2022 Kentucky Derby Predictions, Picks & Odds (Value All Across The Stable)
The 2022 Kentucky Derby is finally here and BetSided has you covered on every angle.
According to the odds, Zandon and Epicenter are the two favorites, with the rest of the field fighting to get third. However, as you'll read, there is value all across the board. The Derby is an event where anything can happen.
Without further ado, let's get into all the picks and predictions you'll need for the race.
Odds to Win 2022 Kentucky Derby
- Zandon: +300
- Epicenter: +350
- Messier: +800
- White Abarrio: +1000
- Mo Donegal: +1000
- Taiba: +1200
- Smile Happy: +2000
- Crown Pride: +2000
- Charge It: +2000
- Simplification : +2000
- Cyberknife: +2000
- Zozos: +2000
- Happy Jack: +3000
- Summer Is Tomorrow: +3000
- Tiz the Bomb: +3000
- Pioneer of Medina: +3000
- Barber Road: +3000
- Classic Causeway: +3000
- Tawny Port: +3000
- Ethereal Road: +3000
2022 Kentucky Derby Trifecta Picks
Epicenter (+350)
Epicenter has a slight disadvantage by being on the inside three posts. Horses out of the first three posts aren’t normally winners at Churchill Downs, but Epicenter is a little different. He’s won four of his last five races and placed in the race he didn’t win. Epicenter has been good enough as of late to earn my trust to at least get to the podium.
Mo Denegal (+1000)
Mo Denegal is a young Colt. He’s just over three years old and has a lot of hype around him. Mo Denegal is coming off a win at Wood Memorial. Mo Denegal will be running out of the first post – which like I said for Epicenter, isn’t ideal. However, trends and records are meant to be broken. I’m going to support the Colt and back him to show.
Barber Road (+3000)
Of all the dark horses, I like Barber Road to at least show. He’s finished third or higher in every race of his career except in his career. Barber Road finished second to Cyberknife at the Arkansas Derby in April. Barber Road also has one of the higher Beyer speed figures, which is essentially a power rankings for speed. Barber Road is a speedster, so let’s take a chance on him.
Winner: Mo Denegal
2022 Kentucky Derby Dark Horse Pick
Smile Happy +2000
This 2-year-old is among several younger colts to compete in this year’s Run for the Roses. And at 20-1, I think Smile Happy offers the best longshot odds to take the Kentucky Derby. He shares a bloodline with the 2003 winner Funny Cide and has had an impressive year so far. He won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and placed second in both the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and the Risen Star Stakes.
With just two races in 2022, trainer Kenny McPeek is keeping Smile Happy on fresh legs for this event. He did get chased down by Zandon at the Blue Grass Stakes which is not a great sign for his closing speed. He is +2000 for a reason. But, at those odds, Smile Happy is a strong underdog bet for those trying to win big this weekend. – Matt De Saro