2008 Kentucky Derby betting odds and early favorites

2008 Kentucky Derby betting odds and early favorites Less than a week left until the start of the 2008 Kentucky Derby and it's time to take a look at the early betting odds and the favorite contenders for "The Run for the Roses". For those who got swept by the Kentucky Derby hype for the first time, the Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter miles at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies 121 pounds. The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the USA.

Now lets look at the current betting odds on the 2008 Kentucky Derby and the top three favorites to win the Run for the Roses this year. The best betting odds on the 2008 Kentucky Derby we found at the online sportsbook BodogSports, which has picked the top contenders as follows - Big Brown, Colonel John and Pyro. But the odds have changed a bit since the last week, when the opening odds were announced. Big Brown is now the ultimate favorite listed with betting odds to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby at 3/1, paying out slightly more than the earlier 5/2, but still the top favorite in the famous race. Colonel John follows with odds 5/1, pretty much unchanged in over a week, but Pyro has been downgraded from the previous 5/1 down to current betting odds 7/1 to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby.

Still, keep in mind that according to the odds makers, these three contenders are the ultimate favorites and the blanket of roses will be draped over one of the three. The closest contender to them for the 2008 Kentucky Derby is Adriano with the long betting odds of 16/1. Another contender to watch out for is Eight Belles, the three-year-old Thoroughbred is racing on Friday in the Kentucky Oaks as a top favorite and is listed with betting odds 20/1 to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby. A double-victory could mean budging pockets for some bettors. The odds are long, but watch the Oaks for signs. Proud Spell will also take part at the Oaks as favorite and in the Derby, but with 100/1 odds a Kentucky Derby victory would be the upset of the century.

Here is the full list of the 2008 Kentucky Derby betting odds on the contenders, as offered by the online sportsbook BodogSports today:

Adriano - 16/1
Anak Nakal - 100/1
Behindatthebar - 25/1
Big Brown - 3/1
Big Truck - 100/1
Bob Black Jack - 40/1
Colonel John - 5/1
Cool Coal Man - 50/1
Court Vision - 20/1
Cowboy Cal - 25/1
Denis Of Cork - 16/1
Eight Belles - 20/1
Gayego - 20/1
Halo Najib - 100/1
Hey Byrn - 100/1
Monba - 20/1
My Pal Charlie - 100/1
Proud Spell - 100/1
Pyro - 7/1
Recapturetheglory - 25/1
Salue The Sarge - 100/1
Smooth Air - 50/1
Tale Of Ekati - 20/1
Visionaire - 50/1
Z Humor - 50/1
Z Fortune - 16/1

Published on 04/27/2008