Kentucky Derby Morning Line Odds by Mike Battaglia: Contenders, odds, predictions

Kentucky Derby Morning Line Favorites:

Mike Battaglia has been Churchill Downs’ morning line odds maker for 46 years since 1974. The 2020 Kentucky Derby will mark oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s 47th year assigning morning line odds to the Kentucky Derby field.

Sunrise at Churchill Downs – Courtesy of Churchill Downs/Coady Photography.

Morning line odds, which are odds given to horses in a race prior to the start of betting as a prediction how the linemaker thinks the public will bet and are assigned at post position draw.

Battaglia has correctly predicted the Derby favorite at a 78 percent clip and is 36-for-46.

Morning line odds were first published in the official Kentucky Derby Day program in 1949, though records prior to 1949 are incomplete.

Battaglia’s winning morning-line favorites, since his first year in 1974:

Justify, 2018:                                       3-1       2.90-1

Nyquist, 2016                                      3-1       2.30-1

American Pharoah, 2015                    5-2       2.90-1

California Chrome, 2014                     5-2       2.50-1

Orb, 2013                                            7-2       5.40-1

Big Brown, 2008                                  3-1       2.40-1

Fusaichi Pegasus, 2000                       9-5       2.30-1

Spectacular Bid, 1979                         3-5       0.60-1

Seattle Slew, 1977                              1-2       0.50-1

Foolish Pleasure, 1975                        9-5       1.90-1

Cannonade/Judger,1974                    8-5       1.50-1

Pre-Battaglia morning line favorites to have won, 1949-1973

Secretariat/Angle Light, 1973             1-1       1.50-1

Riva Ridge, 1972                                 9-5       1.50-1

Majestic Prince, 1969                         7-5       1.40-1

Carry Back, 1961                                 5-2       2.50-1

Tim Tam, 1958                                    8-5       2.10-1

Needles, 1956                                     2-1       1.60-1

Hill Gail/Top Blend, 1952                    6-5       1.10-1

Kentucky Derby 2020 Morning Line odds and Post Positions

The Draw will be held on September 1st at 10:45 ET.

Kentucky Derby Field: