ARCADIA, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Classic Empire #5, ridden by Julien Leparoux, wins the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile during day two of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park on November 5, 2016 in Arcadia, California. (Photo by Michael McInally/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
The top two finishers of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) are the early co-favorites for next spring’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in the latest betting odds released by Bovada.
Classic Empire, who won the Juvenile by a neck, and Not This Time, who ran second are the co-favorites in early Derby wagering at 14-1.
The Kentucky Derby will be contested on Saturday, May 6 at Churchill Downs.
In the 33-year history of the Breeders’ Cup, just two winners have come back the following spring to win the Run for the Roses.
Street Sense was the first, ending the so-called “Juvenile Jinx” in 2007, and Nyquist parlayed his 2015 Juvenile victory into roses this spring.
Classic Empire is trained by Mark Casse and has won four of his five career starts, earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure for his Juvenile victory last Saturday at Santa Anita.
2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Replay
His lone loss was when he wheeled and dumped hos jockey in the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga on Sept, 5. Casse added blinkers after that race and the colt has been a professional in his two victories since, winning the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in his final prep for the Juvenile.
Not This Time was beaten just a neck in the Juvenile. He came into the race with an impressive 8 ¾ length victory in the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The Dale Romans trainee broke his maiden in his second career start by 10 lengths.
The third choice in early Kentucky Derby future betting at Bovada is Gormley at 18-1. The colt was a disappointing seventh in the Juvenile, sent off as the 5-1 third choice in the wagering.
The cot won his first won career starts, winning the Frontrunner (G1) at Santa Anita on Oct. 1. The colt is trained by John Shirreffs, who trained the great Zenyatta.
Klimt, who was eighth in the Juvenile is fourth in the early betting at 20-1. The colt is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, a four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby 2017 – Odds to win via Bovada:
Classic Empire 14-1
Not This Time 14-1
Gormley 18-1
Klimt 20-1
Mastery 25-1
Practical Joke 25-1
Three Rules 25-1
Theory 28-1
Favorable Outcome 35-1
Lookin At Lee 40-1
Mo Town 40-1
Ticonderoga 45-1
Big Gray Rocket 50-1
McCraken 60-1
Syndergaard 60-1
Fact Finding 75-1
Hot Sean 75-1
Takaful 75-1
Random Walk 85-1
