California Chrome is the 2014 Kentucky Derby’s prohibitive favorite at 5-2, a line established after it was announced he would run out of the No. 5 post during Tuesday’s post position draw.
Kentucky Derby odds 2014: California Chrome a 5-2 favorite following post position draw
The first official odds for the 140th Run for the Roses are in, and California Chrome leads the way.
Andy Lyons
California Chrome is trained by Art Sherman, a 77-year-old trainer who last won the Run for the Roses as an exercise rider with 1955 winner Swaps. California Chrome earned his status as the race’s heavy favorite by winning his last four races by a combined 24 lengths — the only four races since jockey Victor Espinoza started riding him. Espinoza will be aboard him Saturday at Churchill Downs.
The initial thought Wicked Strong may be the second choice, but he was tagged the fourth choice when he was given the No. 20 post in Tuesday’s draw. Only once has a horse won in the furthest-out post — that was the dominant Big Brown in 2008 — so Wicked Strong’s odds were docked accordingly, and he is now at 8-1.
Samraat is the second choice, starting in the No. 6 post right next to California Chrome at 5-1 odds. Samraat is 5-1-0 in six career starts, his only loss a 3 1/4-length loss to Wicked Strong on April 5 in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Bob Baffert-trained Hoppertunity is the third choice at 6-1 and will start out of the No. 11 position.
The full odds for the 140th Kentucky Derby are below, sorted by post position.
1. Vicar’s In Trouble, 30-1
2. Harry’s Holiday, 50-1
3. Uncle Sigh, 30-1
4. Danza, 10-1
5. California Chrome, 5-2
6. Samraat, 5-1
Kentucky Derby
7. We Miss Artie, 50-1
8. General A Rod, 15-1
9. Vinceremos, 30-1
10. Wildcat Red, 15-1
11. Hoppertunity, 6-1
12. Dance With Fate, 20-1
13. Chitu Martin, 20-1
14. Medal Count, 20-1
15. Tapiture Ricardo, 15-1
16. Intense Holiday, 12-1
17. Commanding Curve, 50-1
18. Candy Boy, 20-1
19. Ride On Curlin, 15-1
20. Wicked Strong, 8-1
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