Sports Betting Legend Mattress Mack Puts $4 Million on Kentucky Derby Favorite

Mattress Mack is at it again! The owner of a Houston-based furniture chain first gained massive fame in the sports betting world with his monster bets on the hometown Astros in the World Series.

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Just as he did with those baseball bets, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale is once again hedging on a clever business promotion centered around Saturday’s running of the Kentucky Derby.

Mack placed a total of $4 million on Derby favorite Essential Quality to capture the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown on Saturday. Should the result come to fruition, Mack will be walking away with anywhere between $8 and $12 million in winnings.

The latest promotion that Mattress Mack is attempting to hedge centers on Essential Quality’s finish in the Kentucky Derby. Customers who purchased a mattress valued at $3000 or more will receive it for free should the two-year-old undefeated colt capture the 147th annual Run for the Roses.

The sports betting legend certainly comes in hot. The last time we saw Mack go big on a major sporting event, he walked away with over $2.75 million in winnings thanks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning Super Bowl LIV.

Of course, Mattress Mack didn’t just walk up to the ticket window and place a single $4 million bet. The timing of his wagers is everything, given how the odds shift based on book liability and the eb and flow of the betting market.

Considering the size of the tickets he’s accumulated thus far, there’s no reason to doubt he gets there before post time.

The legend himself was even heard talking shop on VSiN’s Kentucky Derby betting podcast this week.

Mattress Mack isn’t just betting on the Kentucky Derby. He’s actually got a strong opinion on it. He may need more than a suitcase for his winnings today though.

Just curious, does Essential Quality have any idea about what’s at stake later today? Probably best not to tell him!

Tune in to the Kentucky Derby on NBC this evening to see if Mattress Mack goes home a winner.


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