Essential Quality the Early Favorite
With two months to go until the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Essential Quality is a +800 betting favorite. Essential Quality is undefeated in four career races.
Photo By – USA TODAY Sports
The Kentucky Derby odds board is taking shape, with the Run for the Roses once again set to take place on the first Saturday of May after last year’s race was postponed to September.
The Kentucky Derby 2021 odds will likely change quite a bit leading up to May 1, but right now a number of thoroughbreds are bunched up close together at the top.
Let’s take a look at the Kentucky Derby betting odds and see who the Kentucky Derby favorite is for the prestigious horse race that kicks off the first leg of this year’s Triple Crown schedule.
Who is the favorite to win the 2021 Kentucky Derby?
Essential Quality is a +800 betting favorite to win the 2021 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. After winning his first three career races in 2020, Essential Quality won the Southwest Stakes at the end of February to capture his first win of 2021 and remain undefeated.
Life Is Good and Greatest Honour slot in right behind Essential Quality at +1,000 odds, while Caddo River and Concert Tour are tied at +1,600 and round out the Top 5.
Kentucky Derby odds
| Horse | Odds to win 147th Kentucky Derby (as of February 28) |
|---|---|
| Essential Quality | +800 |
| Life Is Good | +1,000 |
| Greatest Honour | +1,000 |
| Caddo River | +1,200 |
| Concert Tour | +1,200 |
| Keepmeinmind | +1,600 |
| Medina Spirit | +1,600 |
| Prevalence | +1,600 |
| Risk Taking | +1,600 |
| Mandaloun | +2,000 |
| Hot Rod Charlie | +2,000 |
| Nicky The Vest | +2,000 |
| Jackie’s Warrior | +2,500 |
| Highly Motivated | +2,500 |
| Reinvestment Risk | +2,500 |
| Spielberg | +2,500 |
| Proxy | +2,500 |
| Freedom Fighter | +2,500 |
| Candy Man Rocket | +2,500 |
| Known Agenda | +2,500 |
| Collaborate | +2,500 |
| Classier | +3,300 |
| Team Merchants | +3,300 |
| Prate | +3,300 |
| Van Gogh | +3,300 |
| Hozier | +3,300 |
| Midnight Bourbon | +3,300 |
| Roman Centurian | +3,300 |
| The Great One | +3,300 |
Odds courtesy of bet365.
Odds of past Kentucky Derby winners
Although the Kentucky Derby favorite dominated at Churchill Downs from 2013 to 2018, Country House won the Run for the Roses in 2019 as the second-biggest underdog in Derby history at 65/1, and Authentic pulled off his own upset last year by edging out heavy favorite Tiz the Law. Here are the winners of the Kentucky Derby since 2000, their post positions, and their final odds.
| Year | Kentucky Derby Winner | Post Position | Final Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Authentic | 18 | 8/1 |
| 2019 | Country House | 20 | 65/1 |
| 2018 | Justify | 7 | 5/2 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | 5 | 9/2 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | 13 | 2/1 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | 18 | 5/2 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | 5 | 5/2 |
| 2013 | Orb | 16 | 5/1 |
| 2012 | I’ll Have Another | 19 | 15/1 |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | 16 | 20/1 |
| 2010 | Super Saver | 4 | 8/1 |
| 2009 | Mine That Bird | 8 | 50/1 |
| 2008 | Big Brown | 20 | 7/2 |
| 2007 | Street Sense | 7 | 9/2 |
| 2006 | Barbaro | 3 | 6/1 |
| 2005 | Giacomo | 10 | 50/1 |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | 13 | 4/1 |
| 2003 | Funny Cide | 5 | 13/1 |
| 2002 | War Emblem | 5 | 41/2 |
| 2001 | Monarchos | 16 | 21/2 |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | 15 | 9/5 |
Kentucky Derby expert picks
Interested in expert picks for the Kentucky Derby? Look no further than Covers Experts’ resident horse racing handicapper, Jockey Club. Operated by two passionate horse racing bettors, Jockey Club is always looking for an edge when playing the races by combining traditional speed and class handicapping along with form cycle analysis.
Where can I bet on the Kentucky Derby?
This all depends on where you live. If you’re in the USA, betting on the Kentucky Derby online isn’t as simple as simply launching your favorite sportsbook app. Instead, you’ll have to use a specialist-pooled horse racing betting site such as BetAmerica.
Those in Canada or the UK have it much easier as most betting sites offer horse racing markets. Canadians should check out our best sportsbooks and those in the UK should browse our top bookmakers.
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