Kentucky Derby Odds | Betting Guide With Morning Line And Promos

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The Kentucky Derby is the most popular horse betting race in the United States. View updated Kentucky Derby odds including morning line betting prices below. The Derby is the Super Bowl of horse racing and creates considerable media attention and interest from casual sports fans and bettors along with industry insiders and horsemen. Known as “The most exciting two minutes in sports,” the Run for the Roses generates huge betting action as America’s most wagered-on horse race. Forte 3-1 had been the favorite but was a Saturday morning scratch. Tapit Trice 9-2 and Angel of Empire 4-1 were the favorites heading into the 2023 race.

UPDATE: Mage won the 2023 Kentucky Derby. A $2 bet paid out:

  • Mage: $32.42 to win, $14.58 to place, $9.08 to show
  • Two Phil’s: $10.44 to place, $6.52 to show
  • Angel of Empire: $4.70 to show

Updated Kentucky Derby odds and betting information for every horse in the field are available below. Also, find a guide on how to bet on the big race at Churchill Downs and how payouts for winning bets work.

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Kentucky Derby Odds

Below we will look at Kentucky Derby odds. Kentucky Derby morning line betting odds have been posted.

Post Position NumberHorse NameKentucky Derby OddsMorning Line OddsClosing Line OddsTrainerJockey
1.Hit Show25-130-124-1Brad CoxManny Franco
2. Verifying15-115-114-1Brad CoxTyler Gaffalione
3. Two Phil's8-112-19-1Larry RivelliJareth Loveberry
4. Confidence Game17-120-121-1Keith DesormeauxJames Graham
5.Tapit Trice9-25-19-2Todd PletcherLuis Saez
6.Kingsbarns10-112-111-1Todd PletcherJose Ortiz
7.Reincarnate13-150-114-1Tim YakteenJohn Velazquez
8. Mage17-115-115-1Gustavo DelgadoJavier Castellano
9.SkinnerSCRSCRSCRJohn ShirreffsJuan Hernandez
10.Practical MoveSCRSCRSCRTim YakteenRamon Vazquez
11.Disarm24-130-127-1Steve AsmussenJoel Rosario
12.Jace's Road31-150-133-1Brad CoxFlorent Geroux
13.Sun Thunder30-150-133-1Kenny McPeekBrian Hernandez Jr.
14.Angel of Empire4-18-14-1Brad CoxFlavien Prat
15.ForteSCR3-1SCRTodd PletcherIrad Ortiz Jr.
16.Raise Cain31-150-133-1Ben ColebrookGerardo Corrales
17.Derma Sotogake8-110-17-1Hidetaka OtonashiChristophe Lemaire
18.Rocket Can27-130-128-1Bill MottJunior Alvarado
19.Lord MilesSCRSCRSCRSaffie Joseph Jr.Paco Lopez
20.ContinuarSCRSCRSCRYoshito YahagiRyusei Sakai
21.Cyclone Mischief29-130-129-1Dale RomansTBA
22.Mandarin Hero20-120-117-1Terunobu FujitaKazushi Kimura
23. King Russell31-150-132-1Ron MoquettRafael Bejarano

Kentucky Derby news

  • Louisville has turned into “Scratch City” as horses were bumped on Saturday and Friday. Forte, who had been the favorite for weeks is out. The horse stepped awkwardly during a workout on Thursday and the decision was made during a Saturday morning workout to not have him race. Skinner, who was in the 9 post, was scratched on Friday.
  • There was yet another scratch on Thursday as it was learned that Continuar will not be racing on Saturday. King Russell now moves into the field.
  • Lord Miles was the second Kentucky Derby scratch on Thursday. The horse, who won the Wood Memorial, had 30-1 morning line odds. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission made the decision after horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. died of unexplained causes this week.
  • Practical Move has been scratched from the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Cyclone Mischief has been entered in the race. Practical Move had been set to race out of Post 10.
  • The Kentucky Derby draw took place on Monday, May 1. Forte was the morning line favorite and will be running out of post 15.
  • Kentucky Derby hopeful Wild On Ice was sadly euthanized on the morning of April 27 after suffering a left hind leg injury following a workout. Wild On Ice was the GIII Sunland Derby winner. The gelding’s owner was Frank Sumpter, his trainer was Joel Marr and the jockey was Ken Tohill.

