Kentucky Derby futures: Las Vegas odds for 182 horses

The last quiet week before Kentucky Derby 2022 might have been without a single points prep, but there still was movement for 67 horses in the Las Vegas futures, including some fine tuning with one of the consensus co-favorites.

Even though Forbidden Kingdom missed a scheduled workout last week, he still shortened to 11-2 at Caesars at William Hill, although he remained best-priced at 10-1 at Circa Sports.

Trainer Richard Mandella told Horse Racing Nation the San Felipe (G2) winner “had a slight temperature” Thursday morning, but he reported the American Pharoah colt already was recovering Friday and could be back on the work tab this week.

RELATED: Forbidden Kingdom misses workout due to fever

Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner and Risen Star (G2) runner-up Smile Happy held at 10-1 at both Nevada sportsbooks, maintaining his place as the other best-priced joint favorite.

Two-time graded-stakes winner Classic Causeway drifted from 9-1 to 10-1 at Circa, although he is better priced at 12-1 at Caesars at William Hill. Because of earlier liability, Emmanuel also is 10-1 at Circa, although he also is 20-1 at Caesars at William Hill after his fourth-place finish this month in the Fountain of Youth (G2).

Epicenter, the morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, went from 10-1 to a best-priced 12-1 at Circa. The Not This Time colt who is trained by Steve Asmussen already is qualified for the Kentucky Derby on the strength of his victory last month in the Risen Star. The Louisiana Derby is a 100-40-20-10 points prep for Kentucky, so anything Epicenter would earn would not benefit another horse trying to get to the May 7 classic at Churchill Downs.

Two-time graded-stakes winner Messier was shortened at Circa from 15-1 to 12-1, even though he is ineligible for the Kentucky Derby while he is in the stable of sanctioned trainer Bob Baffert.

Among other significant movers in the Nevada futures:

• Although Honeybee (G3) victor Secret Oath remains 28-1 at Circa, she shortened from 25-1 to 15-1 at Caesars at William Hill. The Arrogate filly drew attention after trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed she would go against males next month in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

• Echo Zulu, the 2021 champion 2-year-old filly, went from 45-1 to 100-1 at Circa. Any hope she might go against the boys in the Derby was all but scuttled when she was entered for Saturday’s Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), a qualifier for the Kentucky Oaks. She was made the 3-5 favorite to win her 3-year-old debut.

• Barese, who is 3-for-3 for trainer Mike Maker, was cut from 400-1 to 225-1 at Circa. The Laoban colt who has won two black-type stakes this winter at Aqueduct is being pointed to next month’s Wood Memorial (G2). It is a 100-40-20-10 points prep for the Derby.

• Zozos, a Munnings colt who is 2-for-2 for trainer Brad Cox after a 10-length allowance score last month at Oaklawn, went from 50-1 to 35-1 at Circa and from 35-1 to 15-1 at Caesars at William Hill. The Munnings colt is an 8-1 morning-line long shot to win the Louisiana Derby.

• Skippylongstocking, who made up 13 1/4 lengths in winning a 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Park allowance race this month, shortened from 150-1 to 100-1 at Caesars at William Hill and from 300-1 to 75-1 at Circa. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said the Exaggerator colt would be sent next month to a 100-40-20-10 prep, either the Florida Derby (G1) or the Wood Memorial.

The two Nevada books combined to list 182 3-year-olds in their Derby futures. They are listed from favorites to longest shots in order of their best prices available to bettors.