Kentucky Derby odds: Forte sets standard in Las Vegas futures
As expected, Forte will close as the clear favorite in Las Vegas for Kentucky Derby 2023. What might not have been expected was that the Eclipse Award winner will carry the shortest futures price in eight years for a May running of the race.
Forte carried best odds Sunday night of 5-2, actually plus 275 at the Westgate SuperBook. In 2015, on the verge of his Triple Crown campaign, American Pharoah was no longer than 2-1 in Nevada to win the Derby. Only Tiz the Law carried a shorter best price when, in September 2020, he was odds-on at minus 112 for the classic that was delayed by COVID.
Already a four-time Grade 1 winner, Forte will be out to end a four-year losing streak for Las Vegas futures favorites in the Derby. Since Justify scored at 3-1 in his own Triple Crown year of 2018, Omaha Beach was scratched in 2019, Tiz the Law placed second in 2020, Essential Quality was promoted to third in 2021, and Epicenter was the runner-up last year.
Tapit Trice, one of Forte’s stablemates from the Todd Pletcher barn, was the consensus second choice Sunday night, carrying odds of 6-1 at Caesars Sportsbook, Circa Sports and the Westgate.
Angel of Empire, Derma Sotogake, Practical Move and Verifying were joint third choices with best odds of 12-1.
On Monday at 3 a.m. EDT, Circa was the first of the three Nevada sportsbooks to close its Derby futures. Caesars was due to close its pool at 1 p.m. and the Westgate at 1:59 p.m. All futures bets taken beforehand are immediate action regardless of whether horses start Saturday.
The Derby draw will be conducted Monday in a streamed 2-3 p.m. program at Churchill Downs that also will include the taking of entries for the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Once post positions are determined, all three sportsbooks and the Station Casinos in Nevada are expected to open new, fixed-odds pools with the condition that a given bet is not action unless that horse starts the Derby.
These were the futures odds at Caesars, Circa and the Westgate on Sunday night, listed in order of the best prices available as shown in bold type. Horses in italics were in line to be also-eligible but outside the main draw.
| Kentucky Derby 2023 | Caesars | *Circa | WG | Last race |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forte | 2-1 | 5-2 | **5-2 | 1st Florida Derby (G1) |
| Tapit Trice | 6-1 | 6-1 | 6-1 | 1st Blue Grass (G1) |
| Angel of Empire | 9-1 | 12-1 | 8-1 | 1st Arkansas Derby (G1) |
| Derma Sotogake | 10-1 | 12-1 | 10-1 | 1st UAE Derby (G2) |
| Practical Move | 10-1 | 12-1 | 8-1 | 1st Santa Anita Derby (G1) |
| Verifying | 12-1 | 12-1 | 12-1 | 2nd Blue Grass (G1) |
| Kingsbarns | 15-1 | 12-1 | 14-1 | 1st Louisiana Derby (G2) |
| Confidence Game | 20-1 | 22-1 | 14-1 | 1st Rebel (G2) |
| Mage | 22-1 | 20-1 | 20-1 | 2nd Florida Derby (G1) |
| Two Phil’s | 16-1 | 21-1 | 25-1 | 1st Jeff Ruby (G3, AW) |
| Skinner | 25-1 | 20-1 | 30-1 | 3rd Santa Anita Derby (G1) |
| Hit Show | 36-1 | 30-1 | 40-1 | 2nd Wood Memorial (G2) |
| Disarm | 40-1 | 46-1 | 40-1 | 3rd Lexington (G3) |
| Reincarnate | 35-1 | 55-1 | 50-1 | 3rd Arkansas Derby (G1) |
| Jace’s Road | 42-1 | 55-1 | 60-1 | 3rd Louisiana Derby (G2) |
| Raise Cain | 42-1 | 47-1 | 60-1 | 5th Blue Grass (G1) |
| Rocket Can | 45-1 | 60-1 | 60-1 | 4th Arkansas Derby (G1) |
| Cyclone Mischief | 50-1 | 68-1 | 60-1 | 3rd Florida Derby (G1) |
| Lord Miles | 45-1 | 55-1 | 80-1 | 1st Wood Memorial (G2) |
| Continuar | 100-1 | 60-1 | 60-1 | 3rd UAE Derby (G2) |
| Sun Thunder | 75-1 | 55-1 | 100-1 | 4th Blue Grass (G1) |
| Major Dude | 50-1 | 125-1 | 60-1 | 2nd Jeff Ruby (G3, AW) |
| Mandarin Hero | 90-1 | 125-1 | 2nd Santa Anita Derby (G1) | |
| King Russell | 135-1 | 250-1 | 2nd Arkansas Derby (G1) | |
| *Closed Mon. 3 a.m. EDT | AW: All-weather | |||
| **Actually plus 275 | ||||
| Italics: Waiting list |