Posted on 4/29/2008 1:05:52 PM

Kentucky Derby Betting - Get on BetUS Kentucky Derby Props Early!

By D.S Williamson

Because I am obsessed with horse racing and Kentucky Derby betting, I’ve been running around like a madman in excitement for the Derby to get started- - oh, since the last race on Breeders’ Cup Day. The best thing about the New Year is the fact that two-year old horses become three-year old horses and three-year old horses have a chance to run, and to win, the Kentucky Derby.

I understand that the Triple Crown involves two other races, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes - - don’t worry, I’ll be writing about those two races as well - - but it’s the Kentucky Derby that means the most to BetUS horse racing betting enthusiasts for the simple fact that the Kentucky Derby can provide either a fantastic long-shot - - like Giacomo in 2005 - - or our first real glimpse at a special horse like Silver Charm in 1997.

Either way the betting opportunities are ludicrous. I mean, I pretty much nailed the cold exacta in the Kentucky Derby last year when Street Sense beat Hard Spun. I nailed it for over $100 dollars. Yes, those two horses paid out an online exacta wager of over $100. So, even if you think Big Brown is as good as his fans are saying, you can make a lot of money by finding the second, third, and fourth place finishers in the Derby.

You can also make a lot of money betting on the Pick-3. The BetUS racebook offers Pick-3, Pick-4 and Pick-6 wagering, just like any traditional track. I doubt a single Pick-3 this Saturday at Churchill Downs will pay less then $500 for two dollars. Get in on the action!

By the way, my one serious piece of advice to everybody is to decide on either taking Big Brown and the low odds or finding a serious long-shot. Forget about Colonel John in the Derby. His odds are going to be too low. Who do I like to upset Big Brown this Saturday? There are two candidates. First, there is Visionnaire who comes out of the Michael Matz barn. His BetUS racebook odds are currently 40 to 1. Then, there is the filly Eight Belles who is 30 to 1 in the BetUS racebook. She has every right to be in the race and has every right to make her presence felt come Saturday.

Right now BetUS is offering a number of props on the Kentucky Derby. It’s important to analyze a lot of these prop bets before this Saturday. By Saturday, you should be thinking about how you will construct your Pick-3, Pick-4, Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta wagers. Then, you need to fix yourself a cold one, turn on your computer, and log into the BetUS racebook.

These are the prop bets that I have put some of my own money on. As you can see, there are a lot of choices!

BetUS Online Sportsbook Kentucky Derby Prop Bets

Which race will pay more? The odds on the Kentucky Derby is 2 to 3. The odds on the Kentucky Oaks is 6 /5.

This is actually easy money in my eyes. Why? Because the best horse that is supposed to run in the Kentucky Oaks, Eight Belles, will most likely run in the Kentucky Derby. That means that the Oaks is wide open. This bet is especially nice for those individuals who believe that Big Brown, who should go off close to 8 to 5, will win the Derby easily. Get on this now before Eight Belles’ connections say for sure that they are going to run in the Derby!

Will Big Brown’s odds at post time be more or less than 7/2? If you think more, then you can get 8/5. If you think less, then you get 1 to 2.

This is easy money as well. But you’re going to have to take half of what you put up as profit in this wager. There is absolutely no way that Big Brown goes off at 7 to 2 or higher. None. Zero. On paper, he’s heads and tails above any of these horses. The nice thing about this prop is that Big Brown could throw his jock as soon as the gates open and you still win.

Will the Derby winner capture the Preakness Stakes? If you think yes, you can get 3 to 1. If you think no, then the odds are 1 to 4.

This prop once again depends on Big Brown. If you believe in the horse, then you believe that he can win the Preakness. Street Sense would have won the Preakness last year but Curlin is just a monster of a horse. A lot of horses have won the Derby and have then gone on to win the Preakness. I really like the 3 to 1 odds in this prop.

Will there be a Triple Crown winner in 2008? The BetUS online sportsbook odds are 20 to 1.

This, my friends, is the year! I’ve been against Richard Dutrow’s charge, Big Brown, for a while now, but if there ever is a horse that can win the Triple Crown, in the perfect year for him to do it, it’s this year. Big Brown probably isn’t on the same level as either Street Sense or Curlin. Unfortunately for those two, they got the pleasure of beating each other up last year. Not this year. With the exception of Pyro, there isn’t a horse in this field that’s deserving of your money save for Big Brown. I’m putting money on Brown to win the Triple Crown. That’s pretty much what this bet is saying. If Brown is upset on Saturday, then forget it. I don’t care who wins the Derby if it isn’t Big Brown. That horse won’t win the Triple Crown. But Big Brown? He just might be good enough.

Keep checking the Locker Room all through the Triple Crown season, as we will cover the trainers, horses and jockeys in each race. You can get your early Kentucky Derby Odds at Churchill Downs bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook in the Future / props section, under Horse Futures: 2008 Kentucky Derby Betting.