Kentucky Derby: The top five picks for the 2008 Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby: The top five picks for the 2008 Kentucky Derby With the start of the 2008 Kentucky Derby getting close to us, it's time we look at the top five picks for the horse race, according to the bookmakers. So far we have found the best odds on the 2008 Kentucky Derby at the online sportsbook BodogSports and we will list the top five colts the bookie has as its picks to win the Derby, i.e. Kentucky Derby picks.

Starting with the favorite Kentucky Derby pick - Big Brown, listed with odds to win at 3/1. Big Brown is by Boundary, who made all eight of his starts in sprints, winning six times and recording Grade 3 wins in the A Phenomenon H. and the Roseben H.. Pensioned from stud duty in 2005, Boundary is represented by 22 black-type winners to date with his leading performers being Minardi and Pomeroy. The former, a Group 1 winner in England and Ireland as a two-year-old over six furlongs, was a disappointment when tried at a mile the following year, and Pomeroy is best known as a sprinter winning the King's Bishop S. (G1) and the Forego S. (G1), both over seven furlongs.

The second pick for the 2008 Kentucky Derby is Colonel John, listed with odds to win 6/1 at BodogSports. Colonel John boasts a strong pedigree for 1 1/4 miles. His sire, $6.4 million earner Tiznow, scored all of his most notable victories at that classic distance. A late-developing sort who did not break his maiden until late May as a sophomore, Tiznow went on to become champion three-year-old and Horse of the Year in 2000. He set a new track record of 1:59 4/5 when romping in the 1 1/4-mile Super Derby (G1) at Louisiana Downs, and later that fall, he captured the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. In 2001, Tiznow took home another Eclipse Award as champion older horse.

Following these two Kentucky Derby picks comes Pyro, offering 8/1 to win the race on May 3rd. Pyro is a son of Pulpit, the 1997 Blue Grass S. (G2) winner who led the Kentucky Derby (G1) field before fading to finish fourth behind Silver Charm. A son of Horse of the Year and multiple leading sire A.P. Indy (who is by 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew), Pulpit is the sire of more than 30 stakes winners, including several promising three-year-olds of the past such as Purge, Tapit, Essence of Dubai and Sky Mesa.

The odds makers at BodogSports have chosen War Pass as their fourth Kentucky Derby pick, listing the colt with odds 10/1 to win the first leg of the Triple Crown. War Pass wrapped up his unbeaten juvenile campaign with a smashing win in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), but questions surround his ability to get 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May. He's by Cherokee Run, who finished second in the 1993 Preakness S. (G1) but is best remembered for his sprinting accomplishments, winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and Frank J. De Francis Memorial S. (G1) en route to champion sprinter honors in 1994.

And finally, as the fifth pick comes Monba, listed with odds to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby at 18/1.Monba is by Maria's Mon, a champion and earner of $507,140. He is the sire of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, who ran the second fastest Kentucky Derby in history, paling in comparison only to Secretariat. Maria's Mon has also sired champion Wait a While, the third place finisher in the 2006 Kentucky Oaks. Other notable progeny includes High Limit, Strong Contender, See How She Runs and Gaff.

Published on 04/16/2008