Just a week remains before the Kentucky Derby settles all the questions. Bodemeister and Union Rags are the two clear favorites to win the race, but sportsbooks are having trouble narrowing it down to just one.
That will probably happen Wednesday after Churchhill Downs officially names its favorite to win the race. The track’s official oddsmaker Mike Battaglia is tasked with that responsibiity, but said he will wait until positions are announced to make his pick.
“If Bodemeister has a bad draw, then it’s got to be Union Rags,” Battaglia told USA TODAY. “And if Union Rags has a bad draw, it would be the other way around.”
The race is expected to have a 20-horse field, and taking the rail would be a really tough spot to win out of.
Bodemeister and Union Rags are currently tied as Bovada’s favorite. The site’s Horse Racing Futures Odds has them bouncing around 4/1 for the last week or so.
Bodemeister and Union Rags are currently tied as Bovada’s favorite. The site’s Horse Racing Futures Odds has them bouncing around 4/1 for the last week or so.
They have been neck and neck for weeks, especially after a great run by Bodemeister in Arkansas. Battaglia said with both horses looking strong, neither horse will be lower than 4-1, meaning serious money can still be won on either horse.
“You are not going to get a short price on anything,” he added.
Making the judgement will include looking at the long history of the race. Union Rags will be unraced at 2, which is a really tough spot to be in. No Derby winner has been that young and inexperienced since 1882 when Apollo did it. Curlin 2007 and Strodes Creek were the only to come close recently, according to the USA Today.
“It will come into play,” Battaglia said. “Everybody knows that statistic. He is so lightly raced, and they’ve asked him to do a lot in a short period of time.”
Bodemeister won by 9 1/2 lengths at the Arkansas Derby, but Battaglia is apparently taking a long look at Union Rags anyways after the colt came in third at the Florida Derby.
“I’m not sure how tight he was for the Florida Derby,” Battaglia said. “That wasn’t their main objective.”