Kentucky Derby 2021: The Betting Facts



A look at this year's Kentucky Derby with betting odds for the Top 5 and insights into how to bet the Run for the Roses.

Pandemic and all, the Derby on the first Saturday in May - we can hardly believe it!

After so many hassles, cancellations, postponements and other many hiccups, the 2021 edition of the classic Kentucky Derby will go on within its traditional yearly time slot, on May 1st to be precise, and a superb set of 20 horses will compete for the bragging rights of wearing the coveted Derby roses.

Following Tuesday’s draw for the Kentucky Derby's post positions, betting pundits everywhere moved to readjust the betting odds, in order to fit them into the changed scenario. According to the released post data, favorite Essential Quality (+250) will begin his stride standing on stall #14, while the next best betting horse, Rock your World (+450), will be waiting right beside him on #15.

Known Agenda, Hot Rod Charlie and Highly Motivated all share the third best spot in the odds, with a +800 money line price, and they were posted at #1, #9 and #17 stalls, in the exact same nominal order.

Which ONE horse makes the BEST bet?

Join us below for 3 Important Betting Facts for the upcoming Kentucky Derby 2021, and check out the Odds to Win for the "Run for the Roses", courtesy of classic sportsbook JAZZSports.ag.

Kentucky Derby 2021 @ Churchill Downs
Run for the Roses - Race #12
Post Time: 6:57 pm ET - Saturday May 1st, 2021

Kentucky Derby - Odds to Win - TOP 5 Betting Odds*
Essential Quality +250
Rock your World +450
Known Agenda +800
Hot Rod Charlie +800
Highly Motivated +800

Three Important Kentucky Derby Betting Facts

1- Essential Quality: The Top Pick

One of the very first things you’ll notice about this year’s Derby is that most contestants are names relatively unknown, at least as far as horse racing records go when looking further back than mid 2020. Essential Quality is probably the one with the most renown, simply because he has featured prominently in the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and also because of the fact he obtained the top finishing position at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) that took place at Keeneland a few weeks ago.

Kentucky Derby picks Top 5 oddsIs he worth the No. 1 Betting Pick post?

Yes and No. Though only a 2-year old, this Godolphin-bred colt has ran undefeated throughout his very brief professional career, and has experienced jockey Luis Saez on the mount, however, underestimating his competition might ultimately prove a mistake.

Which leads us to betting point #2 . . . 

2 - Known Agenda might fare better if he had gotten a more convenient starting position.

As simple as that: Getting the KD’s #1 post position is a bad omen by itself. According to our Kentucky Derby historical research, only one horse made it first over the finish line during the last 30-some years, and that was Ferdinand, back in 1986. That's NOT to say it never happened; the #1 locale had produced more winners for the Derby during the many decades that preceded Ferdinand's participation, and maybe this time we will see a return to the trend.

The chestnut colt obtained a clear win over Greatest Honor at the Florida Derby this past March, thus beating the pundits’ predictions, and putting himself on the fast lane to become the next KD champ; as his trainer Todd Pletcher once said: "We've always felt distance was not an issue for him… We feel a mile-and-a-quarter is going to be right up his wheelhouse."

3 - There's also Hot Rod Charlie, at only +800 price

Yes. There's Hot Rod Charlie too, and there's been a lot of talk about him in the racing circuits as well.

This son of Oxbow and Indian Miss, the property of Roadrunner Racing and training product of Doug O’Neill, took a win at the Louisiana Derby in March, and also secured good ending positions at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Robert B. Lewis Stakes. He will start from stall #9, same post that has produced four Kentucky Derby winners in the past.

Make sure to check out the complete list of Kentucky Derby betting odds at JAZZSports.ag, and make sure to take advantage of their juicy 150% Bonus, with promo code OSGA300. See Ya at the Races!


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