Kentucky Derby Odds 2019: Omaha Beach Emerging as Favorite

There are just days to go before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1). It is Omaha Beach that is emerging as the favorite on the Kentucky Derby odds 2019 for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

The Richard Mandella trainee has dropped from +600 on April 23. Then, he was the third choice in the betting behind Game Winner and Roadster. He is now down to Kentucky Derby odds of +350.

Omaha Beach took five tries to break his maiden, his first three career starts coming on turf. He broke his maiden on February 2 at Santa Anita in his second career start on dirt.

Also, he has defeated two of the three Derby contenders being sent out by trainer Bob Baffert in his two stakes outings.

He won the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park in his stakes debut. There, he edged out 2018 juvenile champion Game Winner by a nose. He then defeated Improbable by a length in his Arkansas Derby (G1) victory on April 13. That race was run over a sloppy main track.

Game Winner is the current third choice on the Kentucky Derby odds 2019 at +500, while Improbable has drifted up to +700.

The second choice in the early wagering for the Kentucky Derby is Baffert’s third contender, Roadster, currently at odds of +450.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was the regular rider of both Omaha Beach and Roadster. The jockey had a tough decision to make and will stick with Omaha Beach, with Florent Geroux picking up the ride on Roadster.

While Baffert is looking for his sixth victory in the Run for the Roses, Mandella is seeking his first. Mandella has started six runners in the Run for the Roses. His best showing was a fifth-place finish with Soul of the Matter in 2004.

His last starters in the Kentucky Derby were in 2004. Back then, he sent out Action This Day, who was sixth, and Minister Eric, who checked in 16th.

Baffert, who has saddled the Triple Crown winner in two of the last four years, would match Ben Jones for the most Kentucky Derby victories in history at six if one of his trio crosses the wire first on Saturday.

Kentucky Derby Odds 2019: Late Action on Tacitus

The other contender taking some late action is Tacitus. He has dropped from +1000 to +800 over the past week.

The colt is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and won both of his preps this year. He won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 9. Then, he took the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct on April 6 in his last outing.

The weather could be a factor on Saturday. There is an 80% chance of rain Friday night, and 90% chance of rain on Saturday. Among the top contenders that are bred for the off going include Game Winner, Tacitus, Improbable and Vekoma.

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