Here’s some news and notes to pass your way from the world of Kentucky Derby horse racing odds.
2014 Kentucky Derby Futures Released
Though it’s still early, some online sportsbooks have released a series of futures bets for the 2014 Kentucky Derby. Given the field is far from being set and a number of points for seeding are still up for grabs, it’s not surprising that most of the odds are of the longshot variety at the moment. Still, it’s worth taking a look at a few of the favorites.
Honor Code and Tap It Rich come in as the early favorites, both listed at 50-1. They’re followed closed by Commissioner, Havana, Mosler, Ride on Curlin, Smart Cover and Strong Mandate, which are all listed at 75-1.
If you want to bet on the Kentucky Derby early, this could be the time to do it. Last year, Orb opened the futures odds at 150-1 before dropping to 5-1 just minutes to post. He went on to win the 2013 Derby.
Orb Goes to Stud
In very appropriate news – we are talking about futures, after all – 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb has officially retired from racing and will start his stud career.
Orb, trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, had a stellar ’13 campaign aside from the big win at Churchill, finishing fourth in the Preakness and third at Belmont. McGaughey says Orb is retiring in great health and will be a welcome addition to Claiborne Farms, where he’ll begin the “next stage” of his career.
Keep an Eye on Cairo Prince
Led by jockey Luis Saez, Cairo Prince is turning heads as one of the most impressive two-year-olds in his respective field.
Cairo Prince wowed onlookers at Ozone Park recently, capturing the $250,000 Nashua race at Aqueduct by besting the first by 2 ½ lengths. He finished in 1:37:59 and actually led by five lengths at one point, impressing his ownership group (Namcook Stables) and upping his bankroll to a tidy $192,000.
Again, expect Cairo Prince to be one to watch in terms of Kentucky Derby betting.
New Year’s Day Making Noise
Whenever we talk derby, we have to talk about Bob Baffert – especially when he’s tabbing one of his colts as a “serious Derby horse.”
That’s exactly what Baffert is calling the latest phenom out of his stable, New Year’s Day. The two-year-old looked tremendous at the $2 million Breeders’ Cup, winning the Juvenile race by 1 1/4 lengths, spurring Baffert into comparisons with one of the most famous horses of the last decade – Street Sense, who won the Derby and Preakness in 2007.
That said, people did temper enthusiasm upon looking at the history. There’s not much of a correlation between success at the Breeders’ Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby – in last year’s race, not a single horse advanced to run at Churchill Downs.
That didn’t stop Baffert from gushing, though.
“He won that race just on raw talent,” the high-profile trainer said.
