Scott Hazelton joins Ben to discuss why Zandon is worthy of being the favorite for the 148th Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
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A general view of the trophy prior to the running of the 147th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 01, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Favorites to win the Kentucky Derby
Favorites to win the Kentucky Derby
More than 150,000 will pack into Churchill Downs on May 7, 2022, to see what’s been dubbed as “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” Like Super Bowl Sunday, the Kentucky Derby horse race is an annual sports tradition that speaks to some of the greatest American passions—high-stakes competition, athletics, and pageantry. The event has become part of the country’s fabric—a sign that summer’s almost here.
Over the last few decades, many of the victors in this race also happened to be the preferred pick of Las Vegas bookmakers. The betting favorite has finished first at the Kentucky Derby 10 times since 2000—even though in the 20 years before that (from 1980 to 1999), not a single odds-on favorite won the race.
Though the smart money has been with the star horse since the turn of the millennium, the real excitement comes when an unlikely contender breaks away from the pack. In 2005 and 2009, respectively, Giacomo and Mine That Bird shocked the world as 50-1 underdogs. And though the bettors made rich by the greatest upset in Derby history will probably be watching this race from the great beyond, it’s worth mentioning that a horse named Donerail won the race as an incredible 91-1 underdog in 1913.
The 2022 running of the Derby will be the 148th in history. Whether you’re looking for a safe bet or considering a dark horse, Stacker has ranked the odds of all the thoroughbreds running this year’s race from longest to shortest using data from Bovada and Horse Racing Nation. Read on to see who has the best odds of landing in the winner’s circle.
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#19. Happy Jack (tie)
- Odds: +8,000
- Jockey: D. O'Neill
- Trainer: R. Bejarano
#19. Summer Is Tomorrow (tie)
- Odds: +8,000
- Jockey: M. Barzalona
- Trainer: B. Seemar
#18. Ethereal Road
- Odds: +6,600
- Jockey: L. Contreras
- Trainer: D. Lukas
#17. Tawny Port
- Odds: +4,000
- Jockey: R. Santana Jr.
- Trainer: B. Cox
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#16. Barber Road
- Odds: +3,500
- Jockey: R. Gutierrez
- Trainer: J. Ortiz
#14. Pioneer Of Medina (tie)
- Odds: +3,300
- Jockey: J. Bravo
- Trainer: T. Pletcher
#14. Classic Causeway (tie)
- Odds: +3,300
- Jockey: J. Leparoux
- Trainer: B. Lynch
#13. Crown Pride
- Odds: +2,800
- Jockey: C. Lemaire
- Trainer: K. Shintani
#11. Tiz The Bomb (tie)
- Odds: +2,200
- Jockey: B. Hernandez, Jr.
- Trainer: K. McPeek
#11. Zozos (tie)
- Odds: +2,200
- Jockey: M. Franco
- Trainer: B. Cox
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#10. Simplification
- Odds: +2,000
- Jockey: J. Ortiz
- Trainer: A. Sano
#9. Cyberknife
- Odds: +1,800
- Jockey: F. Geroux
- Trainer: B. Cox
#8. Smile Happy
- Odds: +1,600
- Jockey: C. Lanerie
- Trainer: K. McPeek
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#6. Charge It (tie)
- Odds: +1,200
- Jockey: L. Saez
- Trainer: T. Pletcher
#6. White Abarrio (tie)
- Odds: +1,200
- Jockey: T. Gaffalione
- Trainer: S. Joseph,
#5. Mo Donegal
- Odds: +1,000
- Jockey: I. Ortiz Jr.
- Trainer: T. Pletcher
#3. Messier (tie)
- Odds: +800
- Jockey: J. Velazquez
- Trainer: T. Yakteen
#3. Taiba (tie)
- Odds: +800
- Jockey: M. Smith
- Trainer: T. Yakteen
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#1. Epicenter (tie)
- Odds: +400
- Jockey: J. Rosario
- Trainer: S. Asmussen
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#1. Zandon (tie)
- Odds: +400
- Jockey: F. Prat
- Trainer: C. Brown
Favorites to win the Kentucky Derby
More than 150,000 will pack into Churchill Downs on May 7, 2022, to see what’s been dubbed as “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” Like Super Bowl Sunday, the Kentucky Derby horse race is an annual sports tradition that speaks to some of the greatest American passions—high-stakes competition, athletics, and pageantry. The event has become part of the country’s fabric—a sign that summer’s almost here.
Over the last few decades, many of the victors in this race also happened to be the preferred pick of Las Vegas bookmakers. The betting favorite has finished first at the Kentucky Derby 10 times since 2000—even though in the 20 years before that (from 1980 to 1999), not a single odds-on favorite won the race.
