The opening leg of the Triple Crown in the United States is edging ever nearer, with this year’s crop of three-year-olds targeting a famous victory in the Kentucky Derby. There will be the eyes of the world on the race at Churchill Downs this year, as the iconic race celebrates its 150th anniversary.
The prep races for the Derby have already got underway, with no shortage of contenders coming out to show their potential talents over the extended distance.
So, which horses currently rank among the front runners in the betting to win the Kentucky Derby in 2024?
Check the complete list of contenders here: https://www.twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/contenders/
Sierra Leone
Chad Brown trains the current favorite in the betting for the Kentucky Derby this year. Sierra Leone has looked incredibly progressive on track to this point, running with huge credit on fast and muddy ground across his three career starts.
He was a winner on debut over a mile at Aqueduct, before finishing second behind Dornoch on very testing ground over 1 1/8 in the G2 Remsen. A notable step forward was made in the G2 Risen Star, as he clocked a speed rating of 93 when holding off Track Phantom at Fair Grounds.
His versatility is a solid factor in his favour, while the fact that he has beaten proven high-quality performers are both factors that are very challenging to overlook at this stage. However, we could learn more about his Derby chances when he lines up in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes.
Dornoch
Dornoch has been listed as the second favorite in the betting since getting off the mark in stakes company by beating Sierra Leone in the G2 Remsen. However, there is still a strong argument that his Derby chances will only be enhanced if the race is run on muddy ground, as other candidates boast better speed over a faster track.
But, he is doing everything that is expected from him at this stage for Danny Gargan, adding another haul of points with a dominant win in the prestigious G2 Fountain of Youth. But, it could be hard to dismiss the fact that the race was cut up drastically following the late scratches of his market leaders.
However, he still got the win in impressive fashion, and he is a deserving front runner in the betting before a likely run in the G1 Florida Derby at the end of the month.
Locked
Todd Pletcher has a number of Derby contenders this year, but none are potentially as exciting as Locked. The three-year-old was due to make his return to action in the recent Fountain of Youth, but he was ruled out of the Derby prep on medical grounds.
He was incredibly exciting as a two-year-old last season, which included an excellent run to take second over 1 1/16 in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Locked was also a Grade One winner last season, landing the G1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
However, it could be challenging to make an assumption surrounding his Derby chances before seeing him re-appear as a three-year-old this season.
Forever Young
Japan will make another trip to Churchill Downs this year, as they go in search of a winner in the Kentucky Derby. Forever Young was very impressive to maintain his unbeaten record on track in Riyadh on his previous start, beating the highly-regarded Book’em Danno by a head.
He stayed on very strongly on that appearance for trainer Yoshito Yahagi, and all eyes will now turn to his run in the key Derby prep race at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night.
His record deserves a lot of respect at this stage, winning on all three previous starts. It should also be encouraged that he has already run over longer than many of his rivals after scoring in a big field on debut in Japan. Certainly not an international rival to take lightly at this stage.
Timberlake
Brad Cox was beaming with confidence following an exciting return to the track by one of his Derby contenders in late February. Timberlake could be the ante-post play for many bettors at this stage, as the three-year-old could shorten up considerably if he is able to land success in the G1 Arkansas Derby or G1 Blue Grass Stakes before travelling to Churchill Downs.
He made a dominant return to action in the G2 Rebel Stakes on his previous start, traveling excellently before beating the field with ease to score a speed rating of 100. That marked a career-best performance, and he has plenty of back form to suggest that he is one of the most talented runners in the field this year.
That includes a fourth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while he also got the better of General Partner and Dancing Groom to land the G1 Champagne Stakes over a mile last year.