Kentucky Derby Day 2024 Betting Guide And Best Bets

14 days ago

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Huge longshot Rich Strike (80/1) with jockey Sonny Leon (left) wins the 2022 Kentucky Derby at ... [+] Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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The horses are nearing the paddock and starting gate as the 150th Kentucky Derby approaches on Saturday, May 4. The opening parimutuel odds and post positions were set Saturday, April 27, and the leading favorites are getting more attention and bets including the favorite Fierceness. But before Saturday’s headliner and record $5 million race at 6:57 p.m. ET, there are eight other graded stakes to watch and wager on including four Grade 1 races at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Also, Friday’s $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks at 5:51 p.m. ET on FanDuelTV and USA Network headlines seven graded stakes races at Churchill Downs. Horse racing fans can stream the Kentucky Oaks and Saturday’s Run for the Roses day, along with other big stakes races on Peacock.

Check out the Kentucky Derby Stakes horse profiles and picks, odds, jockeys and other horse racing content, then stream the Kentucky Derby as part of the big race day coverage from around the country on TVG—a leading wagering website and horse racing network powered by FanDuel Racing.

Kentucky Derby Odds And How To Bet On Horse Racing

Kentucky Derby Day Stakes Races And Picks

Along with FanDuel Racing Kentucky Derby picks, coverage and content, I turned to the experts at Horse Racing Nation and its Super Screener time-tested research methodology for more picks and insight on the Kentucky Derby and biggest stakes races Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Race 12 — $5 Million Kentucky Derby #4 Catching Freedom (8/1) 17 Fierceness (5/2) #2 - Sierra Leone (3/1)

The Super Screener lands on #4 Catching Freedom as the Super Screener Top Win and Top Value pick in the 20-horse field. Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom is trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat. If #17 Fierceness runs back to either of his two best races including his 13-length win in the Florida Derby, then he wins this for trainer Todd Pletcher and 3-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey John Velazquez.

Kentucky Derby hopeful Catching Freedom works out at Churchill Downs Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in ... [+] Louisville, Ky. The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 4. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Associated Press

Prior to Sierra Leone winning the Blue Grass Stakes, HRN noted that the Chad Brown-trained son of the great Gun Runner “has tripled up BRIS Late Pace figures of 95+ with a steady pattern of improvement which is very bullish.” Now he heads into the Kentucky Derby in top form off another big, and “he’s working like a horse sitting on a big race.” A poor post position draw for the best deep closer in the field will have jockey Tyler Gaffalione weaving his colt through traffic hoping to get a clear run to the wire.

The Super Screener has isolated 4 of the 14 long shots in the Kentucky Derby that have the best shot to hit the Trifecta/Superfecta with #7 Honor Marie leading the pack followed by #19 Resilience, #15 Domestic Product and #18 Stronghold.

Kentucky Derby Contenders Fun Facts

Will the Japanese horse #11 Forever Young become the first Japanese and UAE Derby runner to win the Run for the Roses?

Race 11 - $1 Million Turf Classic Stakes #5 Program Trading (9/2) #11 Naval Power (7/2) #6 I’m Very Busy (4/1)

The Grade 1 Turf Classic is the traditional race that leads into the Kentucky Derby, and this year’s edition is coming up really strong. A field of 11 turf stakes runners will contest the 1 1/8 mile (9 furlongs) distance on the turf course that is going to have some give to it. Moderate payoff potential with #5 Program Trading a top win contender offering top value for trainer Chad Brown with Flavien Prat riding. Brown also trains #6 I’m Very Busy and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides. #11 Navel Power breaks from the far outside trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by Frankie Dettori.

The top longshot is #10 Siege of Boston with other horses to consider using in exacta and trifecta wagering including #7 Webslinger (10/1), #1 Integration (5/1) and #4 Far Bridge (5/1).

Race 10 - $1 Million Churchill Downs Stakes #10 Gun Pilot (10/1) #8 Minnesota Ready (15/1) #3 Bo Cruz (10/1)

High payoff potential in this 7 furlong Grade 1 race with 11 runners prior to any scratches. “Very little separates this field coming out of Super Screener scoring, which usually indicates chaos will reign and the payoffs could be bountiful,’ HRN notes. Top value on Gun Pilot and Bo Cruz with Minnesota Ready a top longshot pick. Others to use in exact and trifecta wagering include #11 Hoist the Gold (7-2) #2 Tejano Twist (4-1) #4 Mr. Wireless (5-1) #7 Track Mate (12-1).

Race 9 - $600,000 American Turf Stakes #5 Legend of Time (7/2) #4 Formidable Man (15/1) #14 Agate Road (5/1)

High payoff potential in this 1 1/16 mile Grade 2 race. According to the Super Screener, this race goes through the Charles Appleby-trained horse #5 Legend of Time. with jockey Frankie Dettori riding. The horse ships in from Dubai, and that after that, is a wide, wide open race between a full field of 14 runners. The #11 Cagino (10/1), #12 Abrumar (10/1) and #1 Twirling Point (15/1) are additions underneath for a big payoff in the exacta, trifecta and superfecta.

Race 8 - $600,000 Pat Day Mile #7 Who Dey (10/1) #11 Vlahos (8/1) #8 Top Conor (5/2)

Very high payoff potential in this one-turn mile race with a full field of 12 three-year-old runners. Three win contenders with top win pick #7 Who Dey also a top value and top board hitter. Others to consider using underneath in exacta and trifecta wagering include #12 Nash (3/1) and #2 Beeline (10/1).

Follow more Kentucky Derby race day coverage, odds and picks on the biggest races as horse racing takes to the track at Churchill Downs for the Run for the Roses and the biggest day of races yet in 2024.

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