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With four horses among the favorites listed with single digit odds and another (Quality Road) bowing out of this year's Kentucky Derby, two more horses have inched their way into the single digit territory even before post positions have been announced on Wednesday.
Both Chocolate Candy and Papa Clem were given +1000 odds at SBG Global on Tuesday, placing them within the top 10 percentile of assumed entries with the best chances of winning.
"Other online race books were likely to have Chocolate Candy and Papa Clem with shorter odds than 10/1," says Don Shapiro of Gambling911.com.
Brian Skirka of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association:
"Many of this year's Derby participants have to answer questions regarding dirt form or level of competition - he does not. In February's Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Papa Clem showed his class by finishing a half-length behind Pioneerof the Nile and a length in front of I Want Revenge - an impressive accomplishment for a horse exiting his maiden score. In April, Papa Clem proved he could win on dirt by out-dueling Old Fashioned in the Arkansas Derby. In between, he even put in a solid race over the slop in the Louisiana Derby - albeit 7-1/4 lengths behind Friesian Fire. He'll have California's leading rider on his back, and his winning Beyer in Arkansas was a 101 - there's plenty to like here."
As for Chocolate Candy:
"Will it all go according to plan? Trainer Jerry Hollandorfer appears to have taken his time with this one. Guiding Chocolate Candy through a carefully thought out winter/spring campaign, Hollendorfer has been rewarded with gradual development - improving Beyers in each of Chocolate Candy's last four races - and likely has a horse ready for a career effort on Derby Day. While Hollendorfer is relatively unknown in terms of the Kentucky Derby, his work with top-distaffer Hystericalady in recent years is proof-positive that he's not out of his league with an upper-echelon horse. To win the Derby, Chocolate Candy most simply fulfill his trainer's plan - run his best race on the first Saturday in May. A fast pace wouldn't hurt either."
