2020 Kentucky Derby odds: Max Player's price still playable
As top handicappers head to Las Vegas this weekend for the NTRA’s National Horseplayers Championship, it will be prudent to note any major shifts in William Hill U.S.’ 2020 Kentucky Derby futures, which can be wagered on at properties in Nevada.
It’s unlikely anyone sharp enough to qualify for the NHC would pile more money on some of the short-priced names such as Holy Bull hero Tiz the Law, whose odds dropped two points to 6-1 in the latest Derby sheet distributed by William Hill.
Likewise, the Robert B. Lewis winner Thousand Words (12-1) has lost his value, and two big names returning this weekend in Sam F. Davis-bound Independence Hall (10-1) and Storm the Court (12-1) are risky. After all, even at that short of a price they’re still tallying points needed to qualify for the Derby.
But will Max Player take any action? The Withers Stakes winner, despite his victory at 1 1/8 miles last Saturday at Aqueduct, still sits at a relatively high 75-1 on the board at William Hill.
The son of Honor Code is trained by a New York stalwart, Linda Rice, and owned by George Hall, whose Triple Crown series success includes campaigning the 2011 Belmont Stakes winner Ruler on Ice. The same season, Hall’s Pans On Fire ran ninth in the Kentucky Derby.
"Well, we found ourselves on the Derby trail as of (Saturday),” Rice told the NYRA Press Office with a laugh. "That's something that's been on my bucket list, so we're excited about that. Hopefully, that will come to fruition.”
Rice may finally have the right type of colt, who has already indicated most of the distance isn’t a problem. Max Player registered a modest 86 Beyer Speed Figure with his Saturday win; as a closer he’s bound to post smaller numbers over a slow Aqueduct winter track.
With three starts, Rice said Max Player is “not seasoned enough to handle the kickback yet.” So jockey Dylan Davis rallied him outside of rivals in the Withers.
Connections are looking to the Wood Memorial (G2) next, and that race is two months away. It’ll be interesting to see at what type of price a last out graded stakes winner arrives to his final Derby prep.
"Hopefully he'll continue to improve in the next 60 days prior to the Wood,” Rice said, “because he's certainly going to have to be at the top of his game in that caliber of race.”
Below is a full look at William Hill U.S.’ board. Should the embed not appear, click here to view the odds.
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