The wait for the Triple Crown to get underway in the United States comes to an end this weekend, as the 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be staged at Churchill Downs. An exciting renewal of the race looks in store, but which runner will join legends such as Secretariat and American Pharoah on the roll of honor?
Schedule & How To Watch
- When: Saturday, May 4, 2024
- Where: Churchill Downs, Kentucky, Louisville
- How To Watch: NBC
Before Betting On Kentucky Derby
Huge racing action will take place at Churchill Downs this year, with the Kentucky Derby set to kick off the Triple Crown series in the United States. A competitive race looks to be in store, with talented runners all set to take their chance. The Beyer Speed Figures make for important reading when assessing the chances of the contenders, with eleven of the last 13 winners clocking a rating of 100+.
However, only one runner follows that trend this weekend- Fierceness. The Todd Pletcher runner won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last season, and was sensational when finishing 13 lengths clear of the field to score in the G1 Florida Derby on his previous outing. But, it could be worth considering that he is breaking from stall 17, which is yet to produce a Derby winner in 149 years.
Sierra Leone is an upward progressive contender for Chad Brown, and has achieved progressively higher speed figures with each start. He was last seen winning the G1 Blue Grass Stakes by over a length from Just A Touch, but the three-year-old will need to come out of the stalls quickly after being drawn in stall two.
Catching Freedom also has solid claims for Brad Cox. He looked better than ever when stepped up in trip to land the G2 Louisiana Derby on his previous outing, but the draw also hasn’t been kind to his chances. Forever Young is the big Japanese hope this year, and he holds solid claims, if replicating his battling effort when landing the G2 UAE Derby in the Middle East.
Kentucky Derby Offshore Odds & Pick
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Fierceness | 3.75 |
| Sierra Leone | 4.30 |
| Catching Freedom | 11.00 |
| Forever Young | 11.00 |
| Just A Touch | 13.00 |
| Honor Marie | 21.00 |
| Stronghold | 21.00 |
| Dornoch | 23.00 |
The fact that Fierceness needs to overcome 149 years of trends is hard to ignore this weekend, despite his clear ability. One runner that has been drawn well is Honor Marie, who could reverse the form with Catching Freedom from the G2 Louisiana Derby. Forever Young, Fierceness, and Track Phantom could be interesting plays in Exotics.
