Ohio Derby 2021 Odds, Entries & Post Positions
The Grade III Ohio Derby was on the elongated Road to the Kentucky Derby last year but this year we are back to normal.
An intriguing field of 11 have been entered for the race and our editor takes us through some of the betting favorites ahead of handicapping the race later in the week...
- Post Position
- Name of Horse
- Morning Line Odds
Post Position
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
- 9.
- 10.
- 11.
Name of Horse
- Promise Keeper
- Falcons Fury
- Hozier
- King Fury
- Ethical Judgement
- Hello Hot Rod
- The Reds
- Keepmeinmind
- Proxy
- Masqueparade
- Channel Fury
Morning Line Odds
- 7-2
- 30-1
- 12-1
- 9-2
- 8-1
- 15-1
- 6-1
- 4-1
- 5-1
- 8-1
- 20-1
With four runners entered who showed themselves well on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, it may be a bit of a surprise that none of them have been installed as the Morning Line favorite for Saturday’s Ohio Derby at Thistledown.
That honor belongs to Todd Pletcher’s Promise Keeper (7-2) who is coming off of a nice win in the Grade III Peter Pan at Belmont Park in early May. The Constitution colt has a wonderful pedigree with Tapit on top and Curlin on the bottom but came 12th in his only Kentucky Derby Prep Race - in the Tampa Bay Derby.
King Fury was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby with a fever. Early reports had him coming back potentially for the Preakness but trainer Kenny McPeek decided to play the long-game with the son of Curlin with the Jim Dandy and Travers on deck for later in the summer. A 9-2 shot will garner plenty of support for a horse who looked to be getting better with every race and won last time out at the Lexington Stakes.
Hozier was runner-up to Concert Tour at the Grade II Rebel Stakes but a sixth place finish at the Arkansas Derby led to his connections not pursuing a Triple Crown race. He was second last time out on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico in the Sir Barton Stakes.
Keepmeinmind for Robertino Diodoro nearly raced in all three Triple Crown races but was a late scratch from the Belmont. Seventh in the Derby was followed by fourth in the Preakness. His three-year-old campaign has been decidedly mixed but will get plenty of looks as the 4-1 second choice on the Morning Line here.
Proxy was the fourth horse to make a serious impression on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Michael Stidham’s Tapit colt was a surprising fourth at the Lexington in April - and not surprising in a good way. A win that day would surely have set up a go around Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May but instead he’s been freshened up and will be among the favorites when the pools open.
11 have been entered and I’ll be back on Friday with my preview and handicapping ahead of the Grade III Ohio Derby at Thistledown...