It's the calm before the storm at Churchill Downs, with over 100,000 patrons expected to mull around in anticipation of the 2011 Kentucky Derby on Saturday. It's also the calm before the storm at the betting windows, where the odds are expected to move around all day as a ridiculously high volume of betting takes place on the race. The morning line is set and early betting has forced some changes as action has come in heavy on a few horses and not so heavy on others.
If you're wondering what this all means and what betting on horse racing is all about, Matt Gardner explains how to bet on horse racing. It's a handy guide that should help, both if you plan to get in on the action or just want to know how horse racing works.
The morning line favorite is still Dialed In at 9/2. With Uncle Mo out -- he held 4/1 odds -- the field has fallen back in the odds, with no other horse at better than 7/1 as of now. Twice the Appeal jumped from 20/1 to 7/1, thanks to jockey Calvin Borel. We explained why Twice the Appeal's odds moved so dramatically here. The rest of the field saw small shifts, though nothing too dramatic, other than Twice the Appeal, has occurred yet.
Here are the latest odds, updated to reflect the field after Uncle Mo was forced out of the 2011 Kentucky Derby. The odds are listed by the post positions of the field.
Archarcharch 13-1
Brilliant Speed 30-1
Twice the Appeal 7-1
Stay Thirsty 17-1
Decisive Moment 42-1
Comma to the Top 43-1
Pants on Fire 9-1
Dialed In 9-2
Derby Kitten 29-1
Twinspired 21-1
Master of Hounds 18-1
Santiva 30-1
Mucho Macho Man 12-1
Shackleford 19-1
Midnight Interlude 10-1
Animal Kingdom 24-1
Soldat 17-1
Nehro 7-1
Watch Me Go 29-1
The Kentucky Derby gets underway on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Stay with our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream for previews, odds and analysis up to and throughout the derby. For more on the race, head over to SB Nation's Kentucky Derby StoryStream or check out And Down The Stretch They Come.