Two Outsiders That Could Have A Chance In The Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is the biggest betting day of the year in the United States, and that promises to be no different this year.

The first of the Triple Crown events takes place at the beginning of May, and the betting markets are already heating up, with gamblers placing their money on the horse that they believe will win at Churchill Downs.

However, the fact that only half of the favourites since 2009 have won the race means that there could be a motivation to look at the bigger priced selections in the market for the race.

Horses with higher odds have achieved success in the race, with the most recent example being Country House’s win in 2019 coming in at odds of 65/1. But, are there any horses with higher odds that could have a great chance in the Kentucky Derby this year?

King Fury

One horse that certainly looks very good value for money in the betting at present is King Fury, who is valued at around 40/1 with many of the leading sportsbooks. The only reason that he is so high in the market at present is because he requires two of the 20 horses currently in the running to drop out before the final declaration. There is a good chance that could happen, which would make his current market price extremely tempting.

If declared, King Fury will be slashed to nearly half the price he currently is, and that is down to the form that he has shown this season. The Kenneth McPeek-trained horse made his first start of the season at Keeneland in April after 133 days away from the track.

He was outstanding on his comeback run, as he won by over two lengths from Unbridled Honor. To further his claims, that victory came in the Lexington Stakes, which is a Grade 3 affair and one of the most significant prep runs on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Hozier

Bob Baffert’s record in the Kentucky Derby is something to behold, and this year will be looking to make history by becoming a seven-time winning trainer in the illustrious race.

For a long time, it looked as though Concert Tour was going to be that horse to give him history, but his recent disappointing showing at Oaklawn Park has meant that he has been pulled from running in the Triple Crown race.

Baffert could still have two potential runners in the Kentucky Derby, and Hozier is the bigger priced of those.

The three-year-old requires one horse to drop out of contention to secure his place. However, the reason why he could be an outsider for the race will mainly base on Baffert’s record rather than Hozier’s form.

He hasn’t yet won a race and was extremely disappointing last time out in the Arkansas Derby. On that occasion, he was 20 lengths behind Super Stock in the Grade 1, and that ultimately cost him his place in the Kentucky Derby.

Hozier was far more competition in his start prior to that, as he travelled well before fading in the Rebel Stakes. Still, he finished over four lengths behind Concert Tour on that occasion.

This horse wouldn’t be given a chance under most other factors, but the fact that he is trained by Baffert means that he is one that is hard to write off.

It would be a massive shock if he was to win the Kentucky Derby, but stranger things have happened in the past, and he has at least run in Graded affairs on both of his most recent starts.