Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders: Monday Betting Odds, Current Field For Upcoming Race

The Kentucky Derby is just five days away and a clear favorite has yet to emerge for the May 6 race at Churchill Downs in Louisville. This year's parity has mostly quieted any Triple Crown talk after American Pharoah ended a 37-year drought in 2015 and after Nyquist entered the 2016 Derby as the favorite and then won with the 13th-fastest time ever.

According to betting site Bovada.lv, Classic Empire and Always Dreaming share 4/1 odds, but are not far ahead of Irish War Cry (13/2) and McCracken (7/1).

On Friday afternoon, Classic Empire and Always Dreaming were 5/1 favorites, while Irish War Cry was at 13/2 and McCracken came in at 9/1.

"I think it's as wide open as we've seen in a long time," trainer Dale Romans told the Los Angeles Times.

Classic Empire, trained by Mark Casse, has five wins out of seven starts and won the Arkansas Derby on April 15. His victories include two wins at Churchill Downs, with the Maiden Special Race in May 2016 and then in July 2016 at the Bashford Manor Stakes.

Always Dreaming, trained by Todd Pletcher, has won three consecutive races, including a win at the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 1.

But McCracken, who suffered a minor ankle injury on Feb. 28, might be a thoroughbred to keep an eye on. Three top experts—John Asher, Jill Byrne and Kellie Reilly—picked McCracken, trained by Ian Wilkes, to win the Derby.

2017 Kentucky Derby Odds (according to Bovada.lv)

Classic Empire 4/1

Always Dreaming 4/1

Irish War Cry 13/2

McCraken 7/1

Gunnevera 12/1

Gormley 16/1

Practical Joke 16/1

Thunder Snow 16/1

Girvin 16/1

Hence 22/1

Irap 25/1

Tapwrit 25/1

Lookin At Lee 28/1

Battle of Midway 28/1

J Boys Echo 33/1

Sonneteer 33/1

Patch 40/1

State Of Honor 40/1

Untrapped 50/1

Fast and Accurate 66/1

Royal Mo 33/1