Kentucky Derby horses 2023

The field is set for the fabled Kentucky Derby. Multiple betting interests engulf the May 6 Run for the Roses after several breathtakingly-close April prep races. Here is a look at the Kentucky Derby field with a list of horses set to run in the 2023 race at Churchill Downs. To bet on the 2023 Kentucky Derby, go here for the best legal horse betting sites.

1. Hit Show 30-1

Comes out of same slower-paced Wood Memorial with Lord Miles. Nipped at the wire and got second, but notched enough points to enter the Derby. Tries to make his best moves late. Established on the New York circuit, now tries to expand.

Winners of the Wood Memorial have not fared well in recent Kentucky Derby’s and bettors will perceive its graduates as having come from a weaker race.

2. Verifying 24-1

Punched his ticket to Churchill Downs with a rousing second-place finish to Tapit Trice in the Blue Grass. Wants to be on the pace and will be one of a few speed horses looking for early control in the Derby. Others might be Derma Sotogake, Kingsbarns and Confidence Game, if they all run.

3. Two Phil’s 9-1

Two nice moves. One came from his connections, moving him onto the Tapeta surface, which favors closers, in the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park in Kentucky. The second came from the horse. Surged from mid pack to take the lead around the final turn and was much the best down the lane at 5-2.

The win came off a gallant third in the Risen Star Stakes. Connections made a calculated dice roll for his last Derby qualifier and came up with a winner 7.

4. Confidence Game 20-1

Earned a sizzling Rebel Stakes upset in the slop at 18-1 in February.

Connections being cautious with him and skipped the Louisiana Derby. They may be able to ride the qualifying points from the Rebel all the way to Churchill Downs. If he runs, it will be from more than a two-month layoff.

5. Tapit Trice 5-1

Two excellent victories, one in Tampa and the other at Keeneland. Gobbled up the field from the back to definitively capture the Tampa Bay Derby. And then was resolute to fight off Verifying to win the Blue Grass Stakes. Showed championship credentials with determined finishing kicks each time.

6. Kingsbarns 11-1

Bettors are going to love this uptick. He won at 1 mile at Gulfstream Park. Then he prevailed at 1 mile and 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs, where he unleashed a definitive burst of speed to stamp himself as a champion.

He did one better in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.  He obtained a quick lead, was rated along the backstretch to preserve stamina and prevailed by stretching out to a career-long 1 3-16 mile distance. That’s the same length as the Preakness Stakes.

He’s already completed, in one sense, one of the Triple Crown races. And he’s only run three times. If he keeps improving, may have a lot to say in the Derby. Has the pattern of a champion.

7. Reincarnate 17-1

Connections have to weigh different outcomes from three races. He won the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, surviving a blistering front-end duel.

He was pinched back at the start and managed a good third in the slop at the Rebel Stakes. Reincarnate was in prime position to win the Arkansas Derby, but was overtaken by winning Angel of Empire and upstart runner-up King Russell.

Credentials would peg him as a top tier competitor. Question is whether owners believe he can gain one more notch of credentials to win the Derby.

8. Mage 17-1

Excellent improvement over two Gulfstream Park races. Ran fourth to Forte after being blocked in the homestretch of the Fountain of Youth.

Ran a big one in the Florida Derby, taking the lead in the homestretch and having Forte beaten with 50 yards to go. But the final 50 was where Forte ran him down. Excellent effort at 1 1-8 miles and connections will be encouraged about his Derby prospects.

9. Skinner SCR

Skinner was scratched from the race on Friday morning.

10. Practical Move SCR

Practical Move was a Thursday scratch from the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

11. Disarm 30-1

Excellent second in the Louisiana Derby. Was running strongly at the end and his hitting best form after being brought along slowly.

Would only have to stretch out another 1-16 of a mile to get the Kentucky Derby distance. Will be played by the bettors. Strong consideration for the exotics, at least. Debatable as to whether he stays under the radar.

