2020 Kentucky Derby odds: 6 live longshots in Las Vegas
Inside of nine weeks until the 2020 Kentucky Derby, the void is growing between the haves and have nots on William Hill U.S.’ futures board.
Odds for prep winners such as Fountain of Youth (G2) hero Ete Indien are shrinking as they lock up spots in the Churchill Downs starting gate. Meanwhile, those with seemingly impossible paths to the Derby based on current form are rocketing past 100-1.
There are also a few relevant horses stuck in between who still offer a nice mix of potential and price. Here’s six on the rise that may prove worth a look — and perhaps a play:
Americanus (150-1)
This Mark Hennig trainee has run one bad race when he simply got too far behind early in the Nashua (G3) last November as Independence Hall delivered a freaky performance. A Feb. 22 Gulfstream Park allowance win over a number of horses on the William Hill board will send him into a stakes race around two turns.
Attachment Rate (80-1)
Second at long odds by 3/4 of a length to Market Analysis in his 3-year-old debut, this Dale Romans trainee came back a 6 1/4-length winner next time at Gulfstream. He’ll go the same one-turn mile trip in Saturday’s Gotham Stakes (G3). With a win, he’s Derby-qualified.
Cafe Pharoah (50-1)
A Kentucky-bred son of American Pharoah, he went last to first in Japan’s most-recent points prep and has the pedigree to go long. He’ll have to double down on points next time and information figures to be limited. But he’s not your typical Japanese Derby hopeful as a $475,000 auction buy out of the U.S.
Market Analysis (65-1)
One of three Todd Pletcher colts going in Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby (G2), this one looks best of the bunch off a Jan. 25 debut at seven furlongs. He’ll go around two turns for the first time and as a son of Honor Code out of an Exchange Rate mare can be expected to enjoy the distance. He's also breezing by stablemates in the mornings.
Royal Act (80-1)
In his switch from turf to dirt, this American Pharoah colt came up just 3/4 lengths short of upsetting unbeaten Thousand Words in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3). Trainer Peter Eurton will be looking for a major prep next, and C R K Stable brings plenty of experience to the table with a $500,000 yearling who may have found his preferred surface at the right time.
Spa City (125-1)
Godolphin and Kiaran McLaughlin were patient with this son of Street Sense, giving him two starts before a stretch out and eye-catching, 1 1/8-mile victory last time at Gulfstream Park. Off that Feb. 8 win, he too is headed for the Tampa Bay Derby with distance no question, and connections have spoken highly of him in the interim.
William Hill’s Derby futures can be played at its properties in Nevada. Here’s a full look at the board as of Monday: