2019 Kentucky Derby betting odds, tips
Churchill Downs is home to the 145th installment of the Kentucky Derby, which takes place Saturday. Here's everything you need to know before making your wagers on the most exciting two minutes in sports.
Betting odds
| Post Number | Horse | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | War of Will | 20-1 |
| 2 | Tax | 20-1 |
| 3 | By My Standards | 20-1 |
| 4 | Gray Magician | 50-1 |
| 5 | Improbable | 5-1 |
| 6 | Vekoma | 20-1 |
| 7 | Maximum Security | 6-1 |
| 8 | Tacitus | 8-1 |
| 9 | Plus Que Parfait | 50-1 |
| 10 | Cutting Humor | 20-1 |
| 11 | Haikal | 30-1 |
| 13 | Code of Honor | 10-1 |
| 14 | Win Win Win | 14-1 |
| 15 | Master Fencer | 60-1 |
| 16 | Game Winner | 4-1 |
| 17 | Roadster | 9-2 |
| 18 | Long Range Toddy | 30-1 |
| 19 | Spinoff | 30-1 |
| 20 | Country House | 30-1 |
| AE-21 | Bodexpress | 40-1 |
The favorite is streaking
Credit the oddsmakers, as well as the market, for shaping some of these numbers. The Kentucky Derby favorite has taken each of the last six races, placing the spotlight on Game Winner - the new favorite after Omaha Beach (4-1) was ruled out on Wednesday evening.
Avoid Plus Que Parfait and Gray Magician
Despite the chalk's advantage, a majority of bettors usually want a long shot to wager on. Plus Que Parfait and Gray Magician have some desirable odds at 50-1, but history would tell you to avoid betting on those horses.
Plus Que Parfait and Gray Magician finished 1-2 at the UAE Derby in Dubai nearly five weeks ago. No horse that's raced at the UAE Derby has finished better than fifth place at the Kentucky Derby.
Post notes
You'll see above we listed the post number - or the starting position - for all 20 horses. Picking a winner is all about gathering as many edges as possible, so here's what we know about the history of post positions, with the current field's horses denoted in parentheses to match the noted post number:
- Only one horse since 1987 has won out of the 1, 2, or 3 slot (War of Will, Tax, By My Standards)
- No horse has ever won out of post No. 17 (Roadster)
- The most wins all time have come out of the 5 spot (Improbable)
- The most historically probable post position to finish in the Top 3 has been No. 10 (Cutting Humor)
Bets to consider
Maximum Security (6-1) is one of those plays that some people have been keen on post-odds release. The horse, trained by Jason Servis, is coming off a Florida Derby win back in March at Gulfstream Park and is undefeated heading into the Run for the Roses.
Win Win Win (20-1) is another intriguing long shot. After taking first place and setting a track record in Tampa Bay Downs back in January, Win Win Win is coming off back-to-back Top 3 finishes in the Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.