Though the smart money has been with the star horse since the turn of the millennium, the real excitement comes when an unlikely contender breaks away from the pack. In 2005 and 2009, respectively, Giacomo and Mine That Bird shocked the world as 50-1 underdogs. And though the bettors made rich by the greatest upset in Derby history will probably be watching this race from the great beyond, it’s worth mentioning that a horse named Donerail won the race as an incredible 91-1 underdog in 1913.
The 2022 running of the Derby will be the 148th in history. Whether you’re looking for a safe bet or considering a dark horse, Stacker has ranked the odds of all the thoroughbreds running this year’s race from longest to shortest using data from Bovada and Horse Racing Nation. Read on to see who has the best odds of landing in the winner’s circle.
You may also like: Most lethal NBA duos of all time
50-plus photos of Kentucky Derby hats through the years
Jockey Eddie Arcaro is kissed by his mother, Josephine, holding roses, after winning the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky., on May 3, 1952. Arcaro, who was riding Hill Gail, celebrates his fifth Derby win. At left is Lucille Parker Wright, whose racing stable Calumet Farm has had five Derby winners. At center is Ben Jones, who has trained all six Derby winners. (AP Photo)
Britain’s Princess Margaret, smokes cigarette while watching races at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 4, 1974. The princess is in Louisville to view the Kentucky Derby. (AP Photo)
Jockey Pat Valenzuela gets a kiss from Mrs. Peggy Whittingham, wife of trainer Charlie Whittingham, after riding Sunday Silence to a win in the Kentucky Derby Sunday, May 8, 1989 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Looking on is Valenzuela's wife Jeana. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Horse racing fans sporting their Kentucky Derby hats gaze down at the paddock from the balcony of the new grandstand at Churchill Downs, Saturday morning, May 7, 2005, in Louisville, Ky. The 131st Kentucky Derby is the 10th race of the day. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easely)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Sandy Dompkosky, wearing a Tiz the Law, themed hat stands in the paddock before the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A woman wears a hat before the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A female fan in a fancy hat is seen at Churchill Downs Wednesday, May 1, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 4. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A woman wears a hat during the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat during the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat during the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat during the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat during the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A man wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Tammy poole, of Louisville, Ky., wears her pink Kentucky Derby hat during Derby day festivities at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 7, 2005, in Louisville, Ky. The 131st Kentucky Derby is the 10th race of the day. (AP Photo/james Crisp)
Horse racing fan George Holter, from Prairie Village, Kan., wears his twin spires Kentucky Derby hat as he walks through the paddock area at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 7, 2005, in Louisville, Ky. Holter is attending his 26th derby. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Skip Koepnick, of Wyoming, Mich., sports his Kentucky Derby hat at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 7, 2005, in Louisville, Ky. The 131st Kentucky Derby is the 10th race of the day. (AP Photo/Brian Bohannon)
Ernie Trent, of Jeffersonville, Ind., sports his twin spires hat during Kentucky Derby day festivities at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 7, 2005, in Louisville, Ky. The 131st Kentucky Derby is the 10th race of the day.(AP Photo/ Brian Bohannon)
Jenny Hollifield, left, and Banita Conte wear hats before the Kentucky Oaks race at Churchill Downs Friday, May 1, 2009, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
A spectator wears a fancy hat while waiting for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs Friday, May 1, 2009, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Charles Matasich or Proctorville, Ohio wears a hat before the 136th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 1, 2010, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Dana Settles wears a fancy hat during the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
A spectator wear a hat the 133rd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, May 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Patty Ethington of Shelbyville, Ky., smiles with her fancy hat at the 135th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 2, 2009, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Patti Longmire)
Jennifer Baisden of Columbus, Ohio, shows off her fancy hat at the 135th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 2, 2009, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Spectators arrive with their fancy hats to attend the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
A woman wears a hat during the 136th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 1, 2010, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Erica Harris of Omaha, Neb., wears a Derby hat before the 136th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 1, 2010, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
A spectator shows off her Derby hat before the 137th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 7, 2011, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
A spectator wears a fancy hat through the paddock area before the 138th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2012, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tamara Sorrell, from Austin, Tx., wears a fancy hat in the paddocks before the 138th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2012, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
A spectator wears a fancy hat before the 138th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2012, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tammy Behr, from Louisville, Ky., wears a fancy hat while attending the running of the 139th Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs Friday, May 3, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A fan wears a hat before the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 7, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Ashley Cebak and Tami Purcell wear hats before the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Nichole Whelan wears a hat before the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Ginny Keen wears a hat before the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
A woman wears a hat before the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jinny Keen, from Louisville, Ky., wears a handmade hat, celebrating her 44th Derby appearance before the running of the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
A woman wears a fancy hat before the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a fancy hat before the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
A woman wears a hat before the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Matt Lowe of Des Moines, Iowa., wears a hat before the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Donna Laudenbacher of Munchie, Ind., wears a hat before the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Mark Ferguson wears a coronavirus-themed hat before the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
A lady wears a stylish hat before the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
A women wears a hat and a horse racing face mask before the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
