay Tagg trainee won the Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park impressively and is being pointed toward the Florida Derby (G1) on March 28. With 22 Derby points, he still needs a win or a runner-up finish to stamp his ticket to the Kentucky Derby.

Baffert is Primed for More Derby Success

Baffert is locked and loaded looking for another Derby win. He trains Authentic and Nadal, who are the co-third choices in early Derby betting at Bovada at +750.

Authentic won the San Felipe (G2) in his last start and is being pointed toward the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4.

Nadal won the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park and his next start likely will come in either the Santa Anita Derby or Arkansas Derby (G1).

There are still eight Road to the Kentucky Derby points races on the calendar. The Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland was cancelled.

However, we likely are going to see races like the Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park and the Travers (G1) at Saratoga become Derby points races this summer.

Handicapper Michael Dempsey will be covering the Triple Crown for Odds Shark and his full card reports with selections, analysis, fair odds line and wagering recommendations for major tracks can be found daily at TurfnSport.com.

Odds as of March 19 at Bovada