Longshot horses are contenders who are less likely to win. Despite having a lower chance of winning, longshots are still vital contenders from the punter’s point of view. Betting on a longshot means minimal losses if the longshot you wager fails to win. However, if the longshot horse you choose wins, you will gain a considerable payout.
It is why many punters are still betting on multiple longshot horses, intending to increase their chances of winning huge wins. If you plan to test your luck and place your money on the 2023 Kentucky Derby longshot contenders, you might want to look at these thoroughbreds below.
Sun Thunder
The first among the longshot FanDuel’s Kentucky derby contenders is Sun Thunder. He ranks 14th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 54 qualifying points. He is a 3-year-old colt trained by Kenneth McPeek and is the offspring of Into Mischief.
Sun Thunder entered four derby prep races but hasn’t won a single race. His best derby prep race was the Risen Star, where he finished second place to Angel of Empire. Sun Thunder only won once in the MSW race throughout his racing career.
His recent race was the Blue Grass Stakes last April 8, where he finished fourth. He currently holds 85-1 odds, which means betting on Sun Thunder will earn you $85 for every $1 you bet.
Blazing Sevens
Another longshot Kentucky Derby contender is Blazing Sevens, holding the 17th spot on the lower part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He earned 46 qualifying points by winning his first derby prep race, the Champagne Stakes.
After that, he attempted to dominate three other derby prep races: the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Fountain of Youth Stakes, and the Blue Grass Stakes. However, Blazing Sevens failed to win these three other races, making him one of the longshot contenders of the 2023 Kentucky Derby with 66-1 odds.
Chad Brown trains Blazing Sevens and is the offspring of Good Magic, who has shown amazing race performances during his racing days. If you are looking for a second longshot contender for the derby, look into Blazing Sevens.
Lord Miles
Lord Miles is the new entry to the 2023 Kentucky Derby list of hopefuls after he stunned everyone with his victory in the Wood Memorial Race, the third and last 200-point qualifying Kentucky Derby race.
The first two derby prep races he joined were far from successful. He finished 6th in the Holy Bull Stakes and 5th in the Tampa Bay Derby. That’s why the Wood Memorial Race shocked punters and fans, as Lord Miles entered the race as a longshot contender with 58-1 odds.
Lord Miles’ win on his final attempt to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby race is a good example that longshot horses also have the potential to win, even if the odds are against their favor.
Mage
Mage is a name that is somewhat unknown among punters and experts, but he still qualifies for the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Mage only participated in two derby prep races but hasn’t won a single event.
The best he got was second place in the Florida Derby last April 1. It’s also why he is among the list of longshots with 75-1 Kentucky Derby odds. Looking through Mage’s race record, he only raced three times since he started his career. He won the MSW race he entered and crossed the finish line fourth on the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
Experts believe that Mage lost the Fountain of Youth Stakes due to inexperience. True enough, he entered the said race with only the MSW race as his only race experience. It was noted that Mage didn’t break well in the race and hasn’t adapted to the new station quickly.
Verifying
The last longshot derby contender that you should watch out for is Verifying. Verifying is trained by the Eclipse Award winner horse trainer Brad Cox. He is also the offspring of the Triple Crown Winner Justify.
Despite Verifying’s bloodline and human connection, he hasn’t won a single derby prep race that he joined. Verifying acquired his 54 qualifying points by winning second on the Blue Grass Stakes, fourth on Rebel Stakes, and second on Champagne Stakes. He also finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
However, it isn’t the end of the road as it is only the beginning of the main event, the Kentucky Derby. Verifying could still win the derby with 36-1 odds. Who knows, maybe he is only a late bloomer and will surprise us on race day.
Final Words
There is no guarantee in horse racing. The favourite could have a high chance of winning according to the data you gather, but when opportunity and luck strike among longshot horses, the table could turn dramatically. Therefore, you shouldn’t neglect the importance of the underdogs in the Kentucky Derby race this year, as they, too, can possibly win.
