The 2024 Kentucky Derby is set to feature a competitive field of 20 horses, with Fierceness and Sierra Leone emerging as the early favorites to win the race. Fierceness, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, is listed with odds of 5-2 (+250), making him the favorite to win the race. Sierra Leone, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, follows closely with odds of 3-1 (+300). These two horses are among the top contenders, with Sierra Leone being particularly noted for its strong performance and potential to win from the second post position.
Other notable horses in the field include Catching Freedom with odds of 8-1 (+800), Forever Young and Just a Touch both with odds of 10-1 (+1000), and several horses with odds ranging from 20-1 (+2000) to 50-1 (+5000). The field is diverse, featuring horses from various trainers and countries, including two Japanese horses, Forever Young and T O Password.
The race is expected to be highly competitive, with many horses capable of winning. Bettors and spectators alike will be watching closely to see how these horses perform on the day of the race.
In the 2024 Kentucky Derby, several horses are considered long shots or dark horses with potential to upset the favorites. Among these, Just Steel and Honor Marie stand out as particularly interesting options for those looking for value bets.
- Just Steel, trained by Wayne Lukas, is a son of legendary Triple Crown winner Justify. Despite having odds of 20-1, his pedigree and the experience of his trainer make him a compelling underdog. Just Steel has participated in seven races during his 2-year-old season, showcasing his readiness for the Derby’s challenges.
- Honor Marie, with odds of 20-1, comes from a fascinating lineage. His father, Honor Code, was a Derby favorite in 2014 before being scratched due to an injury. Honor Marie’s great-grandfather is the legendary Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. This horse has demonstrated consistency and the ability to come from behind, despite not winning in 2024. His strong 2-year-old season, including a victory at Churchill, makes him a trendy longshot pick for the Derby.
Another horse worth mentioning is Forever Young, although his odds of 10-1 might not qualify him as a traditional long shot. However, his status as a potential history-maker—being the first horse from Japan and the first from the UAE Derby to win the Derby—adds intrigue. Forever Young is on a serious winning streak, with five consecutive victories leading up to the Derby.
Lastly, Endlessly, with odds of 30-1, is noted for his speed and consistency, especially on turf. While his success has primarily come on turf surfaces, there’s speculation that he could translate his past performances to the Churchill Downs track, potentially surprising many with a strong finish.
These horses represent a mix of pedigree, experience, and potential that could lead to unexpected outcomes in the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
For the 2024 Kentucky Derby, several horses have emerged as favorites with strong odds of winning. “Fierceness” is currently the top favorite with odds standing at around 5-2, which reflects his impressive performance in past races including a dominating win in the Florida Derby (TwinSpires). Following closely is “Sierra Leone” with odds of 3-1, noted for his successful runs in the Risen Star Stakes and Blue Grass Stakes (VegasInsider).
Other notable contenders include “Catching Freedom” with odds of 8-1, coming off a strong performance at the Louisiana Derby (The Lines), and both “Just A Touch” and “Forever Young” are listed with odds of 10-1 (TwinSpires) (VegasInsider). These odds and positions could shift slightly as the race approaches and final evaluations of the horses’ conditions and post positions are made.
The Kentucky Derby, known for its unpredictability, will surely be an exciting race with these leading horses vying for the prestigious win.
Here’s a breakdown of the current favorites for the 2024 Kentucky Derby with their morning line odds:
Fierceness: The current frontrunner with odds of 5-2.
Sierra Leone: Sitting close behind at 3-1, despite some expert concerns about potential trouble due to his late running style.
Catching Freedom: A contender with odds of 8-1.
Several other horses are in the mix with odds of 10-1 or better, including Forever Young, Just A Touch, and Dornoch. You can find a full list of the horses and their odds on various sports news websites.