Kentucky Derby Picks 2022: Predictions and Odds for All Horses Before 148th Race

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The 2022 Kentucky Derby field does not have an overwhelming favorite. 

As of Saturday, five horses were listed below 10-1 on the morning line. 

Epicenter and Zandon have had low odds all week, while Taiba, Messier and Mo Donegal have dropped on the odds board throughout the week. 

Each of the five horses could stake a claim to being the main favorite when the gates drop at Churchill Downs. 

There is always a chance that a long shot horse surprises the field, but the quality of the top horses may make it hard for a lesser-known horse to cross the line in first place. 

Kentucky Derby Odds

Odds via KentuckyDerby.com

1. Mo Donegal (8-1)

2. Happy Jack (21-1)

3. Epicenter (5-1)

4. Summer is Tomorrow (42-1)

5. Smile Happy (14-1)

6. Messier (7-1)

7. Crown Pride (17-1)

8. Charge It (13-1)

9. Tiz the Bomb (25-1)

10. Zandon (8-1)

11. Pioneer of Medina (47-1)

12. Taiba (5-1)

13. Simplification (40-1)

14. Barber Road (40-1)

15. White Abarrio (11-1)

16. Cyberknife (14-1)

17. Classic Causeway (67-1)

18. Tawny Port (67-1)

19. Zozos (39-1)

20. Rich Strike (99-1) 

Predictions

All of the five horses with low odds have at least one horse between themselves and another favorite on the starting lineup. 

Mo Donegal drew the inside lane and he could get out fast along the rail. He comes into Kentucky off a victory at the Wood Memorial on April 9. 

Mo Donegal has two wins and a third-place finish in his last three starts. A similar set of results belong the other horses to watch. 

Epicenter owns four victories in his last five starts. He won the Louisiana Derby on March 26, so he has some extra rest compared to the other favorites. 

Epicenter won at three different distances. The triumphs at 1 1/6, 1 1/8 and 1 3/4 miles could help him settle in. 

Mo Donegal and Epicenter may be involved in a fight for the inside position. The loser of that potential battle may have a harder pursuit of the top places. 

Messier might have the best starting conditions of the favored quintet. The two horses to his left and right all have odds above 13-1. 

Messier has one win and two second-place finishes on his resume since December. He took second at the Santa Anita Derby behind Taiba. 

Taiba has the least experience of the favored horses, but he looked strong at Santa Anita on April 9 and he could be a factor right off the bat with his speed. 

Zandon starts right in the middle of the pack from post No. 10. He won the Blue Grass Stakes on April 9. He has three consecutive top-three finishes on his resume. 

At least a few, or all, of those horses should be contention for first place during the final few lengths of the race. 

Crown Pride is likely the best long shot to back. The Japanese horse won the UAE Derby and he will try to end the poor trend of UAE Derby participants at Churchill Downs. No horse that competed in the UAE Derby finished in the top three at the Kentucky Derby.

Crown Pride worked out at Churchill Downs for a few weeks and he has a decent starting position next to Messier. 

A case could be made for any top horse, but look for Taiba to feel comfortable from the start with some potential pace-setters around him.

Taiba is the fastest horse scheduled to start from Post No. 12 on and he could use his speed to power past weaker horses and into the lead while other favorites have to go head-to-head with contenders out of the gate. 

Prediction

1. Taiba

2. Mo Donegal

3. Crown Pride

4. Epicenter

5. Messier

6. Zandon

7. Cyberknife

8. White Abarrio

9. Smile Happy

10. Happy Jack

11. Pioneer of Medina

12. Simplification

13. Barber Road

14. Zozos

15. Summer of Tomorrow

16. Charge It

17. Tiz the Bomb

18. Classic Causeway

19. Tawny Port

20. Rich Strike