This year's Run For The Roses is monumental as the 150th Kentucky Derby is hosted, with Fierceness as the +250 favorite to win at Churchill Downs.
However, the Thoroughbred will start its two-minute run from the post that has never produced a champion -- Post No. 17.
2024 Kentucky Derby Odds
Here are the top betting favorites in the 2024 Kentucky Derby betting odds with their post positions:
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Post #1: Dornoch | +2000 |
| Post #2: Sierra Leone | +425 |
| Post #3: Mystik Dan | +2000 |
| Post #4: Catching Freedom | +900 |
| Post #5: Catalytic | +4000 |
| Post #6: Just Steel | +2200 |
| Post #7: Honor Marie | +1800 |
| Post #8: Just a Touch | +1100 |
| Post #9: Encino | +2000 |
| Post #10: T O Password | +3500 |
| Post #11: Forever Young | +850 |
| Post #12: Track Phantom | +3000 |
| Post #13: West Saratoga | +4000 |
| Post #14: Endlessly | +3000 |
| Post #15: Domestic Product | +2500 |
| Post #16: Grand Mo the First | +5000 |
| Post #17: Fierceness | +250 |
| Post #18: Stronghold | +2200 |
| Post #19: Resilience | +2500 |
| Post #20: Society Man | +4000 |
Odds as of April 30
The curse of the post positions
Randomly assigned, there's context and history found in the stalls of each post. Currently, Post No. 5 has bred the most success, holding 10 winners.
While common sense would suggest the inside of Post No. 1 be an advantage, running along the rail -- it isn't. Only eight Kentucky Derby champions stormed out of the post with the most recent being way back in 1986. It is said to be hard to break away from the pack when being up against the rail.
Through 150 races, just one post has yet to have a winner. Ironically enough, that is the same post where the 2024 favorite will stand on Saturday -- Post No. 17.
who is favored to win 150th kentucky derby?
Fierceness is favored to snag the first leg of the Triple Crown. Despite the unlucky draw of Post No. 17, trainer Todd Pletcher said he and the team were hoping to draw somewhere outside.
Fierceness will be joined by John Velazquez, a three-time Kentucky Derby victor. The Puerto Rican's most recent win in 2020 with Authentic.
Notably, the three-year-old's last race was in the Florida Derby, which has seen 25 victors go on to win the Kentucky Derby. The race was an elite 13-and-a-half-length victory.
Fierceness is known for initial speed and being hot out the gate. Of his two losses, factors like traffic and contact with other horses slowed his rhythm.
Fierceness takes a lap under the Twin Spires 🏇🏼 pic.twitter.com/1tDR7SihT5
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 23, 2024
Sierra Leone (+425)
Perhaps not credited for acceleration, Sierra Leone is referred to as "the closer". It takes some moments for the Thoroughbred to find a groove in his strides but is capable of handling the traffic on the track.
Despite being 0-6 in the Derby, jockey Tyler Gaffalione will look for his first win with Sierra Leone.
Does he have what it takes to defeat the speed of Fierceness? Find out what we think in our Derby best bets.
Value Pick: Resilience (+2500)
As a two-year-old, Resilience has raced at Churchill Downs twice before, placing second and third. The Thoroughbred found his first victory at Gulfstream Park in January and trained by William Mott, notching his fourth Eclipse Award this year for outstanding trainer.
It may be a sleeper pick but a horse familiar with the track and surroundings is always a bonus.
Kentucky Derby Post Positions History
Here’s a look at how the various Kentucky Derby post positions have fared through history.
| Post Position | Number Of Kentucky Derby Wins | Last Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Ferdinand (1986) |
| 2 | 7 | Affirmed (1978) |
| 3 | 5 | Real Quiet (1998) |
| 4 | 5 | Super Saver (2010) |
| 5 | 10 | Always Dreaming (2017) |
| 6 | 2 | Sea Hero (1993) |
| 7 | 7 | Justify (2018) |
| 8 | 9 | Mage (2023) |
| 9 | 4 | Riva Ridge (1972) |
| 10 | 9 | Giacomo (2005) |
| 11 | 2 | Winning Colors (1988) |
| 12 | 3 | Canonero II (1971) |
| 13 | 5 | Nyquist (2016) |
| 14 | 2 | Carry Back (1961) |
| 15 | 6 | Authentic (2020) |
| 16 | 4 | Animal Kingdom (2011) |
| 17 | 0 | - |
| 18 | 2 | Country House (2019) |
| 19 | 1 | I'll Have Another (2012) |
| 20 | 1 | Rich Strike (2022) |
Previous Kentucky Derby Winners
If you’re looking for what the Kentucky Derby winning times have been in recent years, we have them listed below along with each of the winning horses -- a handy tool when selecting a Kentucky Derby prop bet.
| Year | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mage | 2:01:57 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | 2:02:61 |
| 2021 | Mandaloun | 2:01.02 |
| 2020 | Authentic | 2:00.61 |
| 2019 | Country House | 2:03.98 |
| 2018 | Justify | 2:04.20 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | 2:03.59 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | 2:01.31 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | 2:03.02 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | 2:03.66 |
| 2013 | Orb | 2:02.89 |
Kentucky Derby 2022 Odds FAQ
Who won the 2021 Kentucky Derby?
Medina Spirit won the 2021 Kentucky Derby but was later disqualified and thus Mandaloun with odds of +1200 won the Run for the Roses last year. With no Bob Baffert horses in the running this year, there are plenty of Kentucky Derby picks to be found.
Which horse is favored to win the 2022 Kentucky Derby?
Epicenter is the favorite to win the 2022 Kentucky Derby with odds of +300 or 3/1. While that horse is the favorite, there are plenty of other Kentucky Derby betting options out there. See other 2022 Kentucky Derby horse contenders here.
What prop bets can I make on the Kentucky Derby?
You can make all kinds of Kentucky Derby prop bets. At the Run for the Roses, you can place wagers on what color of the winning horse will be and what will be the winning race time among other options.
