Horses To Bet On For Kentucky Derby

By Margaret Ransom

Two horses, Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality and the Bob Baffert-trained Life Is Good, are the 8-1 co-favorites in the early 2021 Kentucky Derby odds.

How to Bet on the 2020 Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby odds, futures and betting apps The first running of the Kentucky Derby took place at the iconic Churchill Downs in 1875. Since then, the best 3-year-old thoroughbreds in the world have gathered there annually on the first Saturday in May to compete in the “Run for the Roses” and a purse. 2019 Kentucky Derby post-positions and odds are set. None of the favorites are in my Top 3. Omaha Beach is the 4/1 favorite followed by Game Winner at 5/1 and both Roadster and Improbable at 6/1. Check out my Top 3 horses along with updated morning line Kentucky Derby odds and post-position numbers! 2019 Kentucky Derby Top 3 Horses to Read More. The annual Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville is the biggest horse races of the year. It is also one of the biggest betting events given the amount of money wagered on the most. Win: Bet on the horse you think you will win the Kentucky Derby. Place: Get paid the place price if your horse finishes first or second. Show: A show bet pays the least, but you win and get paid the show price if your horse finishes first, second or third. Exacta: Predict the first two horses in the correct order.

Saturday marks the 56th running of the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park after a nearly two-week delay due to winter storm Uri, which blanketed the southeast From Texas to North Florida with frigid temperatures, ice, and snow for about 10 days.

The race had been postponed three times, but still drew a field of seven, including Godolphin’s 2-year-old male champion Essential Quality.

The Southwest the traditional prep for the Rebel Stakes (G2), which is in two weeks because of the delay, and the Arkansas Derby (G1), which is set for April 10. In 55 previous editions, only Smarty Jones in 2004 made it to the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle. However, quite a few good horses have won the Southwest, some making the gate in Louisville on the first Saturday in May and some going on to exceptional racing careers.

The well-traveled and speedy New Mexico-based Bold Ego won this race in 1981 and though well-beaten in the Derby, he managed to run second in the Preakness. Demons Begone won the Southwest, the Rebel, and the Arkansas Derby in 1987 and was the favorite on the first Saturday in May. However, he had severe breathing issues and had to pull him up for his and the horses’ safety.

RELATED: 2021 Southwest Stakes: Essential Quality Favored, But Don’t Count Out Jackie’s Warrior

Champion Smoke Glacken was a Southwest winner in 1997 before distance limitations kept him sprinting but earned an Eclipse Award as the best runner around one turn. Other notable Southwest winners include Lawyer Ron, Old Fashioned, Secret Circle, My Boy Jack, and Silver Prospector a year ago.

John Ed Anthony’s Loblolly Stable, which was shuttered in 1994, remains the leading owner with three wins and the late trainer Bob Holthus saddled five winners over his career. Two jockeys – the late Larry Snyder [in whose name the Oaklawn winner’s circle is dedicated] and Rafael Bejarano each won three, the latter winning twice in 2012 when the race was split due to overflow entries.

This year the 1 1/16-mile race carries a $750,000 pot and 10 points for the winner, and the race has been carded as the 11th with a post time of 5:58 p.m. CT.

The Southwest Stakes Field

From the rail out, with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds:

1. Essential Quality (Luis Saez, Brad Cox) 3-2

Tapit—Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality

2. Saffa’s Day (Ricardo Santana, Jr., Steve Asmussen)

Carpe Diem—Shytoe Lafeet, by King of Kings

3. Last Samurai (Jon Court, Dallas Stewart) 12-1

Malibu Moon—Lady Samuri, by First Samurai

4. Jackie’s Warrior (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen) 8-5

Maclean’s Music—Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred

5. Santa Cruiser (Richard Eramia, Keith Desormeaux) 12-1

Dialed In—Sweet Sermon, by Tapit

6. Woodhouse (David Cabrera, C. R. Trout) 8-1

Horses To Bet On For Kentucky Derby 2019

Speightstown—Magical Dream, by Malibu Moon

7. Spielberg (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert) 9-2

Union Rags—Miss Squeal, by Smart Strike

Bet On The Kentucky Derby

Horses To Bet On For Kentucky Derby 2019 Race