An Early Look at the 2024 Kentucky Derby Odds

Author ImageAuthor: | Last Updated: February 2024
Kentucky-Derby-Betting

The contestants are still trying to qualify, but you can already wager on the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds. Placing futures wagers this far out can be risky. However, it is also the best way to get improved payout odds on the top competitors for this year’s Derby.

You can bet on the 2024 Kentucky Derby online at any time up until the race starts. This year’s Derby is scheduled for May 4th at the historic Churchill Downs, so you have plenty of time to place your bets. If you wait too long, though, then the odds on your favorite horses will shorten.

This guide will give you an early look at the Kentucky Derby 2024 field. I will break down the odds on the top horses and tell you which horses I would bet on as Derby prep season begins.

Read Review
Welcome Bonus 100% Up to $250
Visit Site
Read Review
Read Review

2024 Kentucky Derby Field

The official field for the 2024 Kentucky Derby will be determined in the coming months. Prospective competitors run in qualifying races to earn one of the 20 spots in the Derby. There are also four alternates chosen.

Prep season started back in September and will continue through the second leg of the Championship series in April. There is time left for horses to qualify, but here is a look at some of the top competitors in the latest Kentucky Derby 2024 leaderboard.

Horse Trainer Horse Trainer
Fierceness Todd Pletcher Track Phantom Steven Asmussen
Mystik Dan Kenneth McPeek Hades Joseph Orseno
Uncle Heavy Robert Reid Jr. No More Time Jose D’Angelo
Locked Todd Pletcher Liberal Arts Robert Medina
West Saratoga Larry Demeritte Timberlake Brad Cox
Just Steel Wayne Lukas El Grande O Linda Rice
Nash Brad Cox Honor Marie Whit Beckman
Agate Road Todd Pletcher Otto the Conquerer Steven Asmussen
Dornoch Danny Gargan Catching Freedom Brad Cox
Domestic Product Chad Brown Moonlight Todd Pletcher

No horses trained by Bob Baffert are ranked in the current Derby standings. Baffert and his trainees are still banned from competing in the Kentucky Derby. His suspension was supposed to end this year, but Churchill Downs extended it another season.

Drum Roll Please, trained by Brad Cox, has enough points to rank in the top 20. However, the horse is injured and is unfortunately unable to compete in the Derby.

Risk It, who was trained by Seven Asmussen, also has enough points to rank in the top 20. Unfortunately, he was not nominated for the Triple Crown races.

Kentucky Derby 2024 Odds

The field is not yet set for this year’s Derby, but you can already place futures wagers on your favorites. Here are the six potential competitors that I would wager on based on the current Kentucky Derby odds. These odds were provided by Bovada Sportsbook.

Dornoch (+1000)

The current favorite in the latest 2024 Kentucky Derby odds is Dornoch (+1000). The horse is trained by Danny Gargan and is currently ranked 17th on the Derby leaderboard.

Dornoch is one of six horses sitting at 10 points so far in qualifying races. He earned all 10 of those points by winning the Remsen Stakes in December. If he can pick up a few more wins in the coming weeks, Dornoch should easily qualify for the Derby.

One of the reasons why Dornoch is the favorite is because of his pedigree. His older brother, Mage, won the Kentucky Derby last year. Dornoch and Mage were both sired by Good Magic, who finished second in the Derby in 2018.

Fierceness (+1200)

Another early favorite at secure betting sites in the early Kentucky Derby 2024 field is Fierceness (+1200). Fierceness currently sits atop the Derby leaderboard with 36 points so far in qualifying races. The Todd Pletcher-trained was crowned the juvenile champion last month.

He has only raced once so far in his three-year-old season. After entering the race as the odds-on favorite, Fierceness finished third at the Holy Bull Stakes. It was his second race with John Velazquez as his jockey.

Velazquez took over the reins from Jose Ortiz and won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his first race with Fierceness. If the new duo can continue their success, Fierceness and Velazquez should easily qualify for the Derby.

Even making it to race day would be a victory. Last year’s race-day favorite Forte, who was also owned by Repole Stable, was forced out the morning of the race. Uncle Mo, another Repole Stable product, was also favored but ultimately withdrew from the Derby in 2011.

