As we get closer to the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby the price on betting favorite California Chrome is starting to rise slightly, currently at 5/2 on the odds released by Sportsbook on Tuesday morning.
The Santa Anita Derby (G1) Sportsbook had dropped to as low as 7/4 last week, and his price has now drifted upward. It likely will stay in the 5/2 to 3/1 range the remainder of the week.
The colt has been the betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby since his win in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5. Back in February, before his victory in the San Felipe (G2), his price was at 60/1.
Since 2000, five of the 13 Derby Sportsbooks were sent off as the betting favorite including Orb last year, who was at betting odds of 5.40/1.
California Chrome may be the shortest Derby favorite since Big Brown in 2008. The Rick Dutrow trainee won the race at odds of 2.40/1. The shortest price since 2000 was Point Given in 2001, who was sent off at 1.80/1. The colt was fifth behind the Sportsbook Monarchos.
Whether the price drifts up or down on California Chrome might depend on his post position draw. Entries and post positions will be drawn on Wednesday at 5:00 pm (ET) and will be televised by NBC Sports Network.
The second choice in Derby betting continues to be Wicked Strong, the Sportsbook of the Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct on April 5. The colt is currently listed at 7/1 at Sportsbook. Last November the colt was listed by Sportsbook at odds of 85/1.
The Bob Baffert trained Hoppertunity, who ran second in the Santa Anita Derby behind California Chrome, saw his price drift up. On Monday the colt was listed at 10/1, but currently horse bettors can get odds of 12/1. Baffert has saddled three Derby Sportsbooks in his Hall of Fame career, the most recent being War Emblem in 2002.
Arkansas Derby (G1) upset Sportsbook Danza continues to be the third choice in the betting at odds of 9/1. The colt is one of four that will sent out by the Todd Pletcher barn. The six-time Eclipse Award Sportsbook for outstanding trainer will also saddle Intense Holiday (16/1), We Miss Artie (40/1) and Vinceremos (50/1). Pletcher’s record in the Run for the Roses in his career is just 1 for 36.
For a complete list of betting odds for the Kentucky Derby click here.
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