There are few more exciting races to bet on horse racing than the Kentucky Derby. This year’s race will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023, with Churchill Downs once again playing host to the opening Triple Crown race of the season.
Forte has been the long-time favorite for Todd Pletcher, but it promises to be an enthralling international affair, with Derma Sotogake attracting huge interest from Japan.
There are a number of ways to get involved online when it comes to betting on the race, including an excellent selection of Kentucky Derby prop bets available at BetUS.
Color Of Winning Horse
Color Of Winning Horse | Odds |
---|---|
Dark Bay | -115 | Bay | +150 |
Chestnuts | +300 | Gray | +400 |
Brown | +700 |
Betting on the color of the winning runner can enhance your chances of returns on the Kentucky Derby, as it will enable a number of contenders to be covered. The most successful color in Kentucky Derby history is bay, which has resulted in 56 winners throughout history.
Meanwhile, gray is the most unsuccessful color with Giacomo becoming just the eighth winner in 2005. Dark bay is the favored selection at -115, with Forte holding a big say in that starting price. It looks to be the most prominent selection in the Kentucky Derby prop bets this year.
Prediction
- Dark Bay (-115)
Last Place Horse Saddlecloth Number
Last Place Horse Saddlecloth Number | Odds |
---|---|
Odd | -115 |
Even | -125 |
Bets can also be placed on the saddlecloth number of the horse that finishes last in the Kentucky Derby. The official numbers for the runners in the race will be determined on Tuesday, May 2. Last year’s winning selection in this market was ‘even’, and that is a trend that we will follow once again this year.
Prediction
- Even (-125)
First Place Saddlecloth Number
First Place Saddlecloth Number | Odds |
---|---|
Odd | -105 |
Even | -135 |
Like placing a bet on the last placed horse and their saddlecloth number, bets can also be placed on the winning runner’s number. The odd option looks like a strong chance in this market, with both Forte and Angel of Empire among the runners that could be covered.
Prediction
- Odd (-105)
Kentucky Derby Margin of Victory
Margin of Victory | Odds |
---|---|
Dead Heat | +3300 |
Nose | +1000 |
Head | +800 |
Neck | +800 |
½ length-3/4 length | +450 |
1 length- 2 ¾ lengths | +150 |
3 lengths- 5 ¾ lengths | +200 |
6 lengths- 7 ¾ lengths | +750 |
8 lengths- 10 ¾ lengths | +900 |
11 lengths- 14 ¾ lengths | +1400 |
15 lengths or more | +1600 |
The record margin of victory in Kentucky Derby history is eighth lengths, which was the winning margin when Old Rosebud, Johnstown, Whirlaway, and Assault claimed victories. The odds certainly haven’t ruled out that winning margin record being eclipsed this year.
However, Forte is yet to win by more than five lengths, with his biggest success coming by 4.5 lengths in the G2 Fountain of Youth. The pace looks set to be an honest one this year, but we still see the winner landed victory by at least a length.
Prediction
- 1 length- 2¾ lengths (+150)
Who Will The Winning Jockey Thank First?
Who Will The Winning Jockey Thank First? | Odds |
---|---|
Dead Heat | +275 |
Trainer | +275 |
Horse | +275 |
Family | +275 |
God | +275 |
Other | +500 |
The interview with the jockey after the race also offers a compelling Kentucky Derby prop bets selection. The owner could be the preferred choice among many, while our second choice would be family. While we expect the winning jockey to thank the horse, we can’t foresee those being the first thanks that he gives.
Prediction
- Trainer (+275)
Kentucky Derby Winning Jockey’s Celebration
Winning Jockey’s Celebration | Odds |
---|---|
Fist Pump | -150 |
Kissing The Horse | +150 |
Waving To The Crowd | +300 |
The prop market revolving around the jockey’s celebration is also an interesting betting opportunity. A fist pump appears to be the preferred selection among many jockeys, while we struggle to see his first act being a wave to the crowd. As a value selection, we like the chances of the winning jockey kissing the horse.
Prediction
- Kissing the Horse (+150)
Kentucky Derby 2023 Winning Time
Kentucky Derby 2023 Winning Time | Odds |
---|---|
Over 2:02.30 | -110 |
Under 2:02.30 | -130 |
We haven’t seen the Kentucky Derby winner clock a finishing time under two minutes since Monarchos in 2001. The gray became only the second winner after Secretariat to finish in a sub-two minute time. The benchmark set in this market has been surpassed in just two of the previous six editions of the race, with Rich Strike landing his shock success in 2:02.61 last year.
We think Forte is a special horse, and we could see him finishing in under 2:02.30 to land Triple Crown glory. But, we struggle to see him matching the lightning-quick 2:00.61 recorded by Authentic in 2020.
Prediction
- Under 2:02.30
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