Justify Can’t Shake Mendelssohn

Justify and Mendelssohn remain 4/1 co-favorites at press time to win the Kentucky Derby this Saturday at Churchill Downs. Audible (6/1), Magnum Moon (8/1), Bolt d’Oro (9/1) and Good Magic (11/1) are all very much in contention. The post-position draw for the Derby is Tuesday at 11 AM ET. Make a Derby Bet at Bovada with a 50% free bonus bet.

It’s anything but clear sailing for Justify at this year’s Kentucky Derby. After briefly taking the lead at 3/1 on the horse racing futures market, Justify has slipped back to 4/1, once again making him the co-favorite with Mendelssohn. Audible has improved from 13/2 to 6/1; Magnum Moon (8/1), Bolt d’Oro (9/1) and Good Magic (11/1) round out the top contenders for Saturday’s big race.

Justify was the talk of the town after an impressive 7-furlong workout at Santa Anita Park, but with so many horses putting in quality performances on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Bob Baffert-trained colt is anything but a sure bet. Mendelssohn is something of an enigma; he’s been preparing in Ireland with trainer Aidan O’Brien, and might not work at Churchill Downs until Thursday – provided the horse clears quarantine first.

Meanwhile, bettors looking for a dark horse have flocked towards Hofburg (16/1), who put in his final workout Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. The son of three-time leading sire Tapit only has one graded stakes under his saddle, finishing second to Audible at the Grade 1 Florida Derby, but Hofburg has the earmarks of a must-add for Kentucky Derby trifectas and superfectas.