2009 Kentucky Derby Favorites (Early)
SBG Global was listing a few early favorites to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby. These were horses listed with single digit odds (read as +100 through +950). Likewise, Chocolate Candy was gaining momentum with oddsmakers, who initially had this horse with greater than 20/1 odds and now SBG Global was listing Chocolate Candy at +1400 (14/1 odds).
The runaway favorite was I Want Revenge at +350 for a payout potential of $350 on every $100 bet at SBG Global.
I Want Revenge was not immune to a spate of bad luck bestowing horses as the Derby takes place in only a matter of days. Jeff Mullins, who trains early Derby favorite I Want Revenge, was fined and suspended for illegally injecting another of his horses in a security barn in New York.
"That's definitely been a distraction," points out Don Shapiro, Sports Writer for the Gambling911.com website.
Quality Road has remained with single digit odds despite questions over an injury. That horse had odds of +600 for a $600 payout on every $100 bet.
Trainer Jimmy Jerkens expressed optimism on the afternoon of April 24 that Quality Road, a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), would be able to make the May 2 classic after noted hoof specialist Ian McKinlay treated a second quarter crack in the colt's right-front hoof at Belmont Park, Bloodhorse.com reported.
"Ian closed the crack up with laces," said Jerkens. "We will jog him tomorrow, if there's no blood we can patch him. He can gallop Sunday and breeze Monday, and if he is sound Tuesday we'll ship to Kentucky.
"Right now, he's absolutely sound. But to miss your last work when you wanted to work before the Derby is crucial."
Dunkirk was another of the early 2009 Kentucky Derby favorites. This was the horse with an impressive 4 3/4-length win in an important 3-year-old allowance race at Gulfstream Park Feb. 19.
The biggest issue with Dunkirk is there was no last year for him, USAToday points out. The $3.7 million yearling purchase was brought along carefully by trainer Todd Pletcher and was unraced as a 2-year-old. No horse has won the Derby without competing at 2 since 1882.
"There is a lot of gray area with Dunkirk as far as seasoning," said Ron Anderson, agent for last year's Eclipse winner, Garrett Gomez. "If this was six weeks from now, it might have been Dunkirk. But they are playing a little bit of catch-up."
Dunkirt was the second biggest favorite at SBG Global, promising a $500 payout for every $100 bet.
Friesan Fire had odds of +600 and Pioneer of the Nile would pay out $700 for every $100 bet early on.
Papa Clem was on the verge of becoming among the single digit odds on favorites with +1200 odds.
Trainer Gary Stute went "old school" April 25 at Churchill Downs, working his Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Papa Clem seven furlongs in 1:29 1/5, Bloodhorse reported.
"I thought he went good," Stute said. "He should be fit. He broke off a little fast and got a little late (tiring), but the whole thing was for him to get a little tired and get something out of the work. The track was a little deep this morning. I figure it will be a little faster on Derby day. They usually speed it up a bit.
"We might blow him out a quarter-mile a day or two before the race," he said. "This has taken the speed out of him getting him ready for the mile and a quarter. We might get that quarter-mile work into him to get him bouncing when he comes over (for the Derby)."
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