12. Jace’s Road 32-1

Scored a nice victory in the Gunrunner Stakes over Raise Cain, who captured the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Delivered a nice third on the front-running end in the Louisiana Derby.

Considered to be ticketed for Churchill Downs, would figure to be a factor on the front end.

13. Sun Thunder 26-1

Has been one of those horses on the fringes, ready to exploit an opportunity if one comes.

Ran a strong second to Angel of Empire in the Risen Star. Was fifth behind Kingsbarns in the Louisiana Derby and then fourth to Tapit Trice and Verifying in the Blue Grass.

Tendency has been to run late. Would need a lot to go right. If it did, he could wind up in the bottom of the superfecta.

14. Angel of Empire 6-1

Two straight angelic performances, in the eyes of bettors. He stalked and won the Risen Star at 13-1 odds back in February at Fair Grounds in Louisiana.

In April, he doubled down on perfection, winning the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn with a similar stalking move. He paid handsomely at 9-2 and won the same race his father Classic Empire captured in 2017. Success literally runs in the family. Will bring two nice victories of 1 1-8 miles into the 1 1-4 mile Run for the Roses. Has the perfect running style for the Kentucky Derby, stalking in mid pack, if he gets the right positioning and trip.

15. Forte SCR

Forte, who had been the favorite for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, was a Saturday morning scratch.

16. Raise Cain 34-1

Jockey Gerardo Corrales will ride Raise Cain. The Ben Colebrook horse won the Gotham (G3) in March. The longshot is a late runner.

In the Gotham, Raise Cain conquered a bit of turbulence, claiming victory by 7 1/2 lengths at the Aqueduct track. However, the Derby addition hasn’t showcased the same prowess in his last couple of two-turn outings. He delivered a non-threatening second-place finish in December’s Gun Runner S. and a fifth-place nod in the Blue Grass.

17. Derma Sotogake 10-1

The Japanese infusion into the Derby gains enlarged focus this year.

Derma Sotogake romped in frontrunning style in the UAE Derby in Dubai, recording the fastest time there in five years. Horses from Japan have enjoyed recent success in the Breeders’ Cup and the country’s program is considered one of the new bright lights in the sport.

18. Rocket Can 33-1

Raised eyebrows by winning the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. Later ran a strong second to Forte in the Fountain of Youth.

Ran a determined fourth behind Angel of Empire in the Arkansas Derby. Thus far has shown the credentials to be on the board, but not necessarily win. He will be considered for the exotics.

19. Lord Miles SCR

Lord Miles was one of three Thursday scratches. The horse will not race due to the controversy surrounding his trainer, Saffie Joseph.

20. Continuar SCR

Continuar will not race on Saturday as trainer Yoshito Yahagi said his horse could not achieve “peak fitness required,” according to WDRB.

21. Cyclone Mischief 49-1

This colt last tallied a third-place finish behind the aforementioned Forte and Mage in the Florida Derby, yet he faltered as the favorite in the Holy Bull earlier on in the year. Cyclone Mischief must remain prosperous from a numbers standpoint, yet his full body of work is promising nonetheless. His positional speed could also be a significant variable to watch for in the Derby.

His post position is No. 21 if you’re keeping score at home.

22. Mandarin Hero 36-1

The Japanese shipper is the third participant from his country in the 149th edition of the Derby. The scratch of Lord Miles actually created the lane the for Mandarin Hero at post No. 22. While Derma Sotogake and now-scratched Continuar are from the Japan Racing Association (JRA), Mandarin Hero is among the second-tier National Association of Racing (NAR).

This contestant also manufactured at second-place in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), which included another two now-scratched Derby participants in Practical Move and Skinner. Proving that he can go toe-to-toe with a high-caliber crop of competition has created a sense of hope for this longshot on Saturday.

23. King Russell 55-1

Just like Madarin Hero, King Russell earned a bid because of Continuar’s departure from the field.

“After evaluating the colt upon my arrival, I feel that he has not been able to reach the peak fitness required to take on a race as tough as the Kentucky Derby,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi said.

