The 2021 Kentucky Derby has some notable favorites trying to win the first leg of the triple crown. The full field was completely set on Tuesday’s post draw, but be aware that the odds will change right up until post time.
Essential Quality is currently the top favorite to win the Kentucky Derby at 2-1 odds. The 3 year-old gray colt is undefeated in his career through five starts. His ticket to this year’s 147th running of the Kentucky Derby was punched with wins at the Blue Grass Stakes and the Southwest Stakes earlier this year. Essential Quality is a promising star who was named the American Champion 2-Year-Old Male Horse of 2020. Essential Quality’s trainer Brad Cox is looking for his first Kentucky Derby win, and the horse will have Luis Saez in the saddle.
Rock Your World is a close second favorite at 5-1 odds. He has won all three starts including the Pasadena Stakes and Santa Anita Derby. Rock Your World’s first two races were on turf, but he recently made his first dirt track start in early April at Santa Anita beating out Bob Baffert’s Medina Spirit. The colt is trained by John Sadler, who despite having over 2,500 wins, has not won a Kentucky Derby.
Known Agenda is also a contender to win the Derby and won the Florida Derby this March. The son of Curlin, who won the 2007 Preakness Stakes, currently has 6-1 odds to win. He is trained by another two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher, and Irad Ortiz Jr. will be the jockey.
Another notable favorite is Hot Rod Charlie who is the son of the 2013 Preakness Stakes winner, Oxbow. Hot Rod Charlie’s odds come in at 8-1 and have been trending upward. He secured his spot in the Kentucky Derby by winning the Louisiana Derby in March and is trained by the two-time Kentucky Derby winner Doug O’Neill, who is coming off of a suspension after one of his horses failed a drug test earlier this year in California.
Other notable contenders include Highly Motivated (10-1), Medina Spirit (15-1), Mandaloun (15-1), and Dynamic One (20-1). Medina Spirit is trained by the renowned Bob Baffert, who is tied for the Derby record with six victories. The Hall of Fame trainer has won three of the last six Derby races, and won last year with Authentic. His 2018 victory came with Justify who went on to become just the 13th Triple Crown winner in history. John Velazquez will be on board and was the jockey in last year’s Kentucky Derby win.
Historically, the Run for the Roses has not been kind to the horse with the best odds. The majority of the time, the favorite does not cross the finish line first. From 1979-2010, only five favorites were crowned champion. But recently the favorites have fared much better, winning in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Some experts have attributed this trend to the new points system that was introduced in 2013. Instead of securing a spot at the starting gate through stakes earnings, the new system grades 36 races and distributes points based on performance.
*Odds provided by Vegas Insider
Picture Credit: Kentucky Derby Instagram, My Derby Pick Instagram
