Kentucky Derby Odds: Sierra Leone leads Run for the Roses betting

This year’s Kentucky Derby will be the 150th running of the race and organisers have announced that the purse will be increased to $5million.

Sierra Leone heads the market prior to the American Grade 1 contest, which takes place on Saturday 4th May.

As well as the race anniversary, there will be more eyes globally on the contest with Frankie Dettori looking to ride a Kentucky Derby winner for the first time.

Kentucky Derby Odds

• Sierra Leone - 5/2
• Fierceness - 3/1
• Catching Freedom - 8/1
• Forever Young - 17/2
• Just A Touch - 10/1
• Stronghold - 18/1
• Honor Marie - 20/1
• Society Man - 25/1

Brown hoping for Sierra hat-trick

Chad Brown’s Sierra Leone heads to Churchill Downs looking for a third straight victory, while the trainer is seeking his first win in the Kentucky Derby.

The three-year-old claimed a Grade 2 success at Fair Grounds in February, before following that up with a Grade 1 win in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland last month.

On both occasions, Tyler Gaffalione was on board and the jockey will be on board again in the Run for the Roses. 

Fierceness is another recent Grade 1 winner, with the Todd Pletcher-trained charge cruising to victory at Gulfstream Park in March.

Pletcher enjoyed success in the big race seven years ago, when John Velazquez rode Always Dreaming to victory – the same jockey that will ride Fierceness.

Japanese hopes in the Kentucky Derby are led by Forever Young, who is running in the USA for the first time.

Yoshito Yahagi’s three-year-old is unbeaten in four starts, including a two-length success over Auto Bhan in the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan in March.

Frankie eyeing Churchill Downs joy

Having moved to the US to continue his career, Frankie Dettori now has his sights set on victory in America’s biggest race.

The Italian will be on board Society Man in what will be just his second ride in the showpiece contest – with his first coming 24 years ago.

Society Man, trained by Danny Gargan, impressed when finishing second, at odds of 107/1 in a Kentucky Derby trial at the start of April, to raise hopes of a fairytale win.

Dettori has enjoyed plenty of success since moving across the Atlantic, including a victory in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes in April, when on board Beaute Cachee.

The ever-popular 53-year-old has seen his hopes hit though, following the draw for the Churchill Downs contest.

Society Man will come from stall 20, the widest berth possible, where only two previous winners have ever started from.

All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.