Tiz the Law expected to be a huge favorite for the Derby

Tiz the Law will be the prohibitive favorite when the morning line odds are released for Kentucky Derby 146 on Tuesday, Sept. 1. He'll be less than 2/1, and Tiz the Law could go to post on Saturday, Sept. 5 as the shortest favorite in more than 25 years. 

In an unusual and unsettling year of the COVID-19 crisis that includes the Triple Crown races being contested out of order, Tiz the Law has been a steady influence and undefeated champion in 2020. The son of Constitution trained by Barclay Tagg and ridden by Manny Franco is 4-for-4 this year with major race wins in the Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes - all by at least 3 1/2 lengths as the betting favorite. 

Tiz the Law has given horse racing it's own definition of 'social distancing.' He will do that on the odds board for the 2020 Kentucky Derby as well. Will Tiz the Law go to post at less than Even Money in a 20-horse Kentucky Derby field? 

Some of the leading online sportsbooks are offering fixed odds on horses to win the 2020 Kentucky Derby. BetOnline has Tiz the Law at -110. Art Collector (+700), Honor A.P. (+1000), Authentic (+1200), Thousand Words (+2000) and Ny Traffic (+2000) are the leading contenders looking to take down Tiz the Law. There will be horse match-ups to bet once the odds are released Sept. 1. 

GTBets has Tiz the Law at -115, while Bovada has priced Tiz the Law at -125. BookMaker has the best fixed odds on Tiz the Law at +115, but shorter prices on the other four leading contenders.

Kentucky Derby History and Favorites

The last horse who went to post for the Derby at less than even money was Arazi in 1992. Azari finished eighth. In 1988 Easy Goer (4/5) was a very short price and finished second. The last horse to win the Derby at less than even money was Spectacular Bid (3/5) in 1979 against nine rivals. Spectacular Bid won 26-of-30 starts. Going back further, five other colts failed to win the Derby at less than Even Money including the great Native Dancer against 10 rivals in 1953. Native Dancer won all his other races and finished his career winning 21-of-22 starts. 

Over the past 25 years, the shortest-priced Derby favorites have been:

·        2018: Justify (2.90 – 1) Winner - Triple Crown 
·        2016: Nyquist (2.30 – 1) Winner 
·        2015: American Pharoah (2.90 – 1) Winner – Triple Crown 
·        2014: California Chrome (2.50 – 1) Winner 
·        2008: Big Brown (2.40 – 1) Winner 
·        2001: Point Given (1.80 - 1)  
·        2000: Fusaichi Pegasus (2.30 - 1)
         1994: Holy Bull (2.20 – 1)  

In 2011, Uncle Mo would have been a shorter favorite, but he was scratched prior to the race. 

Racing luck and larger Derby fields with the potential of more traffic trouble still plays a part. So could weather and a sloppy or off track. No fans or spectators at Churchill Downs for the 2020 Kentucky Derby will make for a very different feel and broadcast of the event as well.

But this year's race has a different complexion due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The Derby was moved from May 2 to Sept. 5. The horses are entering with more experience, and some have already run well at the 1 1/4-mile distance, including Tiz the Law when winning the Travers Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths. Travers runner-up Caracaro is improving and will try to win the Derby as a big longshot for his connections and sire - Uncle Mo. 

But bettors will still be online at leading online platforms like TwinSpires - the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby. Twinspires offers handicapping tools and information you can bet on for the Kentucky Derby. 

While the more recent Kentucky Derbys have seen some of the shorter-priced favorites prevail, it's still usually more risk than reward when wagering to win on the prohibitive favorite. Keying the favorite and a few other horses can pay off better in Exacta, Trifecta or Superfecta wagering. 

That proved especially profitable in the 2017 Derby when favorite Always Dreaming (9/2) won the race and longshots Lookin At Lee (33/1) and Battle of Midway (40/1) finished second and third. 

I bet the Kentucky Derby in 2017 and had the winner Always Dreaming who paid $11.40 and also the $2 exacta multiple times. The exacta returned $336. I have a story to tell sometime on how I missed the trifecta with a $40 ticket keying the winner on top. A .50 cent trifecta paid $4,148. 

The Kentucky Derby field has been limited to 20 starters since 1975. At least 20 horses have entered the race since 2004, and the Derby has had at least 18 runners in the race each year since with more than half those years horses being scratched before the race. 

Hopefully Tiz the Law stays healthy and is not scratched so fans can enjoy the race in what could be another record handle for the Derby, with bettors backing Tiz the Law. Last year's Kentucky Derby weathered through a steady late-afternoon rain and the disqualification of the favorite Maximum Security, who crossed the finish line first. But huge longshot Country House (65/1) became the Kentucky Derby winner in a race that saw the all-sources betting handle reach a record $165.5 million. 

I won't be betting Tiz the Law to win America's biggest horse race. But you can watch and wager on the event at leading online sportsbooks. The Run for the Roses and "most exciting two minutes in sports" airs live nationwide on NBC on Saturday, September 5, 2020 beginning at 5:00 p.m. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is at approx. 6:50 p.m. ET. 

I'll find a way to wager a bit on the Derby looking for a score. Art Collector may make my Derby Dreams this year. 

You can bet on it.

FairwayJay is a leading national sports handicapper and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. Read more great insights from Jay here and follow him on Twitter: @FairwayJay