Kentucky Derby Picks — Betting Preview and Predictions (May 2)

The first Saturday in May means that the eyes of the world will be on Churchill Downs, as the legendary Kentucky Derby is staged. Every runner in the field will have Triple Crown dreams, but the hopes of just one runner in the field will remain alive after this weekend’s race. Find the odds and our Kentucky Derby picks here.

Odds

Kentucky Derby Recent Winners

Kentucky Derby: Event Information

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Race Preview

One of the world’s biggest races is set for this Saturday, as the opening leg of the Triple Crown in the United States is staged at Churchill Downs. Horses involved will be aiming to join the legendary roll of honor, which includes iconic equines such as Secretariat, Whirlaway, and American Pharoah.

Todd Pletcher’s Renegade heads the betting. However, a low draw is far from ideal. The three-year-old son of Into Mischief has won on back-to-back starts this year, and was incredibly impressive when winning the G1 Arkansas Derby by four lengths from Silent Tactic last time out.

A strong case could be made that Commandment will start the Derby as the post-time favorite. The three-year-old, also by Into Mischief, has won impressively on three starts this season, holding important form angles on The Puma and Chief Wallabee after recently landing the G1 Florida Derby. That could be the crucial prep race worth following.

Both The Puma and Chief Wallabee are also capable of getting involved this weekend, with the latter likely to benefit from the application of first-time headgear for last year’s winning trainer, Will Mott.

The Mott family will also be represented by Will’s son, Riley, this weekend. Albus is his outside chance, but Incredibolt could be an interesting contender. The three-year-old won the Virginia Derby impressively last month, and has twice won at Churchill Downs.

So Happy will be one of the stories in this year’s Kentucky Derby. The Mark Glatt runner should be considered a leading hope after striking impressively when upped in distance in the G1 Santa Anita Derby at the start of April.

Bob Baffert will also hold leading hopes in the Derby this year, but Potente will have a huge challenge reversing the Santa Anita Derby form with So Happy.

Emerging Market should be respected after impressively striking on back-to-back starts for Chad Brown. International hopes will likely hinge on Danon Bourbon, but it remains to be seen how strong the form of his Fukuryu Stakes is.

Kentucky Derby Picks

The Santa Anita Derby could provide the most important angle for this year’s Derby, but our confidence is with Chief Wallabee to reverse the form.

A slow run race didn’t suit last time, and the inclusions of Intrepido, Litmus Test, and Six Speed will ensure he will get a much faster pace to track down on Saturday.

Commandment and The Puma are musts for Exotics, while at bigger prices, Incredibolt and Golden Tempo could be coming late in the day with their challenges from the back of the pack.