Things are about to heat up on the road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby, with prep races galore taking place in the months leading up to the 148th running of the annual "Run for the Roses" on May 7 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
And with roughly two dozen graded stakes events come plenty of opportunities for bettors to get in on the action via futures wagering ahead of the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown series.
Leading the way in the latest betting odds at Caesars is Corniche, the current favorite at 6-1 odds. Guided by embattled trainer Bob Baffert, the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion is actually not listed individually in the official Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2, which opened Friday at 12 p.m. ET to the betting public.
Baffert's contender wasn't listed in Pool 1 either, which took place from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29. Furthermore, there are no Baffert trainees listed as separate wagering interests the latest pool. The Hall of Fame trainer was banned from running his horses in the Kentucky Derby for two years by Churchill Downs after 2021 winner Medina Spirit tested positive for a medication overage.
Mattress Mack – aka Jim McIngvale – put $10,000 on Smile Happy in the first pool of the @KentuckyDerby Future Wager. He plans to do similar for Pool 2, which opens Friday.https://t.co/P8sqZtwzTT
📸: Gallery Furniture pic.twitter.com/iXSirPSIye
— Horse Racing Nation (@HR_Nation) January 20, 2022
Derby hopeful Jack Christopher, trained by Chad Brown, checks in as the current second choice at 15-1 odds. He's followed by Messier — another Baffert charge — at 20-1 odds, and Smile Happy, who's trained by Ken McPeek.
At least one person has a lot of confidence in Smile Happy. Renowned sports bettor Jim McIngvale, better known as "Mattress Mack," reportedly dropped $10,000 on the horse, who's the offspring of 2015 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and champion sire Runhappy (whom he owns), and now stands at stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky.
2022 Kentucky Derby Futures Odds
* Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
| HORSE | ODDS | TRAINER |
|---|---|---|
| Corniche | +600 | Bob Baffert |
| Jack Christopher | +1500 | Chad Brown |
| Smile Happy | +2000 | Ken McPeek |
| Messier | +2000 | Bob Baffert |
| Rattle N Roll | +2200 | Ken McPeek |
| Zandon | +2500 | Chad Brown |
| Epicenter | +2500 | Steve Asmussen |
| Pappacap | +2500 | Mark Casse |
| Commandperformance | +3000 | Todd Pletcher |
| Newgrange | +3500 | Bob Baffert |
| Mo Donegal | +3500 | Todd Pletcher |
| Classic Causeway | +3500 | Brian Lynch |
| Rocket Dawg | +4500 | Brad Cox |
| Nakatomi | +4500 | Wesley Ward |
| Cyberknife | +5000 | Brad Cox |
| Doppelgänger | +5000 | Bob Baffert |
| Emmanuel | +5000 | Todd Pletcher |
| Wit | +5000 | Todd Pletcher |
| Slow Down Andy | +5000 | Doug O'Neill |
Other notable hopefuls at +5500 odds or longer (trainer in parentheses): Gunite +5500 (Steve Asmussen); Rockefeller +5500 (Bob Baffert); Major General +5500 (Todd Pletcher); Octane +6000 (Carlos David); Howling Time +6000 (Dale Romans); HP Moon +6500 (Lacey Gaudet); and, Sir London +6500 (Simon Callaghan).
Here is the schedule for the Kentucky Derby prep races, including dates and points awarded for the top-four finishers in each event:
Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby
| DATE | STAKES RACE (GRADE) | TRACK (POINTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 22 | Lecomte (Grade III) | Fair Grounds (10-4-2-1) |
| Jan. 29 | Southwest (III) | Oaklawn Park (10-4-2-1) |
| Feb. 5 | Holy Bull (III) | Gulfstream Park (10-4-2-1) |
| Feb. 5 | Robert B. Lewis (III) | Santa Anita Park (10-4-2-1) |
| Feb. 5 | Sam F. Davis (III) | Tampa Bay Downs (10-4-2-1) |
| Feb. 12 | Withers (III) | Aqueduct (10-4-2-1) |
| Feb. 19 | El Camino Real Derby | Golden Gate Fields (10-4-2-1) |
| Feb. 19 | Risen Star (III) | Fair Grounds (50-20-10-5) |
| Feb. 26 | Rebel (II) | Oaklawn Park (50-20-10-5) |
| March 5 | John Battaglia Memorial | Turfway Park (10-4-2-1) |
| March 5 | Fountain of Youth (II) | Gulfstream Park (50-20-10-5) |
| March 5 | San Felipe (II) | Santa Anita Park (50-20-10-5) |
| March 12 | Gotham (II) | Aqueduct (50-20-10-5) |
| March 12 | Tampa Bay Derby (II) | Tampa Bay Downs (50-20-10-5) |
| March 26 | UAE Derby | Meydan Racecourse (100-40-20-10) |
| March 26 | Louisiana Derby (II) | Louisiana Downs (100-40-20-10) |
| March 27 | Sunland Derby (III) | Sunland Park (50-20-10-5) |
| April 2 | Florida Derby (I) | Gulfstream Park (100-40-20-10) |
| April 2 | Arkansas Derby (I) | Oaklawn Park (100-40-20-10) |
| April 2 | Jeff Ruby Steaks (III) | Turfway Park (100-40-20-10) |
| April 9 | Wood Memorial (II) | Aqueduct (100-40-20-10) |
| April 9 | Blue Grass (II) | Keeneland (100-40-20-10) |
| April 9 | Santa Anita Derby (I) | Santa Anita Park (100-40-20-10) |
| April 16 | Lexington (III) | Keeneland (100-40-20-10) |
Points system: As you probably gathered from the numbers listed next to each race in the graphic, the points breakdown is simple to understand. The top-four finishers in each race earn points toward their totals for entry in the Kentucky Derby. A maximum of 20 horses can enter the starting gate for the race, so racking up as many points as possible is crucial for all contenders.
For example, the winner of Saturday's Grade III Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans will receive 10 points. The runner-up gets four points, followed by the third-place runner (two points) and the fourth-place finisher getting a point.
Several races, specifically the Grade I stakes events, carry much more weight and value, hence the winner being awarded 100 points. That said, if a horse wins a featured event like the Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby or the Santa Anita Derby — all Grade I affairs — they're basically a lock to reach the starting gate.
