The race for the Triple Crown starts in less than three months, with Bob Baffert’s American Pharoah and Dortmund currently the co-favorites to win the 2015 Kentucky Derby at 10/1 odds.
Kentucky Derby odds 2015: American Pharoah, Dortmund atop futures betting lists
Kentucky Derby betting is already gaining momentum three months before the big race. American Pharoah and Dortmund top the Derby Futures Betting Lists.
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
American Pharoah is coming off his first workout of the year after being forced to withdraw from the 2014 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile race last Nov. 1 due to a foot injury.
The Baffert-trained horse and son of Pioneer of the Nile ran three furlongs in :36 1/5 at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 2 and figures to be a force as long as he continues to progress as expected and performs well in upcoming races.
Dortmund, which is another one of Baffert’s prized horses, will also be on display Saturday at Santa Anita when he runs in the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. The son of 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown is unbeaten and coming off a first-place finish in the Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 20.
Other horses in the mix who could still emerge as the favorite heading into the Kentucky Derby include Texas Red (12/1), Carpe Diem (16/1), Daredevil (16/1), El Kabeir (16/1) and Upstart (16/1). Texas Red won the 2014 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but lost a close race last Sunday to another Baffert trainee, Lord Nelson, in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita.
Despite the second-place finish, Texas Red remains one of the top Triple Crown contenders and should be followed closely.
Carpe Diem is one of trainer Todd Pletcher’s best shots at a second Kentucky Derby victory after earning one win in his previous 40 chances at Churchill Downs. Another one of Pletcher’s top horses is Daredevil, who won the $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park last Oct. 4 over second-place finisher Upstart.
El Kabeir is trained by John Terranova and leads the Derby points race with 21 after winning the $200,000 Jerome Stakes on Jan. 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Upstart won the $400,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park for his first victory of 2015 following a third-place finish at the 2014 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
