2024 Kentucky Derby Betting Guide: Live Odds and Our 2 Best Bets
Ready to make a "Run for the Roses"? The 2024 Kentucky Derby is set to go off on Saturday, May 4 and we couldn't be more hyped to get in on all the festivities. This will be the 150th running of this iconic horse race, which is known as the "greatest two minutes in sports"!
Twenty horses and jockeys alike will hash it out at Churchill Downs for one of the most coveted titles in all of sports. Need help betting on this historic event? Check out the live odds and our 2 best bets below! Good luck, folks!
Live Odds for the 2024 Kentucky Derby
According to DRF Bets, the top three favorites to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby are Fierceness (3-1), Sierra Leone (7-2), and Forever Young (8-1).
The middle tier includes Catching Freedom (10-1), Just a Touch (12-1), Honor Marie (20-1), Just Steel (20-1), Mystik Dan (20-1), Resilience (20-1), and Track Phantom (20-1).
Some of the longer shots include Dornoch, Encino, Stronghold, and Domestic Product (each at 25-1). The board rounds out with Endlessly and Catalytic at 30-1 apiece. Grand Mo The First, Society Man, T O Password, and West Saratoga are all listed at 40-1 each.
Best Favorite Bet: Sierra Leone (7-2)
Fierceness is getting most of the hype because of his sheer speed, but Sierra Leone is arguably the most consistent horse in this field. The 2.3 million dollar colt has bagged three wins in just four races. Legendary trainer Chad Brown has gushed over Sierra Leone's natural talent.
Adding a Kentucky Derby title would cement Brown's legacy. Though he's won numerous other crowns, he's gone winless at the Derby in 7 tries. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione has also never won a Kentucky Derby, but this may be his golden opportunity.
Obviously, there's a lot to like about Sierra Leone. This horse has already earned nearly a million bucks in his young career and he seems to be peaking at just the right time. Kentucky Derby winners typically have to be solid finishers and Sierra Leone definitely checks that box.
Lastly, I like that Sierra Leone has above average size. That could come in handy in a field of 20 at a track that typically has a high amount of heavy traffic. Sierra Leone's consistency and style also mean that he'll still be a contender even if he draws a less than ideal post position. Let's play Sierra Leone for a full unit!
Best Long Shot Bet: Just a Touch (17-1)
Trainer Brad Cox will have three solid horses in this year's Kentucky Derby. Though Catching Freedom is thought to be Cox's premier choice, don't sleep on Just a Touch. This young colt was sired by Justify (2018 Triple Crown champ), so there's no doubt about his bloodline.
Though lightly raced and a little unproven, Just a Touch showed plenty of stamina during his 2nd place finish at The Bluegrass, where Sierra Leone took home the crown. The Bluegrass is a 1.5 mile race, so Just a Touch shouldn't have any trouble with the 1.25 mile track at Churchill Downs.
Seasoned horse bettors are quite fond of Just a Touch's breakaway speed, so that's another reason to take a flyer on him. This line should be closer to 10-1 instead of 17-1, so let's play Just a Touch for a third of a unit.
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