Kentucky Derby Betting Contender – Orb

Some punters are completely against wagering the favourite in the Kentucky Derby and with a field of 20 horses ready to leave the gates for Saturday’s Fastest Two Minutes in Sports, it’s understandable from strictly a mathematical perspective. Quite simply, there are 19 other better priced options on the board and everybody loves a long shot.

Orb isn’t a long shot. He was the Kentucky Derby favourite by the end of the week, priced around +400 at Sports Interaction, with Verrazano (+450), Goldencents (+700) and Normandy Invasion (+800) just behind. Orb has as good a shot as anyone in the field – that much is certain. The winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Florida Derby will also be ridden by one of the hottest jockeys going in Joel Rosario and is trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.

“I’d love to be the favorite,” McGaughey told reporters. “I wish every one of my horses was favorite. They’re not all going to win, I understand that, but I’m on board with that.”

Orb’s barn doesn’t have any problem with drawing the 16 post either. An outside start is normally a disadvantage to a horse, but the Kentucky Derby is different. The 1 ¼-mile race begins with a long stretch before the first turn, allowing outside horses to stay out of trouble in the crowd. Interestingly enough, three of the last five Derby winners have started No. 16 or further outside including the 2011 winner, Animal Kingdom.

“I think (from that post position), we’ll be solid,” McGaughey told reporters. “Kind of hold our position, maybe try to creep in a little bit more around the first turn, and he can kind of watch what’s going on down on the inside.”

However, there always seems to be some controversy around some of the Kentucky Derby’s favourites and this year isn’t any different. Orb’s barn had a bit of a scare Thursday when an engine spooked Orb, causing him to kick the back of his stall. He escaped the incident without injury.

Verrazano was originally set as the favourite, but Orb’s early workouts at Churchill Downs this week seem to have swayed oddsmakers. Post time for the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby is Saturday at 6:24 PM. Recent local forecasts anticipate a 50 percent chance of rain late Saturday afternoon or early evening.