Baffert May Have Top Two Derby Betting Favorites by Saturday

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is no stranger to those that follow the Kentucky Derby, as he has started 19 runners in the Run for the Roses and has won three times— back-to-back in 1997 and 1998 with Silver Charm and Real Quiet and again in 2002 with War Emblem.

We are still over four months away from the 2015 Kentucky Derby, and Baffert already has two promising runners that are taking plenty of early Kentucky Derby betting.

American Pharoah has been an early favorite at Bodog ever since the ridgling won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept. 3. He followed that up with a win in the Frontrunner (G1) on Sept. 27 and was going to be the betting favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Unfortunately, a foot bruise him knocked him out of the Breeders’ Cup, but the injury was minor and he should be a force in the spring Derby prep races.

The son of Pioneerof the Nile is currently the Kentucky Derby betting favorite at Bodog at 10-1.

However, by Saturday night it may be another from the Baffert barn that has the honor of early betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Baffert sent out a strapping son of 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown named Dortmund on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, and the word was out the colt has talent, sent off as the 6-5 betting favorite. He did not disappoint, running 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.87 and rolling to a 4 ¾ length victory.

Next up for the colt was a first level optional claiming allowance race on Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs and he was again hammered at the betting windows, the overwhelming favorite in a field of 12.

Stalking the early pace while wide under jockey Martin Garcia, the colt came with a five wide bid around the far turn and drew away in the stretch to win by 7 ¾ lengths, returning $2.80.

Baffert is pointing the talented colt to Saturday’s $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G1), which will be run for the first time at Los Alamitos after previously being run at Hollywood Park.

The colt will likely be sent off as the betting favorite again, and with a win could get bet down in Kentucky Derby future betting below his stablemate American Pharoah.