Roadster Galloping Up Kentucky Derby Odds, Joins Game Winner as Co-Favorite

• Roadster and Game Winner are co-favored to win the 2019 Kentucky Derby
• Roadster recently defeated Game Winner at the Santa Anita Derby following a long layoff
• Both horses are trained by Bob Baffert

After edging out Game Winner to claim a huge come from behind victory at the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby earlier this month, Roadster now joins his stablemate at the top of the Kentucky Derby odds, perched as a +500 co-favorite to win this year’s Run for the Roses.

Odds to Win 2019 Kentucky Derby

Odds taken 04/25/19.

Baffert-Trained Colts Dominate Top of the Odds

Trained by the legendary Bob Baffert, Roadster has enjoyed steady success since returning from a three-month layoff following throat surgery late last year. The victory at Santa Anita marked the three-year-old colt’s first graded stakes win, and his second victory in as many races since returning to action in early March.

The trainer of the past two Triple Crown winners, Baffert singled out Roadster as a possible successor to American Pharoah and Justify in an interview with TMZ last summer. Roadster powered to a third-place finish at last fall’s Del Mar Futurity, and now looks to the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in fourth place on the Road to the Kentucky Derby point standings.

Baffert singled out Roadster as a possible successor to American Pharoah and Justify in an interview with TMZ last summer.

The winner of last year’s Del Mar Futurity, Game Winner followed up with victories in the American Pharoah Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. However, the descendant of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew has been forced to settle for second place in each of his past two outings at the Rebel Stakes, and at the Santa Anita Derby, where he fell short as a heavy -300 favorite.

Omaha Beach Makes Triumphant Return from Layoff

Further down the Kentucky Derby odds, Omaha Beach closely trails the Baffert-trained co-favorites at +550, ahead of Improbable at +700, while Maximum Security and Tacitus lag at +1000.

With Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike E. Smith as his mount, Omaha Beach powered to an impressive victory on a muddy track in the Arkansas Derby earlier this month. Trained by Richard E. Mandella, who has nine career Breeders’ Cup wins to his credit, Omaha Beach is now undefeated in each of his past three outings, including a victory over Game Winner at last month’s Rebel Stakes.

Maximum Security the Lone Undefeated Horse Bound for Kentucky Derby

Mounted by 2004 Kentucky Derby-winning jockey John Servis, Maximum Security is undefeated in four career races, capped by a dominating wire-to-wire victory by four lengths at last month’s Florida Derby in his graded stakes race debut.

Sired by 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day, which was also trained by Baffert, Maximum Security will enter the Kentucky Derby as the only horse with an undefeated record, and has produced impressive times in his training at Gulfstream Park ahead of his anticipated revival at Churchill Downs on April 30th.

Tacitus has wins in each of his two graded stakes race appearances, but has yet to share the track with any of this year’s Kentucky Derby favorites.

Tacitus has vaulted to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with wins in each of his two graded stakes race appearances, including a victory at the Grade 2 Wood Memorial earlier this month, but has yet to share the track with any of this year’s Kentucky Derby favorites.

While the Run for the Roses remains 10 days away, and track conditions are yet to be determined, it is hard to ignore the two Bob Baffert-trained colts at the top of the odds. However, with Mike E. Smith on the reins, and Omaha Beach enjoying a steady resurgence following his return from surgery, the War Front-sired colt offers intriguing value as a +550 wager on the Kentucky Derby odds.

Pick: Omaha Beach (+550)