Odds to Win 2013 Kentucky Derby

With just four weeks to go before the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby, the undefeated Verrazano solidified his position as the betting favorite in Future Wagering Odds released by Bovada.

The Todd Pletcher trainee won the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday, April 6, his fourth win in as many starts and will head to Louisville on the first Saturday of May as the likely betting favorite.

With jockey John Velazquez aboard, the three-year-old son of More Than Ready held off the fast closing Normandy Invasion by three-quarters of length as the betting favorite in the Wood, returning his backers $3.60 for a $2 wager.

Velazquez is also the regular rider of Orb, who is the second choice in Future Wagering Odds at 5-1. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the colt is coming off victories in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 1 Florida Derby, both at Gulfstream Park.

Velazquez will have to choose between the two betting favorites over the next few weeks. The decision is now a bit more complicated as the jockey went down in a spill on Sunday at Aqueduct, fracturing a rib and chipping a bone in his right wrist.

The jockey will be on the sidelines for a couple of weeks but hopes to be back in action for the Run for the Roses.

Goldencents is now the third choice at 7-1 after his impressive victory on Saturday, April 6 in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park. The colt is trained by Doug O’Neill, who saddled last year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another.

Flashback, who was second in the Santa Anita Derby and currently listed at 14-1, was taken off the Derby Trail late Sunday night by his trainer Bob Baffert. The colt came out of his race on Saturday with a small chip in his right knee.

The final two major Derby preps are coming up this Saturday, the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and the Grade 1 Blue Grass over polytrack at Keeneland.

Among the major contenders for the Arkansas Derby are Oxbow, who is currently listed at 16-1 in future wagering, and Falling Sky at 33-1. War Academy and Den’s Legacy are also pointing toward the race but are not currently listed at Bovada.

Among the major players in the Blue Grass are Java’s War, Will Take Charge, Noble Tune and Uncaptured.

Road to the Kentucky Derby
These are the final prep races for the Kentucky Derby coming up, each offering points toward a starting spot in the gate for the Run for the Roses:

Kentucky Derby Championship Series (points 100-40-20-10)
Apr. 13: Oaklawn Park: Arkansas Derby, Keeneland: Blue Grass

Wild Card races (points: 20-8-4-2)
Apr. 20: Keeneland: Lexington
Apr.27: Churchill Downs: Cliff’s Edge

Current odds to win as of April 8, 2013 provided by Bovada:
Verrazano 7/2
Orb 5/1
Goldencents 7/1
Normandy Invasion 8/1
Revolutionary 10/1
Itsmyluckyday 12/1
Flashback 14/1
Governor Charlie 14/1
Tiz a Minister 14/1
Lines Of Battle 16/1
Oxbow 16/1
Vyjack 16/1
Will Take Charge 16/1
Black Onyx 20/1
Uncaptured 20/1
Dice Flavor 25/1
Capo Bastone 33/1
Falling Sky 33/1
Overanalyze 33/1
Palace Malice 33/1
Super Ninety Nine 33/1
Title Contender 33/1
Bern Identity 40/1
Dynamic Sky 40/1
Hes Had Enough 40/1
Power Broker 40/1
Pick of The Litter 150/1