Nevertheless, King Russell finished second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) after compiling a win in a race for the first time in February. Trained by Ron Moquett, he will begin his Derby journey at post No. 23 — with Rafael Bejarano on board.

Kentucky Derby Betting

Here are more details on what you need to know when Kentucky Derby betting. Find the date, start time info and TV channel below.

Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Time: 6:57 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Tablet, Online, Mobile: NBC Sports App and streamed live on NBCsports.com/live
Track and location: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
Distance: 1 ¼ miles (10 furlongs)
Surface: Dirt
Horses: 3-Year-Old Thoroughbreds
Track Record: Secretariat – 1:59.40 in 1973

Kentucky Derby payouts

In one of the largest upsets in horse racing history, the 80-1 underdog Rich Strike outlasted favorite Epicenter and Zandon to claim the 148th Kentucky Derby title. On a $2 bet, Rich Strike won bettors $163.60 to win, $74.20 to place, and $29.40 to show. Epicenter won $2 bettors $7.40 to place and $5.40 to show, while Zandon took home $5.60 on a $2 bet to show.

Here’s how the 2022 Kentucky Derby played out in terms of exacta, trifecta, and superfecta payouts:

  • Exacta ($2 bet): $4,101.20
  • Trifecta ($1 bet): $14,870.70
  • Superfecta ($1 bet): $321,500.10

Derby qualifying

The Derby’s unique qualifying method, chronicled throughout the winter and spring in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, will deliver suspense right up until post time.

Prep races with point values as high as 100 points to a winner decide which 20 horses gain first invitations to the Derby. But the field does not automatically cut off at the 20th spot. Some owners at the bottom of the list believe their horse can’t win and will opt not to run. Others are not satisfied with how their horses are training.

When a horse is not entered, the next horse below the cutoff line is brought up. It’s not uncommon, therefore, for the bar to go down a few places and grab the final starters. That was never more important than last year.

After a winter and spring campaign, the final horse on the list was Ethereal Road. But one day before the Derby, and literally five minutes before he was to be entered, Ethereal Road was scratched. Officials went to the next horse on that list.

His name? Rich Strike. And you know the rest. Rich Strike came from nowhere to upset the field at a shocking 80-1, one of the most monumental longshot victories in Derby history.

It hardly mattered that Rich Strike has seldom run well since. On that day, he authored horse racing’s version of the 1980 United States Olympic hockey team.

It was a victory that underscored the majesty of the thoroughbreds. Bettors will keep their eye on late scratches and who gets into the Kentucky Derby at the last minute. Anything can happen. And last year, it did.

2023 Road To The Kentucky Derby Prep Race Schedule

The Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule began in September; however, the win-and-in races (“Championship Series”) began February 18 with the Risen Star at Fair Grounds. That was the first race that awards 50 points to the winner. Below is the race schedule for the 50 and 100-point prep races, enough for the race winners to qualify for the Derby, if entered.

16 Championship Series races exist on the Road to the Kentucky Derby that award 100 qualifying points to the winner, 40 points to second place, 20 points to third and 10 points to fourth. The top two finishers earn a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby if they have not already earned enough points.

Find a list of the Championship Series races below:

DateRaceTrack (Length in miles)Winner
Feb. 18Risen Star*Fair Grounds (1 1/8)Angel of Empire
Feb. 25Rebel Stakes*Oaklawn Park (1 1/16)Confidence Game
Mar. 4Fountain of Youth*Gulfstream Park (1 1/16)Forte
Mar. 4Gotham*Aqueduct (1)Raise Cain
Mar. 4San Felipe*Santa Anita (1 1/16)Practical Move
Mar. 11Tampa Bay Derby*Tampa Bay Downs (1 1/16)Tapit Trice
Mar. 25UAE DerbyMeydan Racecourse (1 3/16)Derma Sotogake
Mar. 25Louisiana DerbyFair Grounds (1 3/16)Kingsbarns
Mar. 25Jeff Ruby StakesTurfway Park (1 1/8 AW)Two Phil's
Mar. 26Sunland Derby*Sunland Park (1 1/8)Wild On Ice
Apr. 1Arkansas DerbyOaklawn Park (1 1/8)Angel of Empire
Apr. 1Florida DerbyGulfstream Park (1 1/8)Forte
Apr. 8Wood MemorialAqueduct (1 1/8)Lord Miles
Apr. 8Blue GrassKeeneland (1 1/8)Tapit Trice
Apr. 8Santa Anita DerbySanta Anita (1 1/8)Practical Move
Apr. 15Lexington Stakes^Keeneland (1 1/16)First Mission

