Bobby Ellis/Getty Images. Pictured: Jockey Luis Saez celebrates aboard Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion Essential Quality.
We are less than two months away from the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby, which means futures wagering is starting to intensify leading up to the annual “Run for the Roses” on May 1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Numerous Derby prep races have already taken place, but one of the biggest highlights on the weekend’s racing card is the Grade 1 $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Favoritism ahead of the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown has been split between two unbeaten 3-year-old colts. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion Essential Quality is the slight favorite at +300 odds via TwinSpires, sitting just ahead of Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Greatest Honour at +400.
However, Concert Tour is listed as the +400 favorite at William Hill. The Bob Baffert-trained standout, who scored Grade 2 victories in the San Vicente Stakes and Rebel Stakes, is followed by Essential Quality (+700) and Greatest Honour (+1000) at surprisingly lofty numbers.
This is the fifth Derby futures pool at TwinSpires, with the first debuting back in November of last year.
The global pandemic turned the Triple Crown races upside last year, with Tiz The Law winning the Belmont Stakes — typically the final leg — to open the series. However, his bid for history ended in the next race when he finished second to Derby winner Authentic in the upset.
Talented filly Swiss Skydiver closed out the trio of races with a stunning win in the Preakness, outlasting runner-up Authentic down the stretch to beat the boys. Swiss Skydiver, piloted by Robby Albarado, ripped off the race’s second-fastest time en route to the victory. Only six fillies have won what’s usually the second Triple Crown race in its 145-year history.
Let’s take a look at the current futures pool odds via TwinSpires.
| DERBY CONTENDER | CURRENT ODDS | TRAINER |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Quality | +300 | Brad Cox |
| Greatest Honour | +400 | Shug McGaughey |
| Concert Tour | +450 | Bob Baffert |
| Hot Rod Charlie | +600 | Doug O’Neill |
| Medina Spirit | +2000 | Bob Baffert |
| Prevalence | +2000 | Brendan Walsh |
| All Other 3YOs Not in Pool 5 | +2000 | N/A |
Other notable Kentucky Derby hopefuls at 30/1 odds (trainer in parentheses): Caddo River (Brad Cox); Helium (Mark Casse); Hidden Stash (Victoria Oliver); Mandaloun (Brad Cox); Midnight Bourbon (Steve Asmussen); Proxy (Michael Stidham); Risk Taking (Chad Brown); and, Weyburn (Jimmy Jerkens).
