Horseplayers all over the world are looking forward to betting the $3 million Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6! The Run for the Roses is the most iconic race in America. 20 three-year-olds will go 1 ¼ miles for not only a huge purse, but also the most iconic honor in American horse racing.
Mage
To win the Kentucky Derby
Professionals and recreational players alike know that the Kentucky Derby is the biggest betting horse race of the year. With such a huge field, the payouts for the race are colossal. Keep reading to find out the best horses to bet in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, and the best places to bet the race online in Florida!
Betting the 2023 Kentucky Derby Online
Though everyone would love to go to the Kentucky Derby, not all of us can. The good news is, you can be a part of the action and get even better odds on the race by betting it at an online racebook! Betting the Kentucky Derby online is convenient because you can play from anywhere with an internet connection, and gives you benefits you’ll never find at the track.
All of our recommended online racebooks offer market-leading odds and trusted payouts. They also offer fixed-odds wagering on major races like the Kentucky Derby, meaning you lock in the best price the moment you bet. Furthermore, you also get great racebook bonuses like horse racing rebates, sign-up bonuses, and deposit bonuses.
For horseplayers in Florida, these are the best choices for betting the Kentucky Derby online:
Handicapping the 2023 Kentucky Derby
Now that you have set up your betting account, it is time to meet the field and find out the best bets for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.
2023 Kentucky Derby Horses
This is the official field for the 2023 Kentucky Derby including draw numbers, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:
- Hit Show (Brad Cox / Manny Franco) – 30/1
- Verifying (Brad Cox / Tyler Gaffalione) – 15/1
- Two Phil’s (Larry Rivelli / Jareth Loveberry) – 12/1
- Confidence Game (Keith Desormeaux / James Graham) – 20/1
- Tapit Trice (Todd Pletcher / Luis Saez) – 5/1
- Kingsbarns (Todd Pletcher / Jose Ortiz) – 12/1
- Reincarnate (Tim Yakteen / John Velazquez) – 50/1
- Mage (Gustavo Delgado / Javier Castellano) – 15/1
- Skinner (John Shirreffs / Juan Hernandez) – 20/1
- Practical Move (Tim Yakteen / Ramon Vazquez) – 10/1
- Disarm (Steve Asmussen / Joel Rosario) – 30/1
- Jace’s Road (Brad Cox / Florent Geroux) – 15/1
- Sun Thunder (Kenny McPeek / Brian Hernandez, Jr.) – 50/1
- Angel of Empire (Brad Cox / Flavien Prat) – 8/1
- Forte (Todd Pletcher / Irad Ortiz, Jr.) – 3/1
- Raise Cain (Ben Colebrook / Gerardo Corrales) – 50/1
- Derma Sotogake (Hidetaka Otonashi / Christophe Lemaire) – 10/1
- Rocket Can (Bill Mott / Junior Alvarado) – 30/1
- Lord Miles (Saffie Joseph, Jr. / Paco Lopez) – 30/1
- Continuar (Yosito Yahagi / Ryusei Sakai) – 50/1
- ALSO ELIGIBLE – Cyclone Mischief (Dale Romans / Joel Rosario) – 30/1
- ALSO ELIGIBLE – Mandarin Hero (Terunobu Fujita / Kazushi Kimura) – 20/1
- ALSO ELIGIBLE – King Russell (Ron Moquett / Rafael Bejarano) – 50/1
Cyclone Mischief, Mandarin Hero, and King Russell will only draw in, in that order of priority, if horses scratch from the main field before 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, when Kentucky Derby betting begins.
Remember that the morning line is just the racetrack’s best estimate for what the odds will look like come post time. At the track, you do not know your odds until after you bet and the race begins. Betting the Kentucky Derby online is better because you can lock in the best price on your Kentucky Derby horse the moment you place your bet!
These are the Kentucky Derby odds at the top of the market.
2023 Kentucky Derby Favorites
The favorite has not finished out of the superfecta since the points system began. And, Florida Derby (G1) winner Forte will certainly be the favorite. He has the consistency to run well: he can run well at different tracks, and he finishes well even without a pace collapse. The chalky odds will be an underlay in such a big field, but he is a must-use in exotics for Todd Pletcher.
Forte’s stablemate Tapit Trice is the most interesting of the shorter-priced horses. He was having some trouble at the start, but he looked better than ever when winning the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. He overcame a rail draw in a big field, got out in the clear, and ran down a pace-advantaged Verifying to win the race. Plus, he has classic stamina on both sides of his pedigree.
One other logical horse to consider, particularly in exotics, is Practical Move. The leader of the Southern California Derby-prep contingent, he has shown tactical speed that should help him carve out a good trip in this race. And, though he is by miler Practical Joke, he has strong stamina on his dam’s side and that may be enough to get him through…that often is for Into Mischief foals, and Practical Joke is an Into Mischief son.
Kentucky Derby Best Bet
The best bet in the 2023 Kentucky Derby is Florida-based Mage. Though the Gustavo Delgado charge missed by a length to Forte in the Florida Derby, he overcame a rough start and closed from far off the pace, got to the lead, and was just run down. More naturally, he has better speed, meaning he should get a good forward trip.
Mage
To win the Kentucky Derby
Furthermore, that Florida Derby proved he can keep his head together if bad things happen. Add to that the fact that he is well bred for stamina top and bottom, and there are a lot of reasons that Mage offers more than most horses who are 20-1 or higher in most Kentucky Derby markets.
2023 Kentucky Derby Longer Shots
Two Phil’s took his final prep on the Tapeta at Turfway, but that prep came back fast according to all of the major speed figure providers: Beyer, Brisnet, and TimeformUS. If he were only a Tapeta horse that would be one thing, but he was competitive in dirt preps at Fair Grounds and won the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill last year. Expect a strong late run from him.
Though the poor record of the UAE Derby is a concern, Derma Sotogake could be the horse who breaks that trend. After all, in a Derby with a bit less pace than usual, he should be fast enough to set or be close to the pace. With a proven ability to ship and with stamina to spare, expect Derma Sotogake to be involved in the race from start to finish.
2023 Kentucky Derby Picks
Now that you have your betting account set up and have gotten to know the field, it is time for the best part: betting the Kentucky Derby online! These are the best bets for Saturday’s 2023 Kentucky Derby:
- $20 win/place/show: #8 Mage
- $1 Exacta Key: #5 Tapit Trice with #17 Derma Sotogake, #8 Mage, and #3 Two Phil’s
- $1 Trifecta Key: #5 Tapit Trice with #17 Derma Sotogake, #15 Forte, #8 Mage, and #3 Two Phil’s
- $1 Superfecta Key: #5 Tapit Trice with #17 Derma Sotogake, #15 Forte, #10 Practical Move, #8 Mage, and #3 Two Phil’s
Mage
To win the Kentucky Derby
