Classic Empire Derby Odds & Preview
Oddsmakers updated their odds for the 2017 Kentucky Derby and Classic Empire has emerged as the new favorite.
Classic Empire a 4/1 Favorite
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, Classic Empire is now 4/1 to win Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Always Dreaming, who was the favorite earlier this week, now has the next-best odds at 17/4 while McCraken is 5/1. Irish War Cry, meanwhile, is 8/1, while Gunnevera is 10/1 and Girvin is 14/1.
An Impressive Resume for Classic Empire
In seven career starts, Classic Empire has five wins, zero second-place showings and one third-place finish. He’s earned $2,120,220 throughout his career and $302,889 per start. Classic Empire has also earned 132 Kentucky Derby points.
Classic Empire looks to follow Street Sense (2007), American Pharoah (2015), and Nyquist (2016) as 2-year-old champion males of this century who have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby as 3-year-olds. He won the Arkansas Derby on April 15 after sitting off the pace initially. Classic Empire also finished third in the Grade 2 Holy Bull and won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November.
Can Leparoux improve on his Derby finishes?
Owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse have appointed Julien Leparoux to ride Classic Empire in the Kentucky Derby. Leparoux’s best finish in the Derby is fifth, which he accomplished in both 2007 and 2015. Oxley does have a Derby win in 2001, when Monarchos wore the roses after finishing with the second-fastest time in Derby history behind Secretariat.
Kentucky Derby Info
The 2017 Kentucky Derby will be the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby and is set for Saturday, May 6, 2017 from Churchill Downs. NBC’s coverage of the Derby will start at 2:30PM ET with the post time set for 6:34PM ET. Harry Connick Jr. will sing the National Anthem.
