Kentucky Derby Longshots: Horses With The Best Odds Of An Upset Win In 2022

Because betting on one of the favorites to win the 2022 Kentucky Derby doesn’t provide much value, plenty of bettors will be looking for a long-shot pick in Saturday’s race. If recent history is any indication, the 148th Run for the Roses could feature an upset win.

The winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Mandaloun, had 26-1 odds shortly before the race. Country Horse had north of 60-1 odds as the 2019 Kentucky Derby winner. With 16 horses having 20-1 odds or higher, there are plenty of potential long shots in the 2022 field, which means a great opportunity for bettors.

Zandon opened as the betting favorite with 3-1 odds, followed by Epicenter at 7-2. Messier is the only other horse with better than 10-1 odds.

Here’s a look at three long-shot bets to consider making for the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

Charge It: 20-1

In trying to find a long-shot bet, there is some buzz surrounding Charge It to pull off a surprising win. Charge It finished in second place at the Florida Derby on April 2. The horse has only competed in three races since debuting in January. Charge It’s speed has made up for inexperience with two second-place finishes and a victory.

Zozos: 20-1

Of the five experts who made picks at KentuckyDerby.com, four predicted a horse with 10-1 odds or better to be Saturday’s winner. The only exception was handicapper James Scully, who picked Zozos to finish in first place. Zozos is led by a group that’s had recent success at the Derby. Trainer Brad Cox trained Mandaloun and Essential Quality, which finished first and third, respectively, at last year’s Derby. Jockey Manny Franco rode Tiz the Law to a second-place finish in the 2020 Derby.

Barber Road: 30-1

If you’re going to take a shot on one of the several horses tied with 30-1 odds, Barber Road might be your best option. With a strong chance of rain during the day Saturday, the conditions at Churchill Downs could be sloppy. Barber Road came in second place at the Smarty Jones on New Year’s Day, giving it the best finish of any horse in the field on a sloppy track, according to Jon Hale of The Courier-Journal.