Here are some odds to pass your way as the annual Run for the Roses draws near. The odds are courtesy of Bovada racebook.
Verrazano, 7/2
One of a possible six (yes, six) horses that could be representing Todd Pletcher in this year’s Derby, Verrazano is at the top of most oddsmakers’ lists as the big race creeps up.
There’s not much to be said about Verrazano that hasn’t been said. He’s jumped out as the class of the prep races, and as far as odds go, should be the horse to beat when the Derby runs.
That said, there was some big news out of Pletcher’s camp recently, as Verrazano had his first workout at Churchill Downs, which drew a lot of eyes and a lot of interested parties. Verrazano covered five furlongs in 1:00.20, a solid time that only further solidified his position atop the futures market.
Orb, 5/1
We’ve written quite a bit about Orb in the lead-up to the Derby. He, of course, is the product of Hall-of-Fame trainer
Shug McGaughey, who is looking to win his first-ever Kentucky Derby after so many years in the game.
Well, Orb could be the horse that does it.
The Florida Derby winner showed great form at Payson Park recently, firing through five furlongs in a workout McGaughey was extremely focused on – and extremely impressed with afterward.
“This was the one we need to get behind us,” McGaughey told Brisnet.com. “What I really wanted to see was to see him finish good. I didn’t want to see him walking the last part of it.”
Orb finished the five-furlong training session in 1:02 1/5 in front of a noteworthy crowd, one that included former NFL head coach Bill Parcells.
“He was very settled going to the track, warming up and coming home,” McGaughey said. “Walking around here now, he’s as calm as can be. That’s what we’ve got to have the next two weeks.”
Goldencents, 7/1
There’s been a lot of Kentucky Derby odds buzz around Goldencents lately.
A lot of that has to do with his trainer, Doug O’Neil, who captured the 2012 Kentucky Derby thanks to a stirring run from I’ll Have Another.
This year, O’Neil is back with Goldencents, a three-year-old colt that made his mark on the prep race scene with a big win at Santa Anita.
Goldencents was recently back at Santa Anita for training purposes and showed well by running four furlongs in 48.40.
O’Neil was pleased with the results.
“I saw a relaxed, mature horse that finished up great,” he told the Associated Press.
Speaking of the AP, it had Goldencents ranked fourth amongst all contenders in its final Power Rankings for the 2013 Derby.
Revolutionary, 7/1
The second of Pletcher’s horses in the top four, Revolutionary, is making a lot of waves thanks to the man that’s saddling him – Calvin Borel.
One of the best jockeys on the circuit, Borel has won the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Derbies and done it in style. His 2009 Derby win with Mine That Bird was the second biggest upset in Derby history, and the winning margin of 6 3/4 lengths was the greatest in Derby history.
It’s no surprise that people are keen on Revolutionary as one of the major Kentucky Derby contenders heading into May.
