Kentucky Derby odds: Maiden winner makes big futures splash
Conquest Warrior, the seven-figure baby who broke his maidenSaturday at Gulfstream Park, made the biggest leap this week into the Las Vegasfutures for Kentucky Derby 2024.
Bought as a yearling for $1 million by Donald Adam’sCourtlandt Farms, the City of Light colt trained by Shug McGaughey opened atCaesars Sportsbook at 35-1, the ninth-shortest odds in the Nevada market.
Ridden by José Ortiz, Conquest Warrior closed from atroubled last to win by a half-length in a one-turn mile for maidens racing for$89,000. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84, according to Daily RacingForm. It was the 3-year-old’s second race. His first in the Aqueduct mudlast month resulted in a distant third-place finish.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victor Fierceness and Grade 2 winner Dornochare still the consensus favorites in Nevada with best prices of 15-1. Dornochis shorter-priced at Circa Sportsbook, where he is the 12-1 favorite.
Muth, who won this month’s San Vicente (G2), is the 12-1favorite at Caesars. Because he is trained by Bob Baffert, he and his contendingstablemates must be transferred to another barn by Jan. 29 or else they will beineligible to qualify for the Derby. Baffert remains under an indefinitesuspension from Churchill Downs Inc. over Medina Spirit’s disputed drug test in2021.
The Nevada market will share the stage this week with pool 3of the pari-mutuel Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which Churchill Downs will opennationwide from Friday at noon to Sunday at 6 p.m. EST.
Conquest Warrior was one of the five names added to the LasVegas futures. Four were dropped. These are the 245 betting choices and theirodds Monday at Caesars Sportsbook and Circa Sports, available only in Nevada.
