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2024 Kentucky Derby betting: Odds for family members racing against each other at Run for the Roses  
NANCY ROKOS/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS JOURNAL / USA TODAY NETWORK

2024 Kentucky Derby betting: Odds for family members racing against each other at Run for the Roses  

By Chelena Goldman  |  Last updated 5/1/24

It's always fun to look at long shots to win the Kentucky Derby, especially if you're considering backing one to win. This practice gets a little more interesting this year as the "Run for the Roses" becomes a family affair — or a family feud.

There is a pair of brothers jockeying against each other at Churchill Downs this Saturday, as well as a father-son duo backing different colts in the Kentucky Derby field. All four horses involved are long shots, but that could work in their favor since only 10 post-time betting favorites in the last 23 years have actually won the race.

Here's a look at the family members racing against each other in the 2024 Kentucky Derby before you place your bets.

We first look at brothers Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz, who will be riding Domestic Product and Catalytic, respectively. Both horses are listed at 30-1 odds at CBS Sports to win the "Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" and each jockey brings a different skill set to the table. 

Older brother Irad is a three-time Breeders' Cup winner and just won his fifth Eclipse Award in January for being the top rider in the nation. The Kentucky Derby is one race that has eluded him, and his best finish in seven starts was fourth place in 2019 with Improbable. He looks to change that with Domestic Product as he races in his eighth Derby.

His younger brother, Jose, may not have the same accolades but he has been more successful at the Run for the Roses. The 30-year-old was the runner-up at the Kentucky Derby in 2018 with Good Magic and was third in 2019 aboard Tacitus. He will be riding Florida Derby runner-up Catalytic in his ninth Kentucky Derby appearance and could be a sneaky pick to crack the top three.

An equally intriguing family standoff is between award-winning trainer Steve Asmussen and his son, Keith. The elder Asmussen is a two-time Eclipse Award winner and a Museum of Racing Hall-of-Famer who is the all-time winningest trainer in North America. His 25-year-old son will be making his Kentucky Derby debut but has shown off his racing pedigree in his first few years of riding full-time by racking up his first win in less than two years.  

Steve Asmussen's submission into this year's Kentucky Derby field is Track Phantom, which placed first at the Lecomte Stakes back in January. Meanwhile, Keith Asmussen will be riding Just Steel, which was the runner-up in three of its last four races including the Arkansas Derby.

Both Track Phantom and Just Steel are 20-1 long shots in the Kentucky Derby betting odds.

Still not sure which of these long shots you should wager on? You have a couple more days to place your Kentucky Derby bets.

The 150th Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 4. 

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