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Saturday may not be super bowl, but for the average gambler it is terribly close.
The first Saturday in May has arrived, which means the Kentucky Derby is here and 20 horses begin their quest to go down in history as the Triple Crown Champions.
“Overall for horse players, there are a lot of big days. But for just generally this is the biggest day. It’s more media -drag power, more hype than any other race,” Draftking’s Oddsmaker Johnny Avello told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview.
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Mage, Jockeyed by Javier Castellano, wins the 149th Kentucky Derby in Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
It is arguably the most popular horse race for the public and everyone will have a piece of the action.
This means that lots of irregular bettors will try to catch “Lightning in a bottle”, as Avello put it.
“This is not one of the races where the favorites will take the most money. People will look for horses with better value,” Avello said.
A general view of Churchill Downs ahead of the 149th operation of Kentucky Derby on May 6, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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“What they want to bet in this derby, they will bet Exactas, Trifectas and Superfectas. There have been some Superfectas that have paid six numbers. Even if you are a win, place and show, you usually get a pretty good shake for your efforts. The customer will bet a lot of different things.”
It’s hard to win lots of money from a little effort on a favorite, and thus the creative efforts.
“No one is going to get rich from derby unless you hit a crazy superfecta. But you always look for some value in racing. You will be really excited when you win and try to hit a lightning in a bottle,” Avello added.
Draftkings are also getting into the party as new users can spend their first $ 5 bet on the winner and if their selection wins, they will share a $ 1 million pot among others with the same effort.
Roses in the winner’s circle with Twin Spiers in the background during the 147th operation of Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2021 in Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Journalism is the current favorite of 3-1 (Wager One Dollar, Three Back), followed by sovereignty of 9-2 and Sandman at 5-1.
Betting odds via kentuckyderby.com (19:02)
No. 1: Citizen Bull (Martin Garcia) 13-1
No. 2: Noequos (Flavia Prat) 47-1
No. 3: Final Gambit (Luan Machado) 15-1
No. 4: Rodriguez – scratched
No. 5: American Promise (Nik Juarez) 12-1
No. 6: admire Daytona (Christophe Lemaire) 41-1
No. 7: Luxor Cafe (Joao Moreira) 11-1
No. 8: Journalism (Umberto Rispoli) 7-2
No. 9: Burnham Square (Brian Hernandez Jr.) 16-1
No. 10: Grande – scratched
No. 11: Flying Mohawk (Joe Ramos) 31-1
No. 12: East Avenue (Manny Franco) 37-1
No. 13: Publisher (Irad Ortiz Jr.) 29-1
No. 14: Tiztastic (Joel Rosario) 18-1
No. 15: Gender Dom (Julien Leparoux) 14-1
No. 16: Coal match (Juan Vargas) 25-1
No. 17: Sandman (Jose Ortiz) 9-2
No. 18: Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado) 9-1
No. 19: Chunk of Gold (Jareth Loveberry) 28-1
No. 20: Owen Almighty (Javier Castellano) 39-1
No. 21: Baeza (Flavia Prat) 18-1
How to look at?
- WHERE: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
- When: May 3, 2024
- Projected Post Time: 19:02 EST
- TV: NBC
- Purse: $ 5 million
