Kentucky Derby 2022: Epicenter, Taiba the favorites in early betting
Epicenter and Taiba were vying for favoritism in early Kentucky Derby betting as of 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Epicenter and Taiba both were 5-1, while Messier and Mo Donegal were 7-1 and morning-line favorite Zandon was 8-1.
Taiba, the Santa Anita Derby winner, will be bidding to become the first horse in modern racing history to win the Derby in his third start, while Epicenter’s resume includes romping wins in the Risen Star Stakes and the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. Messier was second in the Santa Anita Derby, while Zandon won the Blue Grass after finishing third in the Risen Star. Mo Donegal nipped Zandon in the Remsen late last year and won the Wood Memorial in his most recent race.
Other than Zandon’s relatively high price, there were no huge surprises in the early win betting. Charge It, second in the Florida Derby with a troubled trip, was taking some action at 12-1, while Florida Derby winner White Abarrio was 11-1. Smile Happy, runner-up in the Risen Star and the Blue Grass, was 14-1, Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife was 15-1, and the Japanese horse, Crown Pride, was 17-1. The rest of the horses were 23-1 or longer.