Kentucky Derby Futures Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2022 Kentucky Derby Futures Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2022 Kentucky Derby is set for May 7 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Kentucky Derby Futures Preview
- Race: Kentucky Derby
- Purse: $3 million
- Track: Churchill Downs
- Date: May 7, 2022
- Post Time: 6:57 PM (ET)
- Live: Kentucky Derby Futures Odds: Click Here
2022 Kentucky Derby Futures Handicapping
Every year almost 400 thoroughbred horses are nominated to run in the Kentucky Derby, but ultimately no more than 20 of those will make it to the starting gate in May.
From mid-September to mid-April, nominated horses will run in a series of qualifying races dubbed “The Road to the Kentucky Derby.” There are 48 races in all, most of which are run in the US, but also include a handful of races in the UK, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
Typically any one horse will run in 1 to 4 of these races, and in the end the 20 with the most points will qualify to make the 1 1/4 miles Run for the Roses.
Months before the big race, sports books like Bovada offer future bet odds on these horses. Each week here at Capperspicks, we will take a look at four of these potential Derby champions.
Future odds listed here are provided by Bovada’s racebook at the time of posting.
2022 Kentucky Derby Futures Free Pick & Handicapping: Slow Down Andy Race Odds: 20-1
Slow Down Andy makes his debut in the top 10 of the Derby future bets list based off a win last Saturday in the (G2) Los Alamitos Futurity. He broke last out of the gate and managed to pass four rivals to win by 1 length over Messier, also on the futures list at 20-1.
The connections of owner Reddam Racing, trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Guiterrez are no strangers to Derby success, having teamed up to win the big race in 2012 with I’ll Have Another and in 2016 with Nyquist.
Pedigree: Sire Nyquist won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and then the 2016 Kentucky Derby, becoming only the second horse to complete the Juvenile/Derby double. Grandsire Uncle Mo also won the BC Juvenile in 2010 and ran 10th in the 2011 BC Classic.
Possible next start: (G3) Robert B Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, February 5.
2022 Kentucky Derby Futures Free Pick & Handicapping: Howling Time Race Odds: 50-1
Howling Time has started three straight races at Churchill Downs and won two of them. After breaking his maiden at first asking he ran very well to come from just off the pace and power down the stretch to win the Street Sense Stakes by more than three lengths.
Last out he went right to the lead but then faded down the stretch to finish fifth in the (G2) Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes as the second favourite in the betting.
Pedigree: Sire Not This Time only raced four times, winning the (G3) Iroquois Stakes and then ran second in the 2016 BC Juvenile, the last race of his career. Grandsire Giant’s Causeway was a multiple Group 1 stakes winner on turf in the UK, and ran second in the 2000 BC Classic in his only start on dirt.
Possible next start: Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, January 1.
2022 Kentucky Derby Futures Free Pick & Handicapping: Gunite Race Odds: 60-1
Gunite already has six starts to his name with five in-the-money finishes and two wins. Included in those is a very good performance in winning the (G1) Hopeful Stakes where he overcame a rough start to set very quick fractions and win by more than five lengths.
That race was only at seven furlongs and he couldn’t repeat the effort next out when stretching out to a mile against a very good field in the (G1) Champagne Stakes, finishing fifth.
Pedigree: Sire Gun Runner was third in the 2016 Kentucky Derby, but ended his career by winning five straight Grade 1 stakes, including the 2017 BC Classic. Grandsire Candy Ride was unbeaten in his short six-race career, winning three in his native Argentine and then three more on US soil, including the 2003 (G1) Pacific Classic.
Possible next start: Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct Race Track, January 1.
2022 Kentucky Derby Futures Free Pick & Handicapping: Major General Race Odds: 60-1
Major General has only raced twice and has won them both, scoring his maiden victory at Saratoga in a 6 1/2 furlong sprint. He then came back to win the (G3) Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, holding on to win by a neck going 1 1/16 miles, in a race that came back with a fairly slow time.
That race was back on September 18 and he hasn’t run since, so there is some question as to how he will progress going forward.
Pedigree: Sire Constitution was a two-time Grade 1 winner at 1 1/8 miles. Grandsire Uncle Mo won the 2010 BC Juvenile and was 10th in the 2011 BC Classic.
Possible next start: Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, January 1.
Here’s My 2022 Kentucky Derby Futures Free Pick.
We’re starting to get deep into the list of potential Derby winners as reflected by the big odds – and possible big payoffs.
In this crop of four I’d give the edge to Howling Time. Although his finishing position in the Kentucky Jockey Club was a disappointment, it may just indicate he does not run as well on the lead as he does from coming from a bit off the pace. The previous two wins on the Churchill dirt are positive signs.
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