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Danon Bourbon pays out $1300 for every $100 bet to win the Kentucky Derby
While a Japanese-trained horse has yet to win the Kentucky Derby, his performance at the Fukuryu was the fastest in that race's 27-year history
Danon Bourbon is listed at 13-1 odds to win this year's Kentucky Derby.
From the Courier Journal::
Danon Bourbon is an undefeated (3-for-3) Japanese contender for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, having qualified via the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Bred in Kentucky but racing in Japan, he is a son of Maxfield who won the Fukuryu Stakes on March 28, 2026, by 3½ lengths. He is noted for his tactical speed and dominant, wide-margin victories, posing a significant challenge in the 2026 field.
A win would result in Danon Bourbon becoming the first Japanese horse to ever taste victory in the Kentucky Derby.
But this horse stands out in that his time of 1:50.9 over 1,800 meters (approximately 1 1/8 miles) in the Fukuryu was the fastest in the 27-year history of the race.
The Japanese-trained horse Forever Young came close to winning the Kentucky Derby in 2024. He was part of a three-horse photo finish but was third among this mix, missing the first place finish by just a nose.
Other Pros
- He has faced elite horses with little issue.
- Has raced effectively at 1 1/8+ miles, closer to Derby distance.
- Incredible stamina.
Other Cons
- Horses coming through Dubai historically struggle in the Kentucky Derby.
- Transport issues are always challenging.
- Hasn’t directly faced most of the top U.S. Derby horses.
2026 Kentucky Derby Odds to Win
All odds courtesy of BetOnline Here
As of Thursday April 30 8:28 am EDT
1. Renegade, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr., 5-1
2. Albus, Riley Mott, Manny Franco, 47-1
3. Intrepido, Jeff Mullins, Hector Berrios, 55-1
4. Litmus Test, Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, 41-1
5. Right to Party, Kenny McPeek, Chris Elliott, 31-1
6. Commandment, Brad Cox, Luis Saez, 8-1
7. Danon Bourbon, Manabu Ikezoe, Atsuya Nishimura, 13-1
8. So Happy, Mark Glatt, Mike Smith, 6-1
9. The Puma, Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano, 5-1
10. Wonder Dean, Daisuke Takayanagi, Ryusei Sakai, 19-1
11. Incredibolt, Riley Mott, Jaime Torres, 37-1
12. Chief Wallabee, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 14-1
13. Silent Tactic Mark Casse, Cristian Torres, (Scratched)
14. Potente, Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez, 28-1
15. Emerging Market, Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 13-1
16. Pavlovian, Doug O’Neill, Edwin Maldonado, 50-1
17. Six Speed, Bhupat Seemar, Brian Hernandez Jr., 46-1
18. Further Ado, Brad Cox, John Velazquez, 7-1
19. Golden Tempo, Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz, 50-1
20. Fulleffort, Brad Cox, Tyler Gaffalione, 19-1
21. Great White, John Ennis, Alex Archard, 96-1
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
