Horse Racing Betting Update: 2022 Kentucky Derby Odds – Early Contenders

It’s never too early to think Kentucky Derby, which is why this week we list out the Top 20 based on MyBookie odds with a shot to win the 2022 Run for the Roses. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Corniche leads the pack at +1200, Chad Brown trained Jack Cristopher is second choice at +1400, and Steve Asmussen filly Echo Zulu is a co-third choice along with 3 other equines at +2000. 

Check out top plays and early Horse Racing Odds from Kentucky Derby for Saturday, May 7. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks. 

Early Contenders in the Next Kentucky Derby Race | Horse Racing Odds & Picks

2022 Kentucky Derby

• When: May 7, 2022

2022 Kentucky Derby to Win Odds – Top 20

• Corniche +1200
• Jack Cristopher +1400
• Echo Zulu +2000
• Tiz the Bomb +2000
• Mo Donegal +2000
• Slow Down Andy +2000
• Pinehurst +2500
• Messier +2500
• Smile Happy +2500
• Zandon +2500
• Pappacap +2500
• Rattle and Roll +2500
• Doppelganger +2500
• Command Performance +3300
• Giant Game +3300
• Rocket Dawg +3300
• Epicenter +3300
• Dash Attack +3300
• Gunite +4000
• God of Love +4000

Between Corniche and Jack Cristopher, which is the better play?

Among the two, Jack Cristopher, by far, is the better play. Corniche has a ton of talent and at the end of the day, he might be the only horse that can win the Triple Crown because Bob Baffert trains.

But Baffert faces a 2-year ban from running horses at Churchill Downs, which means Corniche may have to race for another trainer if his owners want to enter him on the First Saturday in May.

Jack Cristopher, by contrast, goes for Chad Brown. Not only that, but Cristopher won the Champagne with a fantastic speed rating.

Ah, but the second-choice has a major flaw. His damn, Rushin No Blushin, didn’t win around 2-turns. Munnings, who sired Jack Cristopher, ran his best race around 2-turns when finishing third behind Rachel Alexandra and Summer Bird in the 2009 Haskell Invitational.

Jack Cristopher might be a brilliant horse. But he might also want to run at 7 furlongs or less. The bottom line? Don’t back either of the favorites yet.  

Name horses offering odds of +2000 to +2500 which look best to win the Kentucky Derby?

At +2000, Pappacap is worth a long look. The BC Juvenile second-place finisher won the Grade 2 Best Pal last summer. Pappacap also finished second in the Grade 1 American Pharoah last October 1. 

Trainer Mark Casse will enter Pappacap in this Saturday’s Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds. If you like Pappacap consider backing before the Lecomte. He could very well win the race, sending odds below +2000.

Echo Zulu is another to consider. Steve Asmussen may not run Zulu in the Kentucky Derby. If Steve’s past actions are any indication, he will try for the Kentucky Oaks and then run Zulu in the Preakness Stakes.

However, Echo Zulu could be too talented to leave out of the Run for the Roses. She’s undefeated and is bred to dominate at 6 furlongs to 1 ¼ miles. Her sire, Gun Runner, finished his career with 5 Grade 1 wins, including taking the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 ¼ miles. 

Grandsire Menifee finished second behind Charismatic in the 1999 Kentucky Derby. One of the few races missing from Asmussen’s resume is a Derby win. Echo Zulu gives him arguably the best shot of his career. So expect Steve to really consider entering the fantastic filly. 

Is there a horse at +3300 to +4000 odds that looks primed for a Derby victory?

Dale Romans trained Giant Game is worth a look. The third-place finisher in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile has the breeding to run 1 ¼ miles for sure.

Giant’s Causeway sired while broodmare Game for More calls More Than Ready her sire. Giant Game must improve and Romans doesn’t often saddle Derby contenders. But at +3300, the horse is worth a look. 

Steve Asmussen might have a colt contender in Epicenter. If you believe Asmussen sends Echo Zulu to the Oaks, then Steve will concentrate on running Epicenter in the Kentucky Derby. The Gun Runner Stakes winner has the breeding, Not This Time sired and from a Candy Ride broodmare, to get the Kentucky Derby distance.

Both Epicenter and Giant Game are worth looks. Also consider Mark Casse trained God of Love. Belmont Stakes winner Cupid sired the Grade 3 Grey Stakes winner. So God of Love will have no trouble running 1 ¼ miles.     

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

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