Forte Headlines 2023 Kentucky Derby Odds

The Betting Market is Taking Shape

The 2023 Kentucky Derby odds are starting to take their shape ahead of next month’s feature race at Churchill Downs.

There has been one standout runner throughout the Kentucky Derby prep races, which is the Todd Pletcher-trained Forte.

However, it’s always a wide-open betting market, and betting on Derby has never been more exciting.

Forte Stamps Class

As if we didn’t already know that Forte was a leading chance with 2023 Kentucky Derby odds, he pulls off an amazing win in the Grade 1 Florida Derby earlier this month.

The son of Violence looked gone midway through the race, but his class was too much for the opposition in the run to the line.

Running down Mage with a brilliant turn-of-foot holds him in good stead for the Kentucky Derby, and he’s the worthy +250 favorite.

“To me, what was the most impressive was the last hundred yards. He came by me at the eighth pole and he looked beaten,” Pletcher said.

Breeder Amy Moore was equally impressed with his win in the Florida Derby, which is a time-honored prep race.

“I’m speechless,” Moore said. “I’m terrifically proud of him and proud of his mother. It’s a great feeling. I can’t believe that my first foal has turned out this way. I don’t know where I go from here, but it sure feels good right now.”

We expect money to come for Forte as he continues his preparation. The Kentucky Derby should be his next target, so it’s all eyes on the feature.

We predict his 2023 Kentucky Derby odds firming to around +200 on race day.

Tapit Trice Lays Down Challenge

Following a third place on debut at Aqueduct, Tapit Trice has made a name for himself at the top level.

Another runner for Pletcher, the 3-year-old by Tapit has since rattled off four consecutive wins, including a last-start victory in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

It’s tough to weigh up which race is better between the Blue Grass and Florida Derby, but as history suggests, winners of the Blue Grass need to improve a length to be competitive in the Kentucky Derby.

He looks like the type who will derive plenty of benefit from the win, so we’re not surprised by the +600 odds available with the 2023 Kentucky Derby odds.

If there is a potential danger to stablemate Forte, it’s Tapit Trice.

Practical Move Makes Move

We expected money to come for Practical Move and the +900 odds suggest bettors are rallying behind the last-start winner.

One of the major prep races is the Santa Anita Derby, which Practical Move won impressively when beating Mandarin Hero and Skinner.

It was his third consecutive win having taken out the Los Alamitos Futurity and San Felipe Stakes, which are good Kentucky Derby form guides.

Tim Yakeen trains the son of Practical Joke, and Yakeen is most famous for taking over most of Bob Baffert’s age-group starts, but Practical Joke has been Yakeen’s from the outset.

“It’s a great feeling to go back-to-back in this race,” Yakteen said. “The rush you get—that’s why you get in the game.”

We don’t see the top three with the 2023 Kentucky Derby odds changing much between now and then. They are all solid picks, so bettors should be confident with them.

Japanese Colt Secure Derby Bid

The Japanese runners are always tough to beat around the world, but they don’t often line up in the Kentucky Derby.

Mandarin Hero qualified with second place behind Practical Move in the Santa Anita Derby, and he’s not without a chance of winning.

The Kentucky Derby always calls on race fitness, as many of the fields are gone before the home stretch. We don’t think that will be a problem for the +1600 chance, as they bred them tough in Asia.

The son of Shanghai Bobby is unbeaten from four starts in Japan, including winning the Haiseiko Kinen in November. That’s a good form guide for Japanese 3-year-old racing, so he could make history at Churchill Downs in May.

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