2014 Kentucky Derby Preview

The Kentucky Derby is a little over a month away. It’s the time of year where you need to start thinking about which horses stand the best chance of winning. The final entries for the race are still a few weeks away, but having a clear idea of who the favorites are will help you to formulate a final decision for that first Saturday of May.

Right now, experts are saying that Cairo Prince is the top horse to watch. He won the Holy Bull in a convincing manner and will be performing next at the Florida Derby on March 29th. This is one of the premier prep races for the Kentucky Derby and a win here will cement his place as the favorite. However, you do need to note that as of right now, Cairo Prince does not have an edge when it comes to Beyer speed figures. He’s a great racer, but it’s purely a tactical thing right now. That is a big edge, but it’s one that can be overcome by a speedy horse.

But who are those contenders? The Derby will be the longest race of any of these horses’ careers up to this point, so it really is impossible to tell. Still, there are a few that come to mind. California Chrome has posted some big numbers, as has Social Inclusion. They posted a 107 and a 111, respectively. The big problem is that both races were at shorter distances. There is a chance that Social Inclusion will run at the Florida Derby, and right now California Chrome is scheduled to run at Santa Anita on April 5th. These races will give us a clearer picture of their capabilities.

There are a bunch of other horses with realistic chances, too. Tapiture, Candy Boy, and Hoppertunity being the most predominant. Hoppertunity has the highest Beyer figure of all of these horses with a 100.

And you cannot forget that a longshot that is not on anyone’s radar at the moment could also be entered in the race and could end up winning. That’s the great thing about this race; all of the horses are very young and just starting out their careers. There is always a lot of uncertainty. While it might drive some gamblers crazy, it also makes the Kentucky Derby one of the most entertaining races of the year.