2009 Kentucky Derby odds and contenders

Less than ten days left until the start of the 2009 Kentucky Derby, the most entertaining two and a half minutes in sports, it's also tome to look at the latest Derby odds and the top contenders. For the latest odds on the 2009 Kentucky Derby we have visited the most popular online sportsbook - Bookmaker, where you can get a big bonus for joining, in addition to the best odds on the Kentucky Derby contenders. Here we will also take a look at the top five contenders for the 2009 Kentucky Derby glory. But let's start first with the Kentucky Derby betting odds.

This year's odds-on favorite is "I Want Revenge" sitting on odds +350, still a great bet for the favorite Kentucky Derby contender. Last year around this time you'd be lucky if you could get even money on your wagers. You can read more about "I Want Revenge" and the rest of the top Derby horses below. Following "I Want Revenge" comes a set of three, all paying out on +500 odds: "Pioneer of the Nile", "Quality Road" and "Dunkirk". Finally, as the last of the top five Kentucky Derby contenders comes "Friesan Fire" with +700 odds to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Needless to say that a correct bet on any of the five is bound to amass to big bucks, but let me remind you again that those odds will be shrinking every single day until the start of the race. The current Kentucky Derby odds-on favorite, "I Want Revenge", for example, was listed with +500 odds to win the race just a couple of days ago. And with people betting on one horse or another, the odds will change more and more often - so lock in your favorite Kentucky Derby contender and the odds early on. The 2009 Kentucky Derby odds on the top five contenders as posted by the online betting firm Bookmaker:

I WANT REVENGE +350
PIONEER OF THE NILE +500
QUALITY ROAD +500
DUNKIRK +500
FRIESAN FIRE +700

Now let's move to a brief review of the top five 2009 Derby contenders. Keep in mind that we will spend more time with each of the five in the upcoming days. Stay with us if you want to learn more about the top horses and breaking news about any of them plus the Derby in general. We will start with the Kentucky Derby favorite:

I Want Revenge (odds to win +350) - with breeder David J. Lanzman and trainer Jeff Mullins, the I Want Revenge jockey Joe Talamo got his work cut out for him. "I Want Revenge" is by Stephen Got Even, grandson of the 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, and is a showcase for stamina. He has amassed graded earnings of $774,000 and holds a race record 8-3-1-4. He raced three times so far this year and after a shaky start finishing 3rd in Santa Anita in February, exactly a month later "I Want Revenge" won at Aqueduct, followed by another victory in early April on the same race course. Punters and odds makers alike are currently in agreement that "I Want Revenge" holds the best chance to become the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, as odds predict.

Pioneer of the Nile (Kentucky Derby odds +500) - this 09 Derby contender may have a record of just 8-5-0-1, but is already a millionaire with $1,193,250 in graded earnings. On May 2nd his jockey will be Garrett Gomez, after training with legendary Bob Baffert. Pioneer of the Nile was bred by Zayat Stables, LLC and his sire is Empire Maker, the 2003 Derby favorite, who unfortunately suffered a bruise before the Run of the Roses and finished second. Winning his last four races, Pioneer of the Nile is a worthy contender for the 2009 Kentucky Derby and with +500 odds to win the race, bettors may want to take a second look here.

Quality Road (odds to win Kentucky Derby +500) - Jockey of "Quality Road" in his Kentucky Derby race will be John Velazquez, while his trainer is James Jerkens. What's interesting about Quality Road is that he comes from sire Elusive Quality, who gave the world Smarty Jones, winner of the classic in 2004. Bred and owned by Edward Evans, Quality Road holds a small race record 4-3-1-0, but big graded earnings amount of $600,000. He won 3 of his four races, finishing second in his first one for the year at Gulfstream Park.

Dunkirk (+500 odds to win 09 Kentucky Derby) - famous trainer Todd Pletcher is making another bid at the Kentucky Derby this year with Dunkirk, whose jockey will be Edgar Prado. He is the latest contender by multiple Grade 1-winner Unbridled's Song, the hero of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Florida Derby (G1), although with only three races behind him, Dunkirk is obviously making bettors and odds makers uneasy. Dunkirk is holding record 3-2-1-0 with $150,000 in graded earnings, finishing second in his last race at Gulfstream Park in late March. Still, he continues to be part of the conversation, sharing second best odds to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

Published on 04/23/2009