2022 Kentucky Derby odds, betting strategy, cheat sheet: Surprising picks from an expert who passed the warm-up races

French-born, Japan-based jockey Christophe Lemaire will look to transfer his international success to the United States when he leaves the starting grid aboard Crown Pride in the 2022 Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The 42-year-old Lemaire has led all Japan Racing Association jockeys in wins for five consecutive years. On Saturday he will compete in his first Kentucky Derby aboard United Arab Emirates Derby winner Crown Pride, a 17-1 long shot in the 2022 Kentucky Derby live odds. Zandon, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat, is 8-1 in the 2022 Kentucky Derby 20-horse field after opening as a favorite, while Epicenter, who will be ridden by Joel Rosario, is 5-1 with Taiba. The 2022 Kentucky Derby post time is 6:57 p.m. ET. With a talented 20-horsepower field from the 2022 Kentucky Derby set to enter the starting grid, you’ll want to see what racing insider and Beyer Speed ​​Figure maker Bob Weir has to say before making any choices. for the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

A Saratoga Springs-based racing insider and Beyer Speed ​​Figure maker, Weir has twice qualified for the prestigious National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. He’s produced several five-figure days at the track over the years, including a $60,000 Pick 6 at Del Mar in 2014. Last year, he was on fire. He reached the exacta in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, Tampa Bay Derby and Peter Pan Stakes, the trifecta in the Risen Star Stakes, Blue Grass Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby and the superfecta in the Belmont Stakes.

This year he was scorching hot in the 2022 Kentucky Derby prep races, winning the superfecta in the Blue Grass Stakes, the trifecta in the Louisiana Derby, and the exacta in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby. He also achieved the Pegasus World Cup trifecta and multiple Pick 4s, among other scores. Now he’s handicapped the 2022 Kentucky Derby field, making his picks and building his bets. Click here to see them.

The 2022 Kentucky Derby Experts’ Top Picks

A surprise: Weir is making Zandon disappear, even though he is one of the favorites in the 2022 Kentucky Derby. The colt’s typical approach of closing from the pace might not work in the 2022 Kentucky Derby with so many horses vying for position and Weir expects him to start at a fast pace. A quick start could spell trouble for Zandon, who would have to work hard to stay close to the pack and could run out of flurry at the end.

Zandon also only has four races under his belt as a three-year-old, and the Churchill Downs scene can be tough to handle for even the most experienced horses. There will be more traffic than he saw, and with the quality of the pitch it might prove difficult to catch up. He has two wins, a second place and a third in his four races, finishing behind Epicenter and Smile Happy in the Risen Star and Mo Donegal in the Remsen Stakes. “I’m not convinced he’s the right favorite in this race based on what he’s done,” Weir told SportsLine.

Another curve ball: Weir is high on United Arab Emirates Derby winner Crown Pride, even though he is a 17-1 long shot. Japanese-bred son of Reach the Crown, Crown Pride has won three of his four career starts. He is coming off a 2 3/4 length victory in the United Arab Emirates Derby.

Japan’s horses have broken into the biggest races in the world over the past six months. They won two Breeders’ Cup races in November, the country’s first two wins in the Breeders’ Cup and then five races on the Dubai World Cup card, including the United Arab Emirates Derby with Crown Pride. “Given how Japanese horses have run in recent international competitions, it’s hard to ignore that,” Weir told SportsLine. Weir will use Crown Pride prominently in his 2022 Kentucky Derby betting.

How to Make 2022 Kentucky Derby Predictions and Bets

Weir is all-in on a huge double-digit long shot that should be in “a dangerous position at the top of the straight” and has “a great chance at a potentially high price”. Weir includes this horse in his 2022 Kentucky Derby bets, and so should you. He’s just sharing his 2022 Kentucky Derby cheat sheet and picks here.

Who wins the 2022 Kentucky Derby? And what huge double-digit long shot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2022 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Weir’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who nailed this year’s prep races.

2022 Kentucky Derby odds, contenders, horses, post positions

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