2013 Kentucky Derby Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Early Favorites to Win the 139th Kentucky Derby

2013 Kentucky Derby Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Favorites and Sleepers to Win the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs: We are less than a week away from the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby, and while storylines are sure to swirl throughout the week as the horses take to the track for practice and warm-ups, it is never too early to familiarize yourself with the potential favorites. Keep in mind that there are several prep races for the Kentucky Derby that have already been held, and although success in these races doesn’t guarantee success at Churchill Downs, there does tend to be a correlation. With that in mind, here is a first look at the horses that could have what it takes to win the first leg of the Triple Crown Saturday.

1.      Verrazano: All this horse has done is won races. Verrazano has crossed the finish line first in all four of his starts, and all four victories have come on dirt surfaces. Not to mention the fact that he has a pair of statement wins under his belt, having emerged victorious in the Tampa Bay Derby and the Wood Memorial Stakes. In both those events, Verrazano defeated horses that are slated to run at Churchilll Downs. Granted, the Kentucky Derby will be by far the toughest test and biggest stage that Verrazano has faced, but it’s tough to argue with what he has accomplished so far.

2.      Orb: After winning in his final start of 2012, this horse has been unstoppable in 2013. Orb is a perfect three-for-three this year with one of the wins coming in the Florida Derby. During his four-race winning streak, the horse has won from multiple starting spots and has been able to thrive by setting the pace and by charging late. Throw in the fact that Orb already has multiple wins on dirt surfaces under his belt, and it is easy to understand why bettors need to keep a close eye on Orb in the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

3.      Revolutionary: Consistency has been this horse’s calling card, and more importantly, Revolutionary seems to keep better. He hasn’t finished worse than third in six starts, and he has been victorious in his last three races. Revolutionary is a perfect two-for-two in 2013, including his most-recent win in the Louisiana Derby. Factor in the three-race winning streak along with the fact that this horse really hasn’t had a bad race yet, and there is reason to be optimistic about his chances Saturday. At the very least, Revolutionary is looking like a horse bettors will want to include in any trifecta.

4.      Goldencents: While this horse has been making headlines in part because his co-owner is Louisville Cardinals’ coach Rick Pitino, Goldencents’ performance on the track can stand on its own. In six starts, the horse has collected four wins, including three in his last four races. Perhaps most importantly, Goldencents’ last win came in the Santa Anita Derby. With a big win in one of the Grade 1 derby prep races on top of an already impressive resume, all signs point to this horse being the real deal. Goldencents could definitely be a factor in the Run for the Roses.

5.      Will Take Charge: Of the horses entered in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, Will Take Charge is definitely not the most consistent. Despite the up and down performances in seven career starts, this horse does have three wins. More importantly, two of those victories have come in his last three starts, including a win in the Rebel Stakes in his most-recent outing. Will Take Charge is somewhat of a wild card, but as the week goes on, bettors will definitely want to keep his name in mind to see how he is running.