2023 Kentucky Derby Contenders Preview & Odds
Undeniably it is still very early to predict the final field for the race at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6, 2023, as the Championship Series races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby don’t get underway until the middle of February.
But, which contenders have already made an impact in the horse racing odds at this early stage?
Kentucky Derby 2023 Odds
Forte Leads Betting
The 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders preview begins with the runner that claimed victory in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Forte was excellent on that day at Keeneland, despite the fact that many horse racing picks decided to overlook the two-year-old.
Well-suited
He appeared to be well-suited to that test over 1 1/16 miles, as he held off the talented Cave Rock to win by a length and a half.
That was his third straight victory, and he has already beaten many horses that many feature prominently on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Forte also landed victory in the G1 Claiborne Futurity, beating Loggins by a neck.
However, the fact that no Juvenile winner has won the Kentucky Derby since Nyquist in 2016 would be a concern.
It’s also worth mentioning that last year’s winner, Corniche, didn’t line up in any of the Triple Crown races.
Arabian Knight Appears Interesting
The horse that I feel is one of the more interesting runners in this 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders preview is Arabian Knight.
This two-year-old is trained by Bob Baffert, and he made a winning debut at Keeneland on the undercard to the Breeders’ Cup races on the Saturday.
He was excellent when winning over seven furlongs at Keeneland by over seven lengths.
There has already been a lot of talk surrounding this two-year-old, as he was picked up for an eye-watering $2.3 million at the sales earlier in 2022.
Big Expectations
Big expectations were placed on the Uncle Mo colt before the main action got underway, and he lived up to all of those.
In truth, it could easily be put down as the best performance by a two-year-old over that weekend at Keeneland.
We are likely to see Arabian Knight back on track in January, and the G3 Sham Stakes could be a potential target.
However, it is worth mentioning that Baffert is ineligible to run horses in the Kentucky Derby in 2023, which means that he will need to switch yards if that is the target of connections.
Cave Rock Another Baffert Chance
This time last year, we were already studying the Baffert runners that could head to the Derby, and one that had caught the imagination ahead of the Breeders’ Cup was Cave Rock.
This two-year-old was beaten at Keeneland by Forte, but he had boasted a perfect 3-0 record before that effort.
Five-And-A-Half Length Romp
His performances prior to that defeat were staggering, including a five-and-a-half length romp in the G1 American Pharoah Stakes from National Treasure.
Many saw him as an incredibly strong chance for the Juvenile, and we still wouldn’t be too put off by his effort, as Forte has already shown that Keeneland is a track that brings the best out of him.
Therefore, we will be keeping a very close eye on this two-year-old as the Derby edges closer.
Brad Cox’s Derby Hand
Those that know how to bet on horse racing will aware of just how talented of a trainer Brad Cox is.
Therefore, there is no surprise to see many of his leading two-year-olds playing a prominent role in the early Kentucky Derby betting.
Loggins in the shortest of his charges, after this two-year-old finished a neck behind Forte in the G1 Claiborne Futurity.
However, at this early stage, I’m most interested in Instant Coffee. This runner finished fourth in the G1 Claiborne Futurity, as he tired in the final stages.
Disappointing Effort
But, that disappointing effort was put behind him on his following start at the end of November, as he won at Churchill Downs over 1 1/16 miles.
That victory came in the G2 Jockey Club Stakes, as he finished a length clear of Curly Jack.
Course form at Churchill Downs has boded well for previous Derby winners, including Rich Strike earlier in 2022, and I’d be fascinated to see where he goes next for a leading trainer.
Horses To Watch
As the season progresses, the contenders for the Derby will emerge. However, we will end this 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders preview by picking out two live contenders that are worth watching.
Dubyuhnell, for trainer Danny Gargan, is certainly a horse that looks set to improve when he turns three.
The two-year-old recently landed the G2 Ramsen over 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct, beating the talented Arctic Arrogance. He seems to be a runner that will continue to excel when stepped up in distance.
Extra Anejo could hold the key to give Steven Asmussen a first Derby winner in 2023. We have only seen this two-year-old on one previous occasion, as he won over seven furlongs at Keeneland in a maiden special weight.
However, that effort scored a respectable speed figure, and we are likely to learn more about the contender when he lines up in the Gun Runner Stakes on December 26.
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