Kentucky Derby 2018 odds: A new favorite as McKinzie slides
News Saturday that McKinzie will miss the Santa Anita Derby raised his price in the latest 2018 Kentucky Derby odds listed by the Wynn Las Vegas. And that made way for a new favorite, his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Justify, whose first and only points-paying Derby prep is now to be determined.
The colt will work Monday, the Daily Racing Form reported, after which Baffert will determine whether Justify remains in California for the Santa Anita Derby or ships to Oaklawn Park for the April 1 Arkansas Derby. Both are Grade 1 races, a major step up for a son of Scat Daddy who's unbeaten in two starts, with his combined winning margin 16 lengths.
The Wynn lists Justify as a 7-1 favorite with multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro and Audible, Saturday's Florida Derby winner, both at 8-1. Rebel Stakes winner Magnum Moon is 10-1 with a trio of horses -- Good Magic, Noble Indy and Solomini -- all 12-1. Mendelssohn follows at 14-1 off his impressive victory in Saturday's UAE Derby.
McKinzie slid from 7-1 favoritism to 15-1 with his Derby prospects seemingly in question. If he doesn't get in another prep, the son of Street Sense would head into the first Saturday in May without a race since March 10. But he has been working consistently for six months, and Quip, the Tampa Bay Derby winner, is working up to the Kentucky Derby having last raced the same day.
In terms of other horses that last week locked up spots to run at Churchill Downs, both European trail winner Gronkowski and Florida Derby runner-up Hofburg are 25-1 at the Wynn.
See full listings from the Wynn below, including odds to sweep the Triple Crown series, with the option to go full screen at the bottom right of the window.