The 2022 Kentucky Derby is field of the 20 fastest horses in the world set on May 7, 2022 at historic Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs morning line maker John Battaglia has set odds and trainers and jockeys have given their two cents. The only thing left to do is handicap Saturday’s Run for the Roses. See below to learn the opening odds and horses running in the derby.
2022 Kentucky Derby
When: Saturday, May 7
Race: #12 at 6:57PM EST
Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
TV/Streaming: NBC / Peacock
KENTUCKY DERBY – ODDS TO WIN | HORSE RACING – May 7 Race #12 at 6:57PM EST
Epicenter +425
Zandon +525
Taiba +800
Messier +830
White Abarrio +1025
Mo Donegal +1230
Charge It +1415
Smile Happy +1635
Cyberknife +1840
Crown Pride +1840
Classic Causeway +2600
Simplification +3060
Zozos +3120
Tiz The Bomb +3120
Barber Road +3120
Pioneer Of Medina +4050
Tawny Port +4050
Ethereal Road +4050
Happy Jack +6050
Summer Is Tomorrow +6050
TOP CONTENDERS:
After finishing an impressive second in the Lecomte Stakes, EPICENTER (+425) won two Stakes races including the Louisiana Derby where he won off the pace, proving he didn’t need to be on the front, like his previous 3 victories. EPICENTER has already won at Churchill Downs breaking his maiden last November. The downside? The colt is trained by Steve Asmussen, who has a Hall of Fame career but is 0-23 with Derby starters. But EPICENTER has shown continued improvement, looks like he’s in excellent form and easily beat stiff competition. The 3-year old has proved he is the horse to beat.
TAIBA was (+800) now showing at (+600) has been perfect, 2 for 2 in his young career after taking down two Derby contenders in Forbidden Kingdom and Messier on his way to winning the Santa Anita Derby. TAIBA has been able to stalk the pace in both wins and put up big Beyer Speed Figures of 103 and 102. But no horse has won the Kentucky Derby in his 3rd career start since 1883. The last horse to start with so little racing experience was China Visit, who finished 6th in 2000.
ZANDON was at (+800) now showing at (+525) comes off an impressive win at the Blue Grass Stakes where he was able to navigate from the back of the pack to pull off the win. In fact, both of his career victories ZANDON has closed from well back. He’s finished no worse than 3rd in four career races. The colt’s Blue Grass trip gave him the right type of preparation needed for the Derby, where he’ll have 19 other challengers. One thing to keep in mind, a deep closer has only won the Kentucky Derby twice, since 2009 (Orb 2013, Mine That Bird 2013).
WHITE ABARRIO (+1000) comes in off an impressive come from behind win in the Florida Derby. The white colt swept up outside the leaders entering the turn and charged to the front, and didn’t look back. WHITE ABARRIO has won twice in 2022, and 4 of 5 career races. In the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) last November, he finished 3rd after traffic problems. WHITE ABARRIO has tactical speed meaning he can sit off the front end, and stalk the pace. Which will be vital in a race that will likely have a handful of speed at the front and could set up nicely for WHITE ABARRIO.
MESSIER was (+1200) now dropping to (+830) has never finished worse than 2nd in 6 career races, 3 wins, and 3 second place finishes. The colt looked poised to win the Santa Anita Derby only to lose in the final 100 yards to TAIBA. MESSIER, named after the NHL great, ran a speed rating of 103, best among 3-year olds this year when he crushed a 5-horse field in February by 15-lengths. But MESSIER has moved from Bob Baffert’s barn to Tim Yakteen, a former Baffert assistant, who, has zero career Kentucky Derby start and also trains TAIBA.
TOP 3 LONGSHOTS:
Top Longshot: Charge It +2000
CHARGE IT was (+2000) odds seem to be dropping (+1415) which is an early indication punters are riding this horse to win. A literal dark horse in the Derby where fixed odds at 20/1 could pay better than post time odds at 14/1 currently. He has one win and 2 seconds in 3 career starts including running second in the Florida Derby. That race was the colts’ stakes debut, and first try versus winners and still managed to outrun a handful of more experienced competitors. CHARGE IT is also trained by 2-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer, Todd Pletcher. This horse still has some room to improve and could prove it, at long odds, on May 7th.
Second Best Longshot: Zozos +3000
There’s a chance Zozos, the second place finisher behind Epicenter in the Louisiana Derby, gets hung out to dry around the first turn. Or the Brad Cox trainee could take the lead out of the gate and wire the field.
Or, and this is a real possibility, Zozos breaks well and ends up tracking Epicenter throughout the entire race. If that happens, Zozos could win the Kentucky Derby. The Run for the Roses will be Zozo’s fourth lifetime race.
Improvement is expected. So don’t knock this dude’s chances just because he breaks from post 19.
Third Best Longshot: Pioneer of Medina +4050
Pioneer of Medina is another Todd Pletcher starter. The Pioneer of the Nile sired runner finished second in the Louisiana Derby. Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby multiple times. This one shows a fantastic work on April 25. So if the others fail, who knows? At 33-to-1 odds, you can do worse than back an American Pharoah half brother trained by one of the greatest in history.
Don’t miss the fastest minute in sports on May 7th at 6:57PM EST. Get your fixed odds longshot bets in early at Mybookie.ag.
