The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Four competitors in the 20-horse field currently hold odds lower than 10-1.
Sierra Leone, Catching Freedom, Forever Young and Fierceness will be the most popular picks in the field because of their favorite status and success over the last few months.
The Kentucky Derby is known for long-shot winners as well. Mage won with 15-1 odds in 2023 and Rich Strike closed at 30-1 ahead of its 2022 victory.
The top horses will likely be in the mix for the win, but it is not guaranteed they come away with a spot in the winner's circle.
Kentucky Derby Field and Odds
Kentucky Derby @KentuckyDerbyUpdated Post Positions for the 150th Kentucky Derby presented by <a href="">@WoodfordReserve</a>. <br><br>#9 Encino has scratched and #21 Epic Ride will run. <a href="">#KyDerby</a> <a href="">
Each of the four horses with the lowest odds come into Churchill Downs with multiple victories.
Fierceness holds the most notable victory of the quartet from last fall's Breeders Cup Juvenile.
The current betting favorite also won the Florida Derby in its final preparation for the Triple Crown.
Sierra Leone captured first at the Blue Grass Stakes, while Catching Freedom earned first at the Louisiana Derby.
Forever Young, a Japanese-trained horse, won overseas at the UAE Derby before coming over to the United States to prep for the Kentucky Derby.
The final few lengths of the race could feature all four, or at least multiple, members of the quartet fighting for the win. After all, it would be terrific to see the best horses compete for first place.
At least one horse with lower than 10-1 odds finished in the top three in each of the last two years. Epicenter and Zandon were unable to hold off Rich Strike's upset push in 2022, while Angel of Empire finished third in 2023 behind race winner Mage.
The top four horses are so strong in 2024 and that could be the preventing factor in any upset happening on Saturday.
If one of the favorites does not win, one of the other three could go to the winner's circle and no one would be surprised.
The best upset pick in the field is likely Honor Marie, who finished in the top two in each of his three starts at Churchill Downs.
Fierceness is the current favorite and the most likely horse of the top quartet to win. He holds the most prestigious win on American soil of the group from the Breeders Cup Juvenile and he has the jockey with the most Triple Crown wins among the favored four in John Velazquez.
Picks: 1. Fierceness, 2. Catching Freedom, 3. Honor Marie, 4. Sierra Leone
