American Pharoah Now at 3-1 Odds For Best Payout Potential Yet

Sportsbook.ag has pushed American Pharoah’s odds to within a few cents of 3-1 late afternoon Saturday just hours before the big race.

Dortmund was still hanging around +450 while Carpe Diem was coming in with the next shortest odds of 8-1.  Firing Line had jumped up to 8-1 late in the day on Saturday.

The Miami Herald offered its assessment of this year’s Kentucky Derby favorite:

Pros - As dominant as any top-class 3-year-old has been at this time of the year in decades. American Pharoah won his last four starts by a combined 22 1/4 lengths with distances ranging from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. Showed he can rate as he sat behind the cheap speed in the Arkansas Derby.

Cons - The Derby will be the first time in 2015 he will be facing top-notch competition and he might have to adjust his running style because he is not bred to shine at 1 1/4 miles. Is one of two horses in the field not to have Turn-To somewhere in his pedigree (El Kabeir is the other). He also sports Storm Cat as his dam's grandsire and his tail-female line is extremely speed- oriented.

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.cmo