At the onset of Derby week was considerable hype over Essential Quality. And understandably so. Essential Quality is undefeated for his career and striking a dominant pose. But before everyone gets carried away, there is another factor to consider. Bob Baffert is the greatest trainer in horse racing. Perhaps Baffert is the greatest trainer of all time. Namely, Baffert is often compared to football coaching GOAT Bill Belichick. All of which has some gamblers thinking that Medina Spirit is a 2021 Kentucky Derby best bet. Certainly, Saturday’s Run for the Roses has the highest quality field.
2021 Kentucky Derby Odds
| When: |
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 5:50 p.m. ET |
| Location: |
Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Teams |
Odds |
| Essential Quality |
5/2 |
| Hot Rod Charlie |
6/1 |
| Medina Spirit |
8/1 |
| Rock Your World |
8/1 |
| Known Agenda |
12/1 |
| Highly Motivated |
15/1 |
| Mandaloun |
15/1 |
| Midnight Bourbon |
15/1 |
| Super Stock |
20/1 |
| Bourbonic |
30/1 |
| Dynamic One |
30/1 |
| Soup and Sandwich |
30/1 |
| Helium |
30/1 |
| Hidden Stash |
50/1 |
| Like the King |
50/1 |
| Sainthood |
50/1 |
| All Other Entries |
100/1 or Greater |
| Place Bets |
2021 Kentucky Derby CashBet Odds Overview – Top Favorites
Of course, it makes perfect sense that Essential Quality is the online sportsbook. How could he not be? An undefeated record and two Breeders’ Cup wins generated headlines and media attention. As always, the Kentucky Derby will bring a disproportionate amount of casual betting action on Saturday. Cause by millions of fans making this the only horse race they will bet on this year. And when you have an ‘Amateur Hour” aspect to the proceedings, you must remember where they get their information. Casual horse racing fans go to mainstream news outlets to “handicap” the race. Thus, inflated prices.
The Essential Quality for a Triple Crown Run
Fashion we’ve had two Triple Crown winners in the past six years. The days of a Triple Crown being considered impossible are mercifully over. And from everything we’ve seen, Essential Quality has what it takes for a run. At the beginning is the ownership of Godolphin and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Godolphin is a big-money operation that spares no expense to win championships. The organization is symbolic of a Betting on Kentucky Derby favorite.
And then trainer Brad H. Cox has a host of Breeders’ Cup wins. Cox was named Eclipse Award Winner for Outstanding Trainer in 2020. The Louisville, Kentucky native knows what he is doing. He grew up two blocks from Churchill Downs and began working there at age 13, speaking of thoroughbreds!
To summarize, Essential Quality has five wins in five career starts. He emerged as a serious Kentucky Derby Betting odds favorite on October 3, 2020. On that day, Essential Quality was the winner of the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. The race was 1 1/16 miles and length and catapulted Essential Quality into the Headlines.
Next, Essential Quality enhanced his 2021 Kentucky Derby betting resume with an even bigger win. On November 6, 2020, Essential Quality won the Grade 1 TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Specifically, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is considered the benchmark race for serious Kentucky Derby contenders. Subsequently, Essential Quality was the winner of the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on February 27, 2021. On April 3, 2021, he took the Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. At that point, there was no more need for prep races.
Top Challenger
Overall, Hot Rod Charlie is getting serious money as the top challenger to Essential Quality. Other gamblers see a questionable resume and believe there is too much stock put in his last race. Hot Rod Charlie was the winner of the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby at Fairgrounds. That race took place on March 20, 2021. As is often the case in Kentucky Derby gambling, prep race wins move the betting lines like nothing else. Hot Rod Charlie finished second to Essential Quality in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