*50-20-15-10-5 point structure
^ 20-8-6-4-2 point structure

The Florida Derby has seven winners who would also go on to win at Churchill Downs, the most of any Championship Series prep race. Most recently, Always Dreaming (2017) took the roses after winning the Florida Derby. Nyquist (2016), Orb (2013), Big Brown (2008), Barbaro (2006), Monarchos (2001), and longshot Thunder Gulch (1995) also won both races.

Recently, the Santa Anita Derby has been a strong indicator of Kentucky Derby performance. Justify in 2018 was the most recent double victor, while California Chrome (2014) and I’ll Have Another (2012) also notched wins at both.

Do favorites or underdogs win at the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby points system installed in 2013 produced a couple major ramifications. First, it inspired interest all the way throughout prep races in February, March, and April. This eliminates the randomness of how horses can be selected for the Run for the Roses. The top 20 point leaders qualify.

Second, the Derby changed what types of horses enter. Qualifying races now do not include sprints. This eliminates horses who specialize at six and seven furlongs, a comparative sprint distance. Only horses proven at long distances reach the Derby and it has a dramatic impact on the pace of the race.

With sprinters placed in large fields, top distance horses can be swept into a “speed duel,” run their race too early, and can be overcome in the stretch, usually longshots (see: Rich Strike).

Now, favorites try to get an early position near the lead, maintain it into the final turn, and win the race late. Most horses who win the Derby now are in the first pack early, or just behind it.

Viewers can discover whether this is true every year by seeing the time for one-half mile. Before the rule changes, that time was often in the 45-second range. That’s about 47 seconds now.

The two-second difference between the past and present half-mile paces represents about 10 lengths, based on industry estimates. A horse loping along at 47 seconds, essentially improves his placement by 10 lengths over the course of a race.

When American Pharoah won the Derby en route to first Triple Crown sweep in 37 years, he did the first half in 47.1 and was with the front runners.

Winners now come from the front. This is something to put into handicapping assessments for the Derby. Winners will be forwardly placed.

How to bet on the Kentucky Derby

Fans can wager on the Derby legally at racetracks, simulcast centers such as Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers, and on advanced deposit wagering platforms such as FanDuel Racing. Bettors in over 30 states can legally bet on the race from their mobile devices and web browsers. You can also see Kentucky Derby betting odds and wager on horse racing legally in the state of Nevada at the hundreds of casinos with race and sportsbooks.

Types of wagers and bets

The three following wager types are the simplest and most common bets placed on the Kentucky Derby, in order of highest to lowest payout:

  • Win: Bet on the horse you think will win.
  • Place: Win a place bet if your horse wins or comes in second.
  • Show: Win a bet if your horse wins or comes in second or third.

Fans can also attempt to cash big in the various exotic pools:

  • Exacta: Predict the first two horses in the correct order.
  • Trifecta: Predict the first three horses in the correct order.
  • Superfecta: Predict the first four horses in the correct order.
  • Super High Five: Predict the first five horses in the correct order.

Find our breakdown of Kentucky Derby exotic bets for payout and buy-in information.

From 2013-18, six consecutive favorites won the Kentucky Derby. But since then, it’s been upset central, with three major upsets occurring. The latest of the group was Rich Strike, who was a late entry and a rare 21st horse in the field.

Tracks also offer the ability to bet both the winner of the Derby and the Kentucky Oaks, a major $1 million race the day before with a field comprised of three-year-old fillies (female horses).

