Kentucky Derby 2088 Early Betting Odds

 

The horse racing odds and the potential payoffs can be enormous but the risks also are substantial, making Kentucky Derby future book betting on the 134^th running of the mile-and-a-quarter classic at Churchill Downs, May 3, a gambling pursuit not doctor-recommended for cardiac patients.

Crusty horse racing veterans recall with regret the 1962 Kentucky Derby future book, at that time called the "winter book," when Sir Gaylord, who some obtained at odds of 20/1 or more after a solid but less than overwhelming 2-year-old campaign, was the 3/5 winter book choice a day before the Run for the Roses. But Sir Gaylord, who eight years later would be joined at Meadow Stud by a precocious half-brother named Secretariat, suffered a hairline fracture of the sesamoid bone and was retired before the race, having won 10 of 18 lifetime starts. Those who had gleefully taken odds of 20/1 or more on a 3/5 shot could only watch in wagering horror as Decidedly, a colt who Sir Gaylord had beaten in the Everglades Stakes weeks earlier, won the 1962 Kentucky Derby.

Of course, such horse racing setbacks, while cruel and disappointing, have done little to dissuade bettors from pursuing their wagering dreams. In fact, Kentucky Derby futures, which date back to at least 1897 when, in a Jan. 28 article, The New York Times reported that the winter book oddsmaker Turf Exchange had opened Typhoon II as the 6/1 favorite in a field of 95 eligible horses, have become an even more popular betting option for serious horseplayers.

For example, many sportsbooks offer odds on over 400 horses. With that many 3-year-olds, some horses are listed at odds of 500/1 or more. Still, the vigorish is substantial and, as in the Sir Gaylord example, if your choice does not make it to the race, as all but a maximum of 20 horses foaled in 2005 will do, you lose.

With that caveat, bettors still looking to snare a potential contender at overlay odds know now is the time when most 3-year-olds begin their preparation for the first Saturday in May.

Any list of Derby eligible horses starts with War Pass, the undefeated 2-year-old champion of a year ago who was scheduled to make his first start of his 3-year-old campaign in Florida in late February. Given a pedigree that some plasma pundits claim lacks stamina, bettors may want to avoid a short price on War Pass, who is trained by Nick Zito, a two-time winner of the Kentucky Derby.

Another top contender is Pyro, a recent winner of the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. But bettors may not want single-digit odds on a colt who was beaten three straight races a year ago by War Pass. Pyro is trained by Steve Asmussen, the conditioner of 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin.

Other 3-year-olds drawing attention (and dollars) are Court Vision, Colonel John and El Gato Malo. Court Vision won the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in November and also is looking for a late February start in Florida. Colonel John and El Gato Malo are California based, meaning they've been running on synthetic surfaces, cause for concern, perhaps, given that Churchill Downs offers a traditional dirt track.

Anak Nakal, the winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club, and Cool Coal Man, an allowance winner at Gulfstream, join top stable mate War Pass as contenders from the Zito barn.

Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher, who had five colts entered in last year's 20-horse Kentucky Derby field, has at least a couple of strong contenders for this year's running. The best may be Monba, a so-called "wiseguy" future book selection that several shrewd bettors seem to admire. Another Pletcher trainee is Cowboy Cal, who might be better suited to run on the grass.

There are two theories for Kentucky Derby future book betting. One is to bet early, taking big prices on developing horses. It's risky but the rewards can be substantial. The more conservative approach is to at least wait until the horses have raced once or twice, and then take a stab.

Whatever horse racing approach you take, Kentucky Derby future book betting definitely is not for the faint of heart.

This article was written on behalf of OffshoreInsiders.com by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com.