This year’s Kentucky Derby for the best three-year old Thoroughbreds in the 2022 class will be held on Saturday, May 7. Staged annually at fabled Churchill Downs in Louisville, this year’s 20- horse field continues to take shape.

As a result of the recent Kentucky Derby prep race season, the long list of probable entries have been identified as legitimate contenders for one of the most prestigious racing titles in sports. The Kentucky Derby is also one of the biggest sports betting events of the year at online sportsbooks.

Kentucky Derby Betting Sites

While betting on the actual race through the use of pari-mutuel odds at the track brings in most of the betting volume, avid horse betting fans can also lock in their betting odds through Kentucky Derby futures posted at the top online books in the sports betting industry.

Below is an early look at the top favorites to win along with one or two contenders with the best betting value based on their futures odds.

2022 Kentucky Derby Betting Favorites

Epicenter +475

This is a three-year old colt that you might want to lock in at solid plus money. The son of Not This Time is coming off a recent victory in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 26 at Fair Grounds Race Course. He covered the 1 3/16 miles on dirt in 1:54.38 past Zoros and Pioneer of Medina to win that race.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Epicenter also won this year’s Grade 2 Risen Star at that same track on Feb. 19 to help secure his spot as the early Kentucky Derby favorite.

What Is a Place Bet?

Zandon +600

Coming off an impressive victory in this year’s Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course on April 9, the son of Upstart saw his stock rise dramatically as a Kentucky Derby favorite on the futures board. This three-year old Kentucky-bred colt is trained by Chad Brown. One concern of note on Zandon’s early racing record was a fade to third in the Risen Star behind Epicenter and Smile Happy.

Taiba +600

Also listed as the second-favorite to win this year’s Run for the Roses on the Kentucky Derby futures board, the Gun Runner sire became a hot bet after winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9. Outpacing Messier and Happy Jack, he closed as a 4-to-1 second favorite in that race.

Trained by Tim Yakteen, Taiba comes into this race with the second-highest Horse Racing Nation rating (7.89) in the projected 20-horse field.

How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby

2022 Kentucky Derby Top-Valued Futures Bets

Mo Donegal +800

Trained by Todd Pletcher, this three-year old Kentucky-bred colt first caught my eye by winning the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack on Dec. 4 in his final race as a juvenile. Cementing his status as a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender, the son of Uncle Mo won this year’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct on April 9.

Moving past Early Voting and Skippylongstocking, his winning time over 1 1/8 miles on the dirt track at Aqueduct as 1:47.96.

What Is a Trifecta Bet?

Cyberknife +2200

Sitting further down the list as another Gun Runner sire, this Kentucky-bred colt caught some major attention by winning this year’s Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 2 at Oaklawn Park. His winning time in that 1 1/8 miles run on dirt was 1:50.42.

Trained by Brad Cox, Cyberknife might be hard pressed to upset the field at Churchill Downs on May 7 but he should be part of the betting mix when looking for value picks to finish in the money.