2024 Kentucky Derby Picks: Track Phantom, West Saratoga, Endlessly

by BettingPros Staff |
May 03, 2024

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious and highly-anticipated events in the world of horse racing. Held annually on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby attracts horse racing enthusiasts from all over the world. The Derby is a 1 1/4 mile race for three-year-old thoroughbreds and is often referred to as "the most exciting two minutes in sports." Letâ€™s take a look at the current 2024 Kentucky Derby odds, post positions, and expert advice for Track Phantom, West Saratoga, and Endlessly heading into the 150th Run for the Roses.

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2023 Kentucky Derby Predictions: Track Phantom

Post Position: 12
Odds: 20-1

Track Phantom rattled off three victories from November's maiden victory to December's Gun Runner Stakes (LS) and culminating in a victory at the Lecomte Stakes (G3). All three races were 1 1.6 miles. Finished 2nd to Sierra Leone in the Risen Star (G2) back in February at 1 1/8 mile but finished 4th at Louisiana Derby when stretched to 1 3/16 so not sure how he will handle the further stretch to the Derby's 1 1/4 mile length.

Great pedigree with Quality Road his sire and Into Mischief his damsire. Could surprise and finish in exotics but likely not enough in the tank for the distance.

â€“ Luke Monaldo

Bet: Use in Exotics

2023 Kentucky Derby Predictions: West Saratoga

Post Position: 13
Odds: 50-1

West Saratoga has never won a race over 1 mile and his best finish in a dirt distance race was earlier this year then he finished 3rd with just an 83 spreed rating in the Sam F. David Stakes (G3). Son of Exaggerator, former Preakness winner, who was also a mudder who rode the relatively dry inside track to Preakness glory back in 2016.

Uncle Mo is his damesire and you have to go 5 generations back but he has Storm Cat blood on his mother's side as well which has been rumored to carry the "big heart" gene that Secretariat had, so maybe toss him here but see what he can do against the big dogs and then revisit if he runs the more arduous and lengthy Belmont next month. Only gray horse in the field, if that's your sort of thing.

â€“ Luke Monaldo

Bet: Toss, Use in Back End of Exotics

2023 Kentucky Derby Predictions: Endlessly

Post Position: 14
Odds: 30-1

Endlessly heads to Churchill Downs with five wins in six career appearances, his most recent being a win at the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. While Endlessly brings an accomplished resume into Louisville, the horse and his team is relatively inexperienced. For starters, Endlessly has never run on dirt, running on turf in four races and the synthetic in his most recent appearances.

This will be trainer Michael McCarthy's first Derby horse, and jockey Umberto Rispoli only has a 14th-place finish in 2021 on his resume. While you can't discount Endlessly's closing speed, this horse could be overmatched in its first trip on the dirt.

â€“ Matt Barbato

Bet: Use in Back End of Exotics

2024 Kentucky Derby Horse Previews, Picks & Predictions

Check out our previews for every horse competing in the 2024 Kentucky Derby and our expert analysis on the best bets for this year's Run for the Roses.

Kentucky Derby Post Positions & Odds

Post Position	Horse	Trainer Name	Jockey Name	Odds
1	Dornoch	Danny Gargan	Luis Saez	20-1
2	Sierra Leone	Chad Brown	Tyler Gaffalione	3-1
3	Mystik Dan	Kenny McPeek	Brian Hernandez Jr.	20-1
4	Catching Freedom	Brad Cox	Flavien Prat	8-1
5	Catalytic	Saffie Joseph Jr.	Jose Ortiz	30-1
6	Just Steel	D. Wayne Lukas	Keith Asmussen	20-1
7	Honor Marie	Whit Beckman	Ben Curtis	20-1
8	Just a Touch	Brad Cox	Florent Geroux	10-1
9	~~Encino~~	~~Brad Cox~~	~~Axel Concepcion~~	~~20-1~~
10	T O Password	Daisuke Takayanagi	Kazushi Kimura	30-1
11	Forever Young	Yoshito Yahagi	Ryusei Sakai	10-1
12	Track Phantom	Steve Asmussen	Joel Rosario	20-1
13	West Saratoga	Larry Demeritte	Jesus Castanon	50-1
14	Endlessly	Michael McCarthy	Umberto Rispoli	30-1
15	Domestic Product	Chad Brown	Irad Ortiz Jr.	30-1
16	Grand Mo the First	Victor Barboza Jr.	Emisael Jaramillo	50-1
17	Fierceness	Todd Pletcher	John Velazquez	5-2
18	Stronghold	Phil D'Amato	Antonio Fresu	20-1
19	Resilience	Bill Mott	Junior Alvarado	20-1
20	Society Man	Danny Gargan	Frankie Dettori	50-1
21*	Epic Ride	John Ennis	Adam Beschizza	50-1
22*	Mugatu	Jeff Engler	Joe Talamo	50-1

* Epic Ride is replacing Encino. Mugatu would replace any other scratches ahead of the weekend.

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