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Who Could Cause an Upset In The 2018 Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is known as the ‘most exciting two minutes in sport’ and, significantly, it is the first leg of the Triple Crown in the United States. There are a number of fantastic traditions such as the signing of ‘My Old Kentucky Home’, which makes this race so special.

In recent years, there have been a number of underdogs that have been able to spring a surprise in the 2000 metre contest, which makes it a great race to have a punt on if you like betting on outsiders. Horses from farms in Kentucky and around the United States will make the trip over the Churchill Downs once again in 2018.

After an impressive two-year-old campaign, where he won three of his four racecourse starts, Bolt D’Oro currently tops the ante-post betting for the race at +800. Here are three horses that may just outrun their odds and even pick up the top prize in Louisville.

Enticed

Godolphin is one of the biggest ownership stables in world horse racing as they have operations all over the globe including in the United States. Surprisingly, in the 26 years they have been in the sport, they have yet to win the Kentucky Derby. They could have a big year in 2018 as they also have one of the fancied runners for the Oaks at Epsom in June with Magic Lily, who is with 16/1 with Betway to win the leading Classic for fillies in the UK.
 

The team will be confident that they have a solid chance of breaking their maiden in the 2018 Kentucky Derby with Enticed, who is +2000 in the betting. The three-year-old ran three times in 2017, where he won on two of those starts. The son of Medaglia d’Oro won the Grade Two Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs last November, in what was the highlight of his campaign.

Kiaran McLaughlin trains the colt, who looks to have the speed to win the prestigious three-year-old race. His sole defeat came in the Grade One Champagne Stakes where he finished third of the 12 runners. Connections will be confident he can improve from that showing though, when he was just over three lengths behind the winner.

Mckinzie

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby four times in the last 21 years, with his most recent success coming in 2015 with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Although it is difficult to see Mckinzie following in the shoes of the record breaker, the Kentucky Derby could be his best chance of winning one of the big three races in 2018.

Mckinzie only just made his debut last October and, since then, he is three from three. He was awarded the Grade One Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity in the steward’s room in December. That was then followed up with victory in the Grade Three Sham Stakes at Santa Anita earlier this month, where the margin of victory was over three lengths on that occasion.

The three-year-old may have one more run before the Kentucky Derby and it is possible that the horse will keep on improving. Baffert’s runner is as big as +2500 for the Grade One contest at Churchill Downs and, going off what he has shown so far, he has to be considered on your shortlist if you are having a bet on the race.

Solomini

Baffert is also set to saddle up Solomini in the Kentucky Derby in May as he aims to win the race for the first time in three years. The son of Curlin ran on four occasions in 2017 and, although he won just the once, he ran consistently well in some top class races.
 

Solomini made his debut at Del Mar last September, where he beat two other horses to make a winning start to his career. Baffert then opted to step up in class with his colt, as his next task was the Grade One FrontRunner Stakes, where he finished second of nine runners.

Connections of the horse will be delighted with his showing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on just his third start as he just got headed inside the closing 200 metres by Good Magic. Under the hands of Flavien Prat, the pair finished ahead of the Kentucky Derby favourite Bolt D’Oro, which will give them confidence that they can do the same in Louisville.

On his latest start, Solomini crossed the line in front at a Grade One contest at Los Alamitos, however, the race was taken away from him as he was ruled to have bumped a rival inside the final furlong, therefore, the steward demoted him to third place.

Good luck if you are having a bet in the 2018 Kentucky Derby and enjoy the opening leg of the Triple Crown.