Here we sit, just a little over one week from the Kentucky Derby, a day we thought may never come this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Horse racing has come back without spectators and the sport has moved forward with the usage of wagering apps and we are going to see The Derby on the first Saturday in September (Sept. 5), as opposed to the first Saturday in May.
One big thing with the race being four months later than usual, is it has allowed more horses to mature as the year has gone on, leaving what I think will be one of the deepest Kentucky Derby’s in some time.
In the past I always felt it was between 2-3 horses, but this year, as horses have gotten older, I think you can make a case for up to eight horses that have a shot at winning.
As usual, there are also horses that should not be in the field, ones we hope will just stay out of the way and not screw up the race, but the depth of contenders will make it a great wagering race.
Next week I will have a detailed preview that will come out Friday, September 4, analyzing the full Derby field, but I wanted to get the enthusiasm going to put something out this week as we head into the final days before the Derby.
Tiz the Law is the obvious favorite at 4/5 odds. The horse has looked every bit the favorite, especially after winning the Florida Derby, the Belmont Stakes and then the Travers at Saratoga.
I certainly wouldn’t be shocked if he does win the race, but as I mentioned above, there are a handful of horses that I really think you can make a case for to cross the line first and bring home the roses.
Honor A.P., Authentic, Thousand Words, Art Collector, Enforceable, and King Guillermo are all runners that I know will take some action and you can argue has a shot to win.
There are even a couple of the longer shots that I think have a shot to get up into the exotics and spice up the pay day, but we will talk about them next week.
Of course, the post draw can make all the difference. The draw is set for Tuesday, September 1 and laying out a case for any horse before the post position draw can be a waste of time.
Check back here next week and look for an in-depth analysis of every horse in the final field, as well as my picks/plays for the Derby!
By Dennis Miller