The 148th Kentucky Derby is scheduled for May 7 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. After the 2020 Kentucky Derby was pushed back to October without fans and then restricted seating in 2021, the Kentucky Derby is back to being a full spectacle.
If you are like most people, all you are concerned with is the Kentucky Derby odds and betting winning tickets. That’s what I’m most concerned with the Kentucky Derby field set. Post positions were finalized on Monday.
There may be horses that get scratched leading up to Saturday or just before the Derby, so things might change. You never know when the athletes are animals, and an illness or injury could occur.
It’s #KyDerby week, and we want to know your pick to win Saturday’s Run for the Roses on @NBC and @peacockTV. pic.twitter.com/Vjm3XcHE5y
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 2, 2022
TheSportsGeek has the latest Kentucky Derby odds and the best odds of winning the Kentucky Derby for Saturday. Are you looking for the best Kentucky Derby betting sites? Access the link and see what works for you. All of our favorite Kentucky Derby betting sites have been tested and vetted thoroughly.
He will not be around at Churchill Downs next year, either. This goes back to Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, who tested positive for a banned substance.
Some of his trainees were transferred to other trainers, so he might be able to watch as one of his former horses wins the Kentucky Derby. Messier and Taiba, likely contenders to win the Derby, were transferred elsewhere two months ago.
How To Bet On The Kentucky Derby
It’s one race that takes only two minutes to complete, but there are several popular ways to get into the action at the racebook.
You will have to decide what’s best for you and your risk tolerance. We’ll go over how you can bet the Kentucky Derby and get the most out of the Kentucky Derby odds.
Win Bet
– This one doesn’t need much of an explanation. For a win bet to cash, you must successfully pick the winner.
Place Bet
– There is more room for error in a place bet. If your selection finished 1st or 2nd, go ahead and collect your winnings.
Show Bet
– The odds for a show wager fall even more, but a top-3 finish cashes your ticket.
Exacta
– Successfully select the horses to finish 1st and 2nd in the Kentucky Derby. They have to finish in this order for the bet to win.
Trifecta
– Hitting the trifecta requires a little more skill and luck, but the payoff is more rewarding. For a trifecta win, you need your horses to finish 1-2-3.
Superfecta
– The most difficult bet to win in the Kentucky Derby is the superfecta. While it’s not easy to win, this is where you can cash in big. Consider this your lottery ticket.
Kentucky Oaks/Derby Double – This bet is a Kentucky Derby exclusive. Pick the winner in the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and Kentucky Derby on Saturday for a winning ticket. Both horses must win.
Matchup Bets
– Most sportsbooks offer matchup bets online. You won’t find these at the racebook, but in the website’s sportsbook. This is a head-to-head bet, with your selection required to finish ahead of their opponent.
Where To Bet On The Kentucky Derby
Looking for the best Kentucky Derby odds online? You don’t have to go to Churchill Downs or an off-track betting facility.
The most convenient and best odds for the Kentucky Derby are going to be found online. TheSportsGeek has all that you need to make the bets that we mentioned above for the Kentucky Derby.
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Rank
|
Betting Site
|
Bonus | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Bovada
|
50% up to $1,000 | Go to Site |
| 2 | 
BetUS
|
125% up to $2,500 | Go to Site |
| 3 | 
BetOnline
|
50% up to $1,000 | Go to Site |
| 4 | 
SportsBetting.ag
|
100% up to $1,000 | Go to Site |
| 5 | 
MyBookie
|
100% up to $1,000 | Go to Site |
2022 Kentucky Derby Odds
The 2022 Kentucky Derby does not have a clear favorite less than a week away from the Running for the Roses. There is some form of consensus from the public at this point, but you are not going to find much agreement in the 2022 Kentucky Derby.
There is certainly no agreement between Epicenter and Zandon. These two are currently the betting favorites to win, according to the sportsbook at Bovada.
If you are looking at the morning-line odds, then Zandon is the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby at 3/1. His landing spot helps his odds in the gate.
