2023 Kentucky Derby Betting Odds: Forte The Favorite At 5-2

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Forte has opened as the favorite at 5-2.
Practical Move and Tapit Trice are tied for the second shortest odds at 8-1.
Classic Car Wash and Cyclone Mischief may close as long shots, currently both 80-1.

The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby will take place on May 6th, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky at Churchill Down Racetrack. The race itself is limited to 20 horses and while there are more than that currently listed in the futures market, the vast majority of the field is set based on the graded stakes race earnings system. Forte (5-2) has opened as the favorite to win the first leg of the Triple Crown. As for the rest of the field, sportsbooks have begun offering odds.

2023 Kentucky Derby Betting Odds

Horse	Odds	Probability
Forte	5-2	28.57%
Practical Move	8-1	11.11%
Tapit Trice	8-1	11.11%
All Other 3-Year-Olds	15-1	6.25%
Hit Show	20-1	4.76%
Geaux Rocket Ride	20-1	4.76%
Instant Coffee	20-1	4.76%
Kingsbarns	20-1	4.76%
Reincarnate	24-1	4%
Confidence Game	25-1	3.85%
Red Route One	25-1	3.85%
Angel of Empire	30-1	3.23%
Verifying	30-1	3.23%
Rocket Can	30-1	3.23%
Disarm	40-1	2.44%
Derma Sotogake (JPN)	40-1	2.44%
Two Phil’s	40-1	2.44%
National Treasure	50-1	1.96%
Blazing Sevens	50-1	1.96%
Classic Car Wash	80-1	1.23%
Cyclone Mischief	80-1	1.23%

It makes complete sense that Todd Pletcher's Forte is the early favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. The horse led the 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 190 points and $2.36 million in earnings. That financial figure was more than twice as large as the next horse in the field (Angel of Empire, $1.03m). There's a good chance we see Pletcher in the winner's circle because he also owns Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns, two more horses that finished in the top eight of the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings.

If you're looking to back a seasoned jockey, this race has one that stands above the rest. John Velazquez will be riding Reincarnate in this year's Derby. He has already won this leg of the Triple Crown on three occasions (2011, 2017, 2020). The field is light on Derby winning jockey's, so Reincarnate may be worth a look, especially if his odds hold north of 20-1.