Kentucky Derby 2020: Analyzing the 5 best prop bets

There is never a shortage of pari-mutuel betting options on the Kentucky Derby, but prop bets are also a fun way to bet on the Derby while getting fixed odds. There is often sneaky hidden value available if you target the right bets.

Below are a few of the many Kentucky Derby prop bets available with analysis, odds provided by Bovada.

Top 4 finish - Max Player - 9/2

Max Player seems the perfect horse to key in superfecta wagers. He has never been worse than third in five lifetime starts and has steadily improved figure-wise in every start. He has been no match for Tiz the Law, but no one in here may be. He could easily lose by about seven or eight lengths and still finish fourth. He has been working great for new trainer Steve Asmussen and further improvement can be expected after the trainer change. He will be picking up the pieces at a distance he can handle and is a great bet at 9/2 to be in the top four.

2020 Kentucky Derby winning time - Under 2:03.15 - 5/8

The odds on this bet are similar to Tiz the Law's 3/5 morning line, but this is even more of a sure thing. Tiz the Law just ran a mile and a quarter in 2:00.95 in the Travers at Saratoga. With rain expected all week and a sunny day on Saturday, the track could be wet-fast, which usually produces quick times. 2:03.15 is an average time for the Kentucky Derby, but Tiz the Law is an above average Derby favorite. Furthermore, 3-year-olds typically run faster as the year goes on. With the Derby four months later, the more mature 3-year-olds should run faster than usual, right?.

Will the Derby winner have won its last race prior to winning The derby? - No - 3/2

Shockingly, only three horses in this year's Kentucky Derby won their last race. This is a great bet if you think Tiz the Law can be defeated by anyone in the race other than Bob Baffert's pair of Authentic and Thousand Words. You get 15 horses to win the Derby at over even money, including the 5-1 second choice Honor A. P. This bet only makes sense if you think Tiz the Law is vulnerable, but is a fun way to have an interest in the majority of the field.

First half mile time - :45.9 - over - 4/7

Here is another slam dunk betting prop win. This year's Derby has some speed in it, but not an overwhelming amount by any means. Authentic may be the only "need the lead" type in the entire field. Authentic went :47.52 for the half going 1 1/8 miles in the Haskell and there is no reason to think he would have to go faster in here going 1 1/4 miles. The first half of the 1 1/4 Travers was run in :48.36. It is nearly impossible to imagine a sub :46 half in this race.

Top Ten Finish - Necker Island - 7/4

Necker Island is an intriguing long shot in this year's Kentucky Derby. He has worked better than almost any runner in this field since removing the blinkers and I think the equipment change could lead to a career best effort. Will he finish in the exacta? That is highly doubtful, but he has the style to pick up the pieces and only has to finish in the top 10 to win this bet. There are only 18 horses in this year's Derby and there are rumblings that King Guillermo could scratch. If that is the case, Necker Island only has to beat 7 horses home to cash at almost 2-1.