Track Phantom (+1600)

Track Phantom (+1600) is also an early favorite in the current Kentucky Derby betting odds. Steve Asmussen is his trainer, and Track Phantom is currently second on the leaderboard with 30 total points.

Like many of the other early betting favorites, Track Phantom has a highly regarded pedigree. He was sired by Quality Road, who also sired last year’s Preakness Stakes winner, National Treasure. National Treasure also went on to win the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes earlier this year.

If he does win the 2024 Kentucky Derby, then Track Phantom would be the first Derby winner sired by Quality Road. Track Phantom has won three races since October 1st, including a race at Churchill Downs. That experience can help Track Phantom if he qualifies for the Derby in April.

Timberlake (+2500)

Trainer Brad Cox currently has three horses ranked in the leaderboard’s top 20. Mandaloun, who won the Derby in 2021, was trained by Cox. Cox’s highest-ranked trainee at this point in the season is Timberlake, who is listed at +2500 in the latest 2024 Kentucky Derby odds.

He is also ranked 10th on the leaderboard with 16 total points so far this season and won the Champagne Stakes last year. His sire, Into Mischief, has been one of the most successful sires in recent memory. Into Mischief also sired the aforementioned Mandaloun and the 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic.

Timberlake is not the only horse from Into Mischief’s lineage who could compete in this year’s Derby. He also sired Miss Sunset, who is the dam for Track Phantom.

The dam for Timberlake is Pin Up, who comes from a pedigree known for its stamina. Into Mischief’s bloodline, on the other hand, is known for its speed. If Timberlake can combine speed and stamina like his brothers Mandaloun and Authentic, then he could be Into Mischief’s third son to win the Kentucky Derby.

No More Time (+3500)

No More Time is listed at +3500 to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby, making him tied for the 17th-best odds at Bovada. Three other potential competitors, Conquest Warrior, Honor Marie, and Just A Touch, are also listed at 35-1 odds.

His low ranking is somewhat of a surprise, as No More Time is currently tied for the third most points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He has amassed 20 points so far, putting him in a three-way tie with Hades and Uncle Heavy. No More Time is currently the only ranked horse that is trained by Jose D’Angelo.

If No More Time wins, he would be the first horse to be bred in Iowa and win the Run for the Roses. He was sired by Not This Time, who also sired Epicenter. Epicenter was the runner-up in the 2022 Derby.

Hades (+5000)

Rounding out my list of the best early favorites to win the Derby this year is Hades (+5000). Hades is a long shot, but he has already upset some of the Kentucky Derby 2024 field favorites. He is currently listed as third on the Derby leaderboard.

Hades won the Holy Bull Stakes as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Races earlier this month. A strong start allowed Hades to control the pace of the race. He defeated several prospective Derby contenders in that race, including Fierceness.

Despite his success so far, Hades is still a 50-1 underdog at this point to win the Derby. His stamina is still a question that Hades will need to answer at some point. If he can sustain his speed over the long course at Churchill Downs, he could be a great pick to win the Run for the Roses.

Early 2024 Kentucky Derby Prediction

There are dozens of horses to bet on in the latest Kentucky Derby odds. Every potential winner is listed at 10-1 or longer, so even small bets can have huge paydays. Of all the options at Bovada, I would pick Hades (+5000). He has already proven that he has the speed to beat other top competitors such as Fierceness.

Which Early 2024 Kentucky Derby Odds Will You Bet On?

The Kentucky Derby is still months away, and the field is still coming into shape. Top sports betting sites already offer odds on dozens of potential Derby winners.

I would put my money on Hades (+5000), who I believe will continue to make waves in the races leading up to the Derby. He has already upset top competitors by winning the Holy Bull Stakes. You can find betting odds on all of the potential 2024 Kentucky Derby competitors at Bovada Sportsbook.

Author Avatar
About the Author
Shaun Stack Editor

Shaun Stack is a senior writer at GamblingSites.org. His gambling articles have appeared in the Daily Herald, Space Coast Daily, and NJ 101.5. He’s a football betting expert, a Survivor fan, and a skilled blackjack gambler. Shaun is a native of Kansas City but now lives in Pennsylvania and follows the Pittsburgh Steelers religiously.

Shaun's Recent Work Shaun's Email Contact Shaun