In the first race of the Triple Crown of American horse racing, the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, Sierra Leone has emerged as one of the strong favorites.
He had three victories in four races before the Derby, and three more in 1 1/8-mile races, which are extremely similar to the 1 1/4-mile Derby that is run annually at Churchill Downs.
In contrast, Fierceness, another of the all-time favorites, has only ever completed one 1 1/8 mile run. In addition, he has won two of his four races in lesser distances than the Kentucky Derby.
While Fierceness has a betting line of 5-2, Sierra Leone comes in at 3-1, the second shortest in the 2024 Derby, but before you place any wagers, the CBS Sports portal recommends reading the predictions of one of the biggest experts like Jody Demling.
The expert predicted the triumph of winners in Belmont Stakes in four of the last six editions, including an exact one in 2022 with Mo. Donegal and Nido.
Fierceness may be losing momentum heading into the Derby
One of the surprises that Demling gives, is that Fierceness is losing steam, despite being the heavy favorite after winning in the Florida Derby, which recorded the highest speed of any horse for the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Which horses will be in this year’s competition?
Here is the list of horses that will run in the 2024 Kentucky Derby and their respective starting positions:
- Dornoch 20-1
- Sierra Leone 3-1
- Mystik Dan 20-1
- Catching Freedom 8-1
- Catalytic 30-1
- Just Steel 20-1
- Honor Marie 20-1
- Just a Touch 10-1
- Encino 20-1
- T O Password 30-1
- Forever Young 10-1
- Track Phantom 20-1
- West Saratoga 50-1
- Endlessly 30-1
- Domestic Product 30-1
- Grand Mo the First 50-1
- Fierceness 5/2
- Stonghold 20-1
- Resilience 20-1
- Society Man 50-1
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