Early 2019 Kentucky Derby Odds: Game Winner Opens as Favorite

• Game Winner has emerged as the early favorite following the colt’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win
• Game Winner one of four horses among the odds leaders trained by Bob Baffert
• Baffert trained the last two Triple Crown winners, Justify and American Pharoah

Game Winner got his first taste of victory at Churchill Downs earlier this month, claiming a come-from-behind victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and laying claim to the early lead on the 2019 Kentucky Derby odds as a +1000 favorite.

2019 Kentucky Derby Odds

Baffert-Trained Horses Dominate the Early Odds

Trained by Bob Baffert, the two-year colt is undefeated in his young career, setting the stage for his recent Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win with victories in both the Del Mar Futurity and American Pharoah Stakes.

In the latest episode on the Road to #KyDerby 145 — A battle down the stretch in the @BreedersCup Juvenile produces our early Derby favorite. pic.twitter.com/N6iDtRRS4O

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) November 12, 2018

While the Run for the Roses is still six months away, there are plenty of reasons to like Game Winner’s early odds.

Game Winner also brings an outstanding pedigree to the track as a descendant of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.

Baffert has emerged as the pre-eminent trainer in thoroughbred racing following the recent Triple Crown victories by Justify and American Pharoah, which he both trained. Game Winner also brings an outstanding pedigree to the track as a descendant of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, while two of the past 12 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winners have gone on to claim victory at the Kentucky Derby, with Nyquist the most recent to accomplish the feat in 2016.

Recent Kentucky Derby Winners

Coliseum, Instagrand Joined by Knicks Go as Co-Second Favorites

Considering his recent stakes race success, it is hard to overlook the other Baffert-trained colts getting attention on the early 2019 Kentucky Derby odds.

Sired by 2004 Wood Memorial winner Tapit, Coliseum has yet to make his debut, but is pegged as an early second favorite on the Kentucky Derby odds, joining Instagrand and Knicks Go at +2000.

Improbable, Mucho Gusto on the Rise Following Stunning Debuts

A winner by a massive 7.5-length margin in last week’s Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs, Improbable joins Mucho Gusto and eight other horses at +2500 on the Kentucky Derby odds.

Improbable joins Mucho Gusto and eight other horses at +2500 on the Kentucky Derby odds.

Improbable claimed victory while breaking his maiden in a six-furlong race at Santa Anita Park in late September, and will be one of several horses to watch when he hits the tack at next month’s Los Alamitos Futurity.

Another descendant of the great Seattle Slew, Mucho Gusto is scheduled to make his stakes race debut this weekend at the Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack after breaking his maiden at Los Alamitos in dominating style back in September, claiming victory by five lengths.

Knicks Go Joins the Mix Following Longshot Win

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Instagrand destroyed the field while racing to victory by 10 lengths in his stakes debut in the Best Pal last August, while Knicks Go has seen his stock rise after pulling off a huge upset at last month’s Breeder’s Futurity as a +7000 longshot followed by a second-place finish behind Game Winner at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Just sit back and enjoy 👀

Instagrand wins the G2 Best Pal Stakes at @DelMarRacing with absolute ease 🇺🇸

A G1 winner in waiting? 🥇pic.twitter.com/IMAagOYozJ

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) August 11, 2018

A Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt, Endorsed struggled to a sixth-place finish in his stakes debut at the Champagne last month at Belmont Park, and is joined at +2500 by Roadster, Rowayton, US Navy Cross, and Vekoma.