With the final round of prep races for the 2022 Kentucky Derby about to begin, the road to Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 7 has gotten serious. Smile Happy, who won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in November, is the 6-1 favorite in the 2022 Kentucky Derby odds. He is scheduled to make his final prep run for the Kentucky Derby 2022 in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 9. Forbidden Kingdom, who is coming off a victory in the San Felipe Stakes, is listed at 7-1 Kentucky Derby odds 2022. He has been pointed to make his final pre-Kentucky Derby start in the Santa Anita Derby, also on April 9. With the Kentucky Derby 2022 featuring the largest field in North American racing, you’ll want to see what astute racing reporter and analyst Michelle Yu has to say before making any 2022 Kentucky Derby picks.
Few people in racing are as connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders’ Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.
She also has tremendous handicapping chops. In the 2011 Kentucky Derby, she correctly tabbed Animal Kingdom to win at a hefty 21-1. In the 2017 Breeders’ Cup, she nailed 11-1 long shot Wuheida to win the Filly and Mare Turf. Last year in a wide-open Kentucky Derby, she gave out Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, as the winner at 12-1.
Since joining SportsLine in November, her picks have cashed in six of nine races, including the exacta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Anyone who has followed her is way up.
Now, Yu has handicapped the 2022 Kentucky Derby odds, made her picks and constructed her bets. Click here to see them.
Top 2022 Kentucky Derby predictions
One surprise: Yu is tossing Forbidden Kingdom, even though he is one of the top favorites at 7-1. A $300,000 purchase two years ago, Forbidden Kingdom has won back-to-back Grade 2 races, both in frontrunning fashion. His Beyer Speed Figure of 98 in winning the San Felipe is tied for the best among the major 2022 Kentucky Derby contenders.
However, Yu has seen Forbidden Kingdom train in the mornings and doesn’t think the 2022 Kentucky Derby distance of 10 furlongs will suit him. “Even though he held sway in the San Felipe, you can’t convince me that he wants a 1 1/4 mile yet,” she told SportsLine. Yu is not using Forbidden Kingdom in her 2022 Kentucky Derby bets.
How to make 2022 Kentucky Derby picks, bets
Instead Yu is high on three horses, including an enormous long shot you need to see. Yu says this long shot has “the right connections and the right pedigree” to pull off an epic upset. She is including this horse in her 2022 Kentucky Derby bets, and so should you. She’s sharing which horses to back only at SportsLine.
So who wins the 2022 Kentucky Derby? Which enormous long shot is a must-back? Check out the Kentucky Derby odds 2022 below, then visit SportsLine to see Yu’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who nailed last year’s winner on Derby Day.
