Fast horses and big money are front and center this coming Saturday at Churchill Downs with the much-awaited return of the Kentucky Derby in its traditional schedule. Have you made your picks yet? If not, let the experts help you decide which horse you should lay money on at the 2022 Kentucky Derby.
The experts over at Kentucky Derby.com have come up with a mixed bag of picks, which could be a hint about how wide open the race will be this coming Saturday. While there’s not a unanimous picks among the five five experts, Zandon got the most votes with Kellie Reilly and Scott Shapiro predicting that that the winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes last April will be just as successful this weekend at Churchill Downs.
Sporting News
Expert
High on
Jacob Camenker
Mo Donegal
For Jacob Camenker of Sporting News, he is quite impressed with Mo Donegal’s “closing speed” which he believes is crucial for a race like the Kentucky Derby. Camenker acknowledged Mo Donegal’s habit of having slow starts, but thinks that the horse would make up for it in the latter stage of the race.
Forbes
Expert
Pick
Jay Ginsbach
Zandon
Here’s what Jay Ginsback of Forbes said about Zandon:
“With many of the top Derby prospects preferring to run on or near the lead, he could get the right trip with top jockey Flavien Prat a proven rider in just four Derby starts already winning with longshot Country House and two other in-the-money finishes.”
TopBet
Expert
Pick
TopBet News Editor | Ryan Simpson
Epicenter
In his preview of the 2022 Kentucky Derby, TopBet News Editor Ryan Simpson revealed that he is picking Epicenter to win the race. Here’s what Simpson had to say about Epicenter:
Zandon is the favorite, but not by much. Epicenter is arguably the better horse between the two, considering it’s won four of six career races. Epicenter did not have the explosive start that Zandon had, as the Steven M. Asmussen-trained horse placed sixth in a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs in September 2021, but managed to win its next race on the same track nearly two months later. Epicenter also won both of ist last two starts, topping the field in the Grade 2 Risen Star and in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
