On Thursday Churchill Downs will open its 20th advance Kentucky Derby pool. If so inclined the wager is also offered in Las Vegas at various sports books often with much bigger odds.
Obviously that would involve a trip to Sin City as opposed to the convenience of your local racetrack or ADW. While a fun wager, especially where bragging rights are concerned, it isn’t and has never been the most savvy bet on the books. So much can change, so little is known, and there is often ample value when we know who is actually in the gate and where. Start the odds in the 75-1 neighborhood and you might get my attention with this type of bet.
That said, if you want the bragging rights, and possibly better odds than post time if your horse makes it to the gate, by all means check out the Kentucky Derby Pool. It is definitely fun. Here are the opening odds and my preliminary subject to many revision thoughts:
| 1. | Avery Island (Maybe) | K. McLaughlin | 30-1 |
| 2. | Bolt d’Oro (Not for me) | M. Ruis | 10-1 |
| 3. | Copper Bullet (Nope) | S.Asmussen | 30-1 |
| 4. | Dak Attack (Hmmmm) | D.Romans | 30-1 |
| 5. | Engage (Nah…..) | C.Brown | 20-1 |
| 6. | Enticed (Nope) | K.McLaughlin | 30-1 |
| 7. | Firenze Fire (Nope) | J.Servis | 20-1 |
| 8. | Free Drop Billy (Maybe) | D.Romans | 20-1 |
| 9. | Givemeaminit (Probably not) | D.Stewart | 50-1 |
| 10. | Good Magic (Maybe, definite maybe) | C.Brown | 8-1 |
| 11. | Gotta Go ( Possible) | I.Wilkes | 30-1 |
| 12. | Lone Sailor (Outside shot) | T.Amoss | 50-1 |
| 13. | Mask1 (Hmmmm) | C.Brown | 30-1 |
| 14. | McKinzie (Bob always dangerous) | B.Baffert | 20-1 |
| 15. | Mendelssohn (Intriguing) | A.O’Brien | 30-1 |
| 16. | Montauk (Not for me) | T.Pletcher | 20-1 |
| 17. | Principe Guilherme (Good question) | S.Asmussen | 20-1 |
| 18. | Quip, R.Brisset (…….nah) | R.Brisset | 30-1 |
| 19. | Solomini (Live one) | B.Baffert | 15-1 |
| 20. | Sporting Chance (Pass) | W.Lukas | 20-1 |
| 21. | Talent Scout (Bob again) | B.Baffert | 30-1 |
| 22. | Tiz Mischief (Maybe) | D.Romans | 50-1 |
| 23. | Untamed Domain (Interesting….but iffy) | G.Motion | 20-1 |
| 24. | Mutuel field (7-5 OUCH!) ( Obvious maybe!!!!!!) | 7-5 |
There is also a sire pool for those interested. I will leave that one alone.
