Except for the pandemic year of 2020, the Kentucky Derby always takes place on the first Saturday in May. In 2023, the first Saturday in May happens on the sixth. The sixth is not that far away from now, which is why we’re listing the top three favorites, the top three contenders, and our top three long shots to wear the roses.
Check out four bold predictions for the 2023 Kentucky Derby so you can plan ahead your bets and place them on the Kentucky Derby lines.
2023 Kentucky Derby: Favorites, Contenders, Long Shots
Kentucky Derby Race Info:
When: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Where: Churchill Downs; Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Distance: 1+1⁄4 mileson dirt | 10 furlongs; 2 kms
Forte | Top Favorites
Kentucky Derby Odds: Forte +250
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Last race: Won Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 1 at Gulfstream
Todd Pletcher’s monster runner is undefeated since a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga in the second race. The Sanford happened last July.
Since then, Forte has won the Grade 1 Hopeful, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, and the Grade 1 Florida Derby. The horse is a beast.
Kentucky Derby Pick: Forte | Bet Forte to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Practical Move | Top Favorites
Kentucky Derby Odds: Practical Move +900
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez
Last race: Won Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8
No doubt, the Santa Anita Derby winner has the talent to win the Kentucky Derby. The problem if you want to back him is twofold.
First, trainer Tim Yakteen hasn’t had success running three-year-olds in America’s most popular horse race. Second, Practical Move struggled home in the SA Derby.
He did not look good crossing the finish line at 1 1/8 miles. The extra eighth of a mile in the Derby could be this one’s undoing.
Kentucky Derby Pick: Practical Move | Bet Practical Move to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Tapit Trice | Top Favorites
Kentucky Derby Odds: Tapit Trice +600
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Last race: Won Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland
Tapit Trice didn’t look great winning the Bluegrass. However, Pletcher has three weeks to get the Tapit sired runner ready for the biggest race of his life.
No doubt, breeding, overall, although untapped, talent and Pletcher’s horseman brilliance will have Tapit Trice running his best on the first Saturday in May.
Kentucky Derby Pick: Tapit Trice | Bet Tapit Trice to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Angel of Empire | Top Contenders
Kentucky Derby Odds: Angel of Empire +1000
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Last race: Won Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn
The Brad Cox trainee is the real deal. Veteran horseplayers like yours truly, love these type of runners who show ascending speed ratings, an electric turn of foot, come out of broodmares and are sired by runners with a ton of stamina, and hail from top barns.
Right now, Angel of Empire is the pick because the odds should be fair.
Kentucky Derby Pick: Angel of Empire | Bet Angel of Empire to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Two Phil’s | Top Contenders
Kentucky Derby Odds: Two Phil’s +2000
Trainer: Larry Rivelli
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
Last race: Won Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 25 at Turfway
The Larry Rivelli trained and Hard Spun sired runner took a massive speed rating jump when winning the Jeff Ruby Stakes at Turfway in the last.
But a bounce could be in order in Louisville. Also, the Jeff Ruby isn’t a top prep nowadays. Still, the speed rating rise suggests Two Phil’s has a shot. So we should consider this one a contender.
Kentucky Derby Pick: Two Phil’s | Bet Two Phil’s to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Kingsbarns | Top Contenders
Kentucky Derby Odds: Kingsbarns +1000
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Last race: Won Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 25 at Fair Grounds
Here’s another contender trained by Todd Pletcher. The Louisiana Derby victory was nice for sure. Kingsbarns, undefeated after three races, doesn’t have the usual style that wins the Derby.
Then again, if Kingsbarns gets an easy lead, he could be long gone. The front-runner has the stamina to get 1 ¼ miles. The question is whether he can do it after just 3 races.
Kentucky Derby Pick: Kingsbarns | Bet Kingsbarns to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Derma Sotogake | Top Long Shots
Kentucky Derby Odds: Derma Sotogake +1200
Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi
Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
Last race: Won Grade 2 UAE Derby on March 25 at Meydan
The UAE Derby winner has the talent to win a Grade 1 event like the Kentucky Derby. The question is on the stamina side where sire Mind Your Biscuits was a straight up sprinter.
Derma Sotogake runs like he can get the 1 ¼ miles. If he can, he’s more of a contender than a long shot. The guess here is that the Japanese horse gets lost in the betting because this Derby is deep with stateside talent.
Kentucky Derby Pick: Derma Sotogake | Bet Derma Sotogake to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Verifying | Top Long Shots
Kentucky Derby Odds: Verifying +1600
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Last race: Second in Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland
Triple Crown winner Justify sired this Brad Cox trained equine. Verifying almost pulled off the upset victory over Tapit Trice.
For sure, this one can win the Kentucky Derby. He’ll be a long shot because of the talent pool on the first Saturday in May. But if Verifying can get a cozy spot right behind Kingsbarns, he’ll get the jump on his rivals. Take this one seriously to pull off the Derby upset win.
Kentucky Derby Pick: Verifying | Bet Verifying to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Lord Miles | Top Long Shots
Kentucky Derby Odds: Lord Miles +2000
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Last race: Won Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 8 at Aqueduct
The Wood Memorial field wasn’t as deep this year as it has been in the past. Also, Lord Miles was all out to beat Dreamlike and Hit Show, two runners that aren’t close to being on Forte’s, Angel of Empire’s, or Tapit Trice’s level.
Still, Curlin sired and Lady Esme, Miles’ broodmare, shows A.P. Indy as the grandsire. So this one is a legit long shot choice.
Kentucky Derby Pick: Lord Miles | Bet Lord Miles to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Kentucky Derby Lines | Bet Kentucky Derby Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Horse Race
Kentucky Derby 2022 (FULL RACE) | NBC Sports
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Kentucky Derby | Grade I race
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Race information
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs; 2 km) |
| Record | 1:59.40, Secretariat (1973,1+1⁄4 miles) 2:34.50, Spokane (1889,1+1⁄2 miles) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track |
Left-handed |
| Qualification | 3-year-old |
| Weight | Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Filly: 121 lb (55 kg) |
| Purse | US$3 million 1st: $1,860,000 |
Kentucky Derby Betting Center
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