The following Kentucky Derby odds are provided by Bovada:
| Odds | Horse | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| +400 | Epicenter | Steve Asmussen |
| +400 | Zandon | Chad Brown |
| +800 | Messier | Tim Yakteen |
| +800 | Taiba | Tim Yakteen |
| +1000 | Mo Donegal | Todd Pletcher |
| +1200 | Charge It | Todd Pletcher |
| +1200 | White Abarrio | Affie A. Joseph |
| +1600 | Smile Happy | Ken McPeek |
| +1800 | Cyberknife | Brad Cox |
| +2000 | Simplifcation | Antonio Sano |
| +2200 | Zozos | Brad Cox |
| +2200 | Tiz the Bomb | Ken McPeek |
| +2800 | Crown Pride | Koichi Shintani |
| +3300 | Pioneer of Medina | Todd Pletcher |
Kentucky Derby Best Odds To Win
Smile Happy (+1600)
Smile Happy can’t be ignored from the No. 5 spot. He drew the most favorable post position for the Kentucky Derby. The No. 5 post position has produced the most winners and runner-ups in Derby history.
In a Derby that could be wide-open, there is no writing off a +1600 horse to win in 2022 and Smile Happy is a capable type that could surprise on Saturday. The colt has finished 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd in four career starts and should be ready to perform for Ken McPeek.
Smile Happy won at Churchill Downs in his graded debut on November 27. One for one in Louisville, Smile Happy won the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Gr. 2) by 3 ¼ lengths as a sophomore.
After back-to-back wins, Smile Happy competed to the wire with Epicenter. Smile Happy was edged away by 2 ¾ lengths after Epicenter cleared and geared down late in the Risen Star Stakes (Gr. 2).
Smile Happy competed hard against the two Derby favorites going into Saturday despite the two losses. He was a bigger favorite to win those races as well and draws a favorable post position at Churchill Downs.
He’s already won at Churchill Downs and could make it two for two. At +1600 to win the Kentucky Derby? Yes, please.
Taiba (+800)
Taiba is a former Bob Baffert trainee that is with Tim Yakteen for the Kentucky Derby. Messier is with Yakteen now as well.
The knock on Taiba going into the Kentucky Derby is his lack of experience, though this looks like a horse that could do something pretty rare and win in just his third start.
He will look to complete the most satisfying hat-trick and three-for-three start to his career. Taiba opened his career on March 5 at Santa Anita Park and carried himself well in a $67,000 win by 7 ½ lengths.
What he lacks in experience he makes up for with talent! Get to know more about Kentucky Derby contender, TAIBA, winner of the G1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby! #RoadtotheDerby pic.twitter.com/fwTyLVlbb8
— TVG (@TVG) April 25, 2022
Taiba powered away from the field and was much the best in that beatable field. Was it a fluke? With how he followed up in the Santa Anita Derby (Gr. 1) to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, no.
He recorded another impressive speed reading at more than 100 and kicked free from barn mate Messier at 2 ¼ lengths in the $750,000 Grade 1 event. American Pharoah, Justify, and Maximum Security all had consecutive speed ratings better than 100 going into the Kentucky Derby.
It wasn’t overly impressive what Taiba did in his recent workout for the Derby. He had to be urged, but if Taiba is interested on Saturday, this price at +800 sure looks like a good value bet.
2022 Kentucky Derby Prediction
Epicenter (+400)
Epicenter was the most well-liked horse before post positions were revealed. He’s still one of the betting favorites, but Zandon has taken some of the shine away from Epicenter.
While the No. 3 post isn’t ideal, there is some relief for Epicenter because of who is at No. 2 and No. 4. Happy Jack (+8000) and Summer Is Tomorrow (+8000) are beside Epicenter in the gate.
👀👀👀 Epicenter pic.twitter.com/AvHAUjYFtr
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 27, 2022
Epicenter should break well out of the gate and get away from those two without getting boxed in. If this happens, expect him to carry on well for the rest of the Derby.
It would be a lot tougher if fast horses were next to him, but this should end up being fine for Joel Rosario. The colt has finished 6th, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st in his career and in peak form at the moment.
Epicenter turned on the jets to pull away and win the Louisiana Derby and earn 100 points! 💨
TV: CNBC pic.twitter.com/4f8oyhIz2x
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 26, 2022
Epicenter is coming off back-to-back wins in the Risen Star Stakes (Gr. 2) and Louisiana Derby (Gr. 2) most recently. He’s coming off two big wins and is capable of completing this trip.
Epicenter defeated Zozos by 2 ½ lengths with an authoritative performance in his latest attempt. He went into the stretch with a 1 ½ length lead and drew off in the $1,000,000 event.
https://www.thesportsgeek.com/blog/2022-kentucky-derby-odds-best-bets/
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