There is no race more exciting or more eagerly awaited than the Kentucky Derby, and it is coming up Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs! The purse has been raised to $5 million for its landmark 150th running, and 20 of the best sophomores in the country will line up in the gate for this 1 ¼-mile test. At stake are this colossal purse, the iconic blanket of roses, and a place in the history of horse racing.
The Kentucky Derby is always one of the best betting horse races of the year. With such a huge field trying a new and testing distance, enough long shots always run well to make the payouts on wagers huge for anyone who solves the handicapping puzzle. Keep reading to find out the best horses to bet in the Kentucky Derby, and the best places to bet the Kentucky Derby online in Illinois.
Picking the right horses is important, but before you start thinking about the field you need to think about where to bet on it. After all, choosing the right online betting site helps you maximize your profit on the Kentucky Derby and beyond. By playing the race at a trusted online racebook, you can take advantage of market-leading odds, trusted payouts, and the convenience of betting from anywhere!
Online racebooks offer you lucrative betting bonuses that you’ll never find at the track. These include sign-up and deposit bonuses, referral benefits, and even horse racing rebates that pay you for every bet you make! Choosing the right bonus structure for your betting style can help you boost your bankroll by hundreds or even thousands of dollars, so take a few minutes to read our reviews and pick the best site for you!
These are the top Kentucky Derby betting sites for Illinois players:
With your account set up, it is time to dive into the field for the 2024 Kentucky Derby!
This is the official field for the 2024 Kentucky Derby including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds:
Epic Ride and Mugatu will only draw in, in that order of priority, if horses scratch from the main field before 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, when Kentucky Derby betting begins.
The morning line can be a useful guide to which horses in the field are expected to be well bet or long shots. However, they are not a guarantee, since odds on track will shift all the way until the gates open. Your best bet in the Kentucky Derby is to play at an online racebook, since you can get fixed odds on major races all year long. That means, when you see an overlay on your horse, you guarantee the price just by betting!
Here are the odds at the top of the Kentucky Derby market at the best Illinois sportsbooks:
The best bet in the Kentucky Derby is Honor Marie. He has upside on many dimensions that are necessary to make a successful Kentucky Derby horse.
Honor Marie has been able to close well into modest paces -- but between rail-drawn Dornoch, blinkers-on Track Phantom, and outside presser Fierceness the pace should sizzle. Honor Marie drew a great middle gate. And, he found his best third off the lay last year; the Kentucky Derby has him at that same point in his form cycle, meaning he can improve from an already-good second in the Louisiana Derby.
Honor Marie also has a strong distance pedigree. He is by Honor Code out of a Smart Strike half to St. Leger (G1) winner Rule of Law; the Leger is the English Classic at 1 ¾ miles. Therefore, his improvement with distance should be no fluke, and with prices likely in the 12-1 to 15-1 range there’s a lot to love.
Sierra Leone and Catching Freedom appeal most among Kentucky Derby horses at the top of the market. Sierra Leone impressed with a long, sustained run in the Blue Grass (G1). That kind of trip could be a winning trip again, and his off-pace style should help him avoid trouble from the inner gate. Catching Freedom closed well to win the Louisiana Derby (G2), and jockey Flavien Prat has hit the board in five of six Kentucky Derby rides.
The favorites to toss include Fierceness and Forever Young. Fierceness is brilliant with a perfect trip but looking back to his Holy Bull (G3) flop, not even this seemingly nice outside gate may keep him out of trouble. Forever Young is undefeated in five starts but he has yet to face top American dirt horses and his final prep, the UAE Derby (G2), has never had a Kentucky Derby runner do better than fifth.
Encino has strong long shot appeal. Though his points preps were off the beaten path, the John Battaglia Memorial and the Lexington (G3), they were enough to show both his improving form and his ability to run well from either forward or midpack spots. His pedigree is also deep with classic dirt stamina, meaning the 1 ¼ miles should suit him perfectly.
For a horse to use in underneath rungs of trifectas or superfectas, Just Steel looks like just the ticket. With two wins in 11 starts he doesn’t prevail a lot, but he ran second in three of the four Oaklawn Park preps including the 1 ⅛-mile Arkansas Derby (G1). He should be able to drift behind the speed and find the stamina to keep going, and though he probably won’t hold them all off he is good enough to finish in the frame.
You’ve made your betting account and you’ve gotten to know the field. This means you’re ready for the most fun part of all: placing your wagers! Here are the best bets for Saturday’s 2024 Kentucky Derby:
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