Kentucky Derby 2023 Contenders – Forte Payout $1200 on a $100 Bet Early

Gambling911.com has your Kentucky Derby 2023 contenders with a close-up look at Forte, winner of the 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and early favorite to win the 2023 Kentucky Derby with a payout of 14-1. 

After an exciting Breeders' Cup weekend, the oddsmakers at BetOnline have set very early odds (nearly six months in advance) for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.  The big race will be run Saturday May 6.

The Top 3 favorites all have odds between 12-1 and 16-1.

Forte is the top pony while Arabian Knight and Cave Rock are second and third on the board, respectively.

Prior to Forte's top performance during the Breeders Cup weekend, he had won the 2022 Breeders' Futurity (G1) on October 8 and Hopeful (G1) September 5.

At the Juvenile, his victory was by 1 1/2 lengths on Friday at Keeneland.

Forte is trained by the one and only Todd Pletcher.

“The last time, he made the lead pretty comfortably,” Pletcher said of Forte immediately following Friday's race. “But he got to waiting and laying on the horse next to him, so today, if we were lucky enough to get in a position to get (the lead), we wanted to give ourselves plenty of space and not get close to the horse next to him.”

Pletcher typically enters multiple horses in the Kentucky Derby.  He's among the most successful trainer in modern times, having won the Eclipse Award seven times as Trainer of the Year.

Arabian Knight is yet to really prove himself this early.  He's had one start so far in a non-graded race.  The pedigree stands out early more than anything else having been sired by Uncle Mo out of the Astrology mare Borealis Night.

Cave Rock finished second to Forte in Friday's Breeders Cup Juvenile race.  Prior to that, Cave Rock finished first in the 2022 American Pharoah (G1) and 2022 Del Mar Futurity (G1).

In the weeks and months to come, we'll be honing in on the Kentucky Derby prep races.  It's likely some winners in those critical races do not even appear among this list.  Stay tuned.

Kentucky Derby 2023 Payout odds

Forte                           12-1

Arabian Knight            16-1

Cave Rock                   16-1

Arabian Lion                25-1

Extra Anejo                 28-1

National Treasure       28-1

Havnameltdown         40-1

Loggins                        40-1

Verifying                     40-1

Echo Again                  50-1

Signator                      50-1

Giant Mischief            66-1

Awesome Strong        80-1

Blazing Sevens            80-1

Disarm                         80-1

Mr. Ripple                   80-1

Capture the Flag         100-1

Instant Coffee             100-1

Super Chow                100-1

Tapit's Conquest         100-1

This article originally published June 2015 and updtad on November 7, 2022

- Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com