The 146th running of the Kentucky Derby, a horse race held at Churchill Downs, will take place on September 5. The famous race first began in 1875 when Aristides won it and has continued every year since then to become the most famous race in the United States. A field of about 20 horses is expected to travel the 1 1/4-mile distance in search of being the one to wear the roses. Let’s have a look at VegasBetting’s 2020 Kentucky Derby Picks.
When betting the Kentucky Derby online, check your favorite Sportsbook for offers and promotions on this year’s race. Stay up to date with the latest Kentucky Derby odds as well, which are updated regularly by the best horse racing betting sites.
The field for the 2020 Kentucky Derby is comprised of between 18 and 20 horses who are vying for the greatest honor in the land. For the first time in modern history, several of the horses have already traversed the 1 1/4-mile distance, which is usually brand new to them when the Derby is run in May.
Tiz the Law is a horse who has already won Grade 1 races at both 1 1/2 miles and 1 1/4 miles. He most recently took the historic Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on April 8. He defeated Caracaro that day; that runner is also in the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby five times already and has two horses in the race: Authentic and Thousand Words. Authentic won the TVG Haskell (G1) and Thousand Words, who was considered a top prospect in 2019, just defeated Honor A. P. in the Shared Belief Stakes. Honor A. P. will be the third or fourth choice in the race following his win in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in early June at Santa Anita Park.
There are a host of longshots prepping for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, led by 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Eclipse Champion Two Year Old Male, Storm the Court. He hasn’t won since but has been shipping around the country picking up checks and running well. Finnick the Fierce will be a popular longshot bet; he only has one eye.
Art Collector is the hometown hero, having won his last two races in Kentucky. He defeated the favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, Swiss Skydiver, in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in July, and is on a winning streak for trainer Tom Drury.
The “wise guy” horse is King Guillermo. He has been at Churchill Downs longer than any other contender and has been working as a star over the course. He won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in March and would be a Cinderella story if he won.
Trainer Dallas Stewart, who keeps hitting the board in the Derby with big longshots, has Winning Impression. He is likely to be more than 50-1, but could definitely light up the trifecta or the superfecta if history is anything to go by!
Unbeaten Shirl’s Speight is the big question mark in the race. He has the talent to be any kind of superstar horse, but he has only raced twice and is shipping in from Canada. No horse has won the Kentucky Derby from Canada for decades.
Post Positions will be drawn for the 2020 Kentucky Derby on September 2, with official morning line odds being made available to the American public that day as well. Tiz the Law will be a heavy favorite, followed by Art Collector, Honor A. P., Authentic, and Thousand Words. The others will be double-digit longshots. The inner post positions towards the rail, as well as the far outside post positions, are not considered desirable. Middle post positions, such as number 4 through 10, are considered the best.
Picking the winner of the Kentucky Derby is simply some years and very difficult others. In recent times, it is often won by the favorite. Horses like Justify, American Pharoah, and Nyquist have gone off at short odds. But just a decade ago, it was common to see big longshots like Mine That Bird, Giacomo, and Animal Kingdom steal the race. Wil the 2020 Kentucky Derby go to a favorite or a longshot? it is best to include both in your wagering selections.
The Kentucky Derby superfecta is a bet where the handicapper selects the top four horses, either in order or via a box, where they can finish in any order. Playing a box is more expensive, but gives more wiggle room for longshot horses to come in and spice up the payout.
$1 Kentucky Derby Superfecta Box – Tiz the Law, Honor A. P., King Guillermo, Authentic, Winning Impression, and Storm the Court
The Kentucky Derby trifecta means selecting the top 3 horses either in order or in a box, where they can finish in any order.
In this instance, the Kentucky Derby handicapper is hoping favored Tiz the Law will run out of the money and the bet will offer a much larger payday.
Keying Tiz the Law and putting other horses underneath, hopefully at a big price, will give more bang for your buck.
