Kentucky Derby 2023 Picks: Horseys Go Run Run

Kentucky Derby 2023 Picks: Horseys Go Run Run

By analyst Gabriel Rauch

The best two minutes in sports are finally here and don’t you even think about missing it. 

6:57 PM EST on NBC

Kentucky Derby Odds (According to Bovada on May 5th) *odds may have changed since then

Horse                    Odds      

Forte	+300
Tapit Trice	+500
Angel of Empire	+650
Derma Sotogake	+750
Kingsbarns	+1200
Two Phil’s	+1200
Mage	+1400
Verifying	+1800
Mandarin Hero	+1800
Confidence Game	+2000
Reincarnate	+2000
Hit Show	+2800
Disarm	+3300
Rocket Can	+3300
Jace’s Road	+4000
Cyclone Mischief	+4000
Raise Cain	+4000
Sun Thunder	+5000
King Russell	+5000

If you haven’t bet on the derby before, it may seem overwhelming as your eyes scroll up and down at the massive list of names. So many choices, and every single one has a shot.This is not pro sports, all of the participants do have a chance at winning the trophy each year. None of these horses are tanking, none are trying to appease their fanbase with empty free agents, and none are trying to be tricky to keep their jobs. They’re horses, they don’t have jobs. 

Every horse on this list is trying to win at all costs, despite what the odds might say. 

So how to narrow it down?

While every horse deserves consideration, there are some that may deserve a little more attention from bettors. Whether it is because of their history, speed, or winning chances, these horses are the ones to look out for: 

The Favorites: Forte (+300) and Tapit Trice (+500)

These two are notable for clear reasons: they have the best odds. Forte has an insane resume, while Tapit Trice has won four straight races on four different tracks! The favorite in the Kentucky Derby had a six year winning streak ending in 2019 and has not won since. 

Overall Trice is a huge talent and wildcard, where Forte has not gotten the majority of bets from experts even as the favorite. Pick Trice from these two. 

Japanese Horses: Derma Sotogake (+750) and Mandarin Hero (+1800)

When will the first Japanese horse win the Kentucky Derby? This storyline becomes more prevalent every year, meaning there is a lot of hype around these two horses, especially Sotogake. Stud racing gambler Michelle Yu has faith in Sotogake and she’s been on a huge hot streak lately; the horse performed well in February and has a lot of talent. Mandarin Hero is not as talented a horse, but has experience racing in America, which Sotogake lacks. 

The only downside with Sotogake is that a lot of experts love him, which seems too easy of a pick. Still throw a bet down on him, but don’t make it your only bet. 

Solid Picks: Two Phil’s (+1200) and Verifying (+1800)

Two Phil’s is Illinois’ first derby contender since 2007 and has shown some amazing speed in past races. Verifying is also quite the talented horse and son of legendary horse Justify! Winning horses are all about genes after all… Verifying is a must on your bet slip. Either horse is a decent pick outside of the favorite, but be wary, their odds are higher for a reason. 

Longshot: Reincarnate (+2000) 

There are quite a few horses that could have been in this spot, (Hit Show and Disarm are good choices) but Reincarnate takes the cake for being extremely reliable and a former horse of the GOAT horse trainer Bob Baffert! He’s also in the lucky seven slot, in case you needed another reason to bet on him. Definitely consider sprinkling some Top 2,3,4,5 finish bets on this guy. 

Good luck and remember to make multiple picks! Don’t blow it all on one horse!