Kentucky Derby odds are oftentimes greatly influenced by the speed figures you see in the Daily Racing Form. Let’s take a look at the top speed figures recorded by the 2008 Kentucky Derby wagering field.
Kentucky Derby will have Big Brown as the 2008 Kentucky Derby wagering favorite. He has the second highest speed figure of 106. The top speed figure belongs to Bob Black Jack but keep in mind that figure was earned on a synthetic track and Churchill Downs is a dirt track. Big Brown’s figure was earned on the dirt. Kentucky Derby will probably have Colonel John as the second betting choice. His top speed figure is only 95 so if you like Colonel John in Kentucky Derby wagering you should be aware his top speed figure is weak.
Another Kentucky Derby top choice could be Pyro. He bombed in the Blue Grass but his past 105 speed figure is the third highest among the horses in the Kentucky Derby odds field. Pyro will probably be the third choice in Kentucky Derby odds. Gayego has the fourth highest speed figure at 103. He will probably go off at double-digit Kentucky Derby. Three other horses have had speed figures over 100 in at least one of their previous races. They are Recapturetheglory at 102, Z Fortune at 102 and the filly, Eight Belles at 100. If you like any of the other horses in Kentucky Derby odds you should know they have never had a speed figure of 100 or higher and that is almost a death sentence when it comes to winning in Kentucky Derby. Horses that win in Kentucky Derby have almost always had a speed figure of 100 or more in at least one of their previous races.
If you are curious which horse had the top speed figure heading into last year’s Kentucky Derby, it was Street Sense and he won as the second choice in Kentucky Derby. Curlin had the second highest speed figure and he finished third. Surprisingly, Hard Spun had never run a 100 in the past and finished second in Kentucky Derby wagering.