Kentucky Derby Odds: Mendelssohn Surges Ahead

In less than a month the 144^th Kentucky Derby will take place and the sportsbooks are already taking bets. This year the Kentucky Derby will take place on May 5^th and will kick off the Triple Crown race season. The online sportsbooks already have their Kentucky Derby Odds out for the greatest two minutes in sports. Today, the $1 million Wood Memorial which is a Kentucky Derby prep race is taking place.  It is an important Kentucky Derby prep race that gives out qualifying points to the top finishers.  In addition, the winner of the Wood Memorial has won the Kentucky Derby 11 times! This also includes four Triple Crown winners but unfortunately, there hasn’t been a Wood Memorial winner to capture the roses in 18 years.  This was when Fusaichi Pegasus emerged victorious during the 2018 racing horse racing season. There’s a new favorite on the 2018 Kentucky Derby futures odds. Mendelssohn, the winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, took the lead at 5/1 after a magnificent display at Saturday’s Grade 2 UAE Derby. Bolt d’Oro, who won the G2 San Felipe Stakes last month, is holding firm at 7/1.

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Mendelssohn is on a three-race winning streak for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who took the Kentucky-bred bay off the European Road with one race left and opted for the UAE Derby instead. That move paid off when Mendelssohn beat the track record and won by 18-1/2 lengths, also a record. However, jockey Ryan Moore might choose to ride Saxon Warrior at the 2,000 Guineas on May 5, rather than make the trip to Churchill Downs. After Audible at third (13/2), there’s a tie for fourth place at 8/1, with McKinzie and Justify – although McKinzie might have to bow out after developing an issue with his hind leg. Audible is in fine form after taking down the G1 Florida Derby over the weekend; Justify is expected to face Bolt d’Oro this Saturday at the G1 Santa Anita Derby, in their last prep race before the Kentucky Derby.