Picking a Kentucky Derby winner

Betting on horse racing has never been easier, but selecting a winner and predicting the puzzle in the exotic pools in search of a big payoff takes a little more time, skill, and luck. The 20 horses running in the Kentucky Derby is the largest field of any American race and, while the payouts are larger, it can be more difficult to handicap the winner. Many factors play into the winner, including each horse running 1 ¼ miles for the first time in their racing careers.

20 horses qualify through 36 prep races in the United States, seven in Europe, and four in Japan.

Handicapping horses and the races takes a lot of time, research, and intuition. Beyond studying past performance charts and horse stats, consider some of the following:

  • Speed figures
  • Class ratings
  • Tracks and bias
  • Jockey and trainer stats
  • Horse pedigree
  • Post position (drawn May 2)

It’s important to distill information that can help you identify horses that may offer some value next time out or others in good form or improving that can provide value wagering opportunities.

Races and horses should be backed based on positive attributes and not as a result of who’s the best of the worst. As you study some of the betting guides and training tools, you’ll become better prepared and equipped to analyze races in a more meaningful way. That includes the Kentucky Derby and the prep races leading up. Understanding how a horse ran leading up to a race versus where the horse finishes and what time he/she completed their recent races will help you become more proficient.

Here is a glance at last year’s odds to win:

PostHorseMorning Line Odds
1Mo Donegal8-1
2Happy Jack21-1
3Epicenter5-1
4Summer is Tomorrow42-1
5Smile Happy14-1
6Messier7-1
7Crown Pride17-1
8Charge It13-1
9Tiz the Bomb25-1
10Zandon8-1
11Pioneer of Medina47-1
12Tabia5-1
13Simplification40-1
14Barber Road40-1
15White Abarrio11-1
16Cyberknife14-1
17Classic Causeway67-1
18Tawny Port67-1
19Zozos39-1
20Rich Strike80-1

Five biggest Kentucky Derby longshot winners ever

As we witnessed in 2022 when Rich Strike won at 80-1 odds, nothing is certain in horse racing. The winning horse is not always the best horse. In a field of 20, a bit of racing luck makes for a better chance to win. The five biggest longshots to ever win the Derby include:

  1. Donerail, 91-1 (1913)
  2. Rich Strike, 80-1 (2022)
  3. Country House, 65-1 (2019)
  4. Mine That Bird, 50-1 (2009)
  5. Giacomo, 50-1 (2005)

Kentucky Derby history: betting odds and winners

YearWinnerTimeOdds$2 WinTrack
2022Rich Strike2:02.6180-1$163.60Fast
2021Medina Spirit*2:01.3612-1$26.20Fast
2020Authentic2:00.618-1$18.80Fast
2019Country House2:03.9365-1$132.40Sloppy
2018Justify2:04.203-1 $7.80Sloppy
2017Always Dreaming2:03.599-2$11.40Wet
2016Nyquist2:01.315-2$6.60Fast
2015American Pharoah2:03.023-1$7.80Fast
2014California Chrome2:03.665-2$7.00Fast
2013Orb2:02.895-1$12.80Sloppy
2012I’ll Have Another2:01.8315-1$32.60Fast
2011Animal Kingdom2:02.0421-1$43.80Fast
2010Super Saver2:04.458-1$18.00Sloppy
2009Mine That Bird2:02.6651-1$103.20Sloppy
2008Big Brown2:01.827-2$6.80Fast
2007Street Sense2:02.179-2$11.80Fast
2006Barbaro2:01.366-1$14.20Fast
2005Giacomo2:02.7550-1$102.60Fast
2004Smarty Jones2:04.064-1$10.20Sloppy
2003Funny Cide2:01.1912-1$27.60Fast
2002War Emblem2:01.1320-1$43.00Fast
2001Monarchos1:59.9710-1$23.00Fast
2000Fusaichi Pegasus2:01.122-1$6.60Fast

*Medina Spirit was later disqualified and first place of the 2021 Derby was awarded to Mandaloun. Mandaloun had 26-1 odds to win the Derby but bettors who had Mandaloun to win were not able to cash their tickets as the order of the finish was previously declared “official.”