As the days draw near to the much-awaited Kentucky Derby race on May 6, bettors are getting more anxious about choosing the right horse that could give them the best return. If you are one of those people, you can worry less by knowing the top picks for this year’s race.
Below is the list of the top five derby contenders you must include in your list of must-bet horses, along with their defining qualities that could carry them to 1st place.
5 Horses You Must Consider Betting In The 2023 Kentucky Derby
Forte
Forte is one of the early favorites of the 2023 Kentucky Derby. This doesn’t come as a surprise since he already has a pretty solid record and team behind him.
The 3-year-old thoroughbred is trained by Todd Pletcher, an eight-time recipient of the Eclipse Award. Pletcher is among the most well-known horse trainers in the industry, who produced excellent champions throughout his career.
Aside from having one of the most sought-after trainers in horse racing, Forte’s jockey is Irad Ortiz Jr., also a well-known name in the industry. Ortiz showed the world the great results his tandem with Forte has achieved. His records back it up, too.
Forte won all four derby prep races he participated in. This data alone proves why Forte is the favorite of this race with 3-1 odds. If you are looking for a derby contender with a high probability of winning, you can count on Forte.
Tapit Trice
The second horse in our top five Kentucky derby picks is Tapit Trice. He is another Todd Pletcher racehorse who also performed well on the racetrack during the Tampa Bay Derby, where he finished first place.
Tapit Trice also has a pretty impressive race record since he started racing, which plays a significant role in why he is the second favorite of the 2023 Kentucky Derby with 8-1 odds. This Todd Pletcher horse is considered a late bloomer as he only started winning after his debut maiden race, where he finished third.
After his debut race though, Tapit Trice became undefeated, and his team hopes to continue this win streak up to the Run for the Roses.
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Practical Move
Third on the list is Tim Yakteen’s Practical Move. He is currently number six on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Practical Move entered and won two derby prep races, the Los Alamitos Futurity, and the San Felipe Stakes.
Tim Yakteen is planning to let Practical Move participate in the Santa Anita Derby to secure his spot for the Kentucky Derby. Although Practical Move didn’t finish all his past races as a winner, he ensures he won’t finish lower than third.
It earned him a consistent form that makes him one of the derby contenders with the best odds. He currently holds 10-1 odds which is the third-best so far.
Kingsbarns
Another Todd Pletcher entry on the best horses to bet on this 2023 Kentucky Derby is Kingsbarns. He is another horse worth checking out, as he has performed well on the racetrack throughout his previous races.
As of writing, Kingsbarns remains undefeated since he started racing. It’s an impressive record that he can presumably hold until the Kentucky Derby race. He has 14-1 odds, putting him in the fourth spot among this year’s top five favorite horses.
Kingsbarns doesn’t only have one of the best trainers assisting him in winning, but he already has the blood of a champion. He is the offspring of Uncle Mo, an impressive racehorse during his time.
Reincarnate
Lastly comes Reincarnate with an odds of 18-1. Tim Yakteen trains Reincarnate and currently holds the 13th spot on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 45 points.
Although this 3-year-old thoroughbred is only considered a minor favorite, it’s still worth noting that a horse race is uncertain. Anything can happen, and any contender can win. Numerous factors can affect the outcome of the race, and this is where Reincarnate’s probability is based.
He joined three derby prep races and won one out of three: the Sham Stakes. Even though he didn’t dominate all three, he didn’t go below third place in the other two races. His performance in all three were all good nevertheless.
With Tim Yakteen on his team, this underdog may give us a memorable Kentucky Derby result.
Final Words
Twenty horses are expected to run on the Churchill Downs racetrack this May 6, and only one of them will win the race. Out of these 20 hopefuls, these five horses must be in the mind of punters who wish to gain some bucks, whether they are betting for the winner or combining various bets.
As of writing, the five mentioned thoroughbreds are the best choices you have that can potentially give you a higher chance of winning and profiting for the 2023 Kentucky Derby race.
