LOUISVILLE, Ky.
Orb was made the early 7-2 favorite for the Kentucky Derby, with undefeated Verrazano the second choice in a full field of 20 horses.
Trained by Shug McGaughey, Orb drew the No. 16 post Wednesday. Four horses have won from there, most recently Animal Kingdom two years ago. McGaughey is in racing’s Hall of Fame, but the 62-year-old trainer has yet to win the Derby in six previous tries.
Orb comes into Saturday’s big race on a four-race winning streak. He won the Florida Derby in his last start.
Wood Memorial winner Verrazano drew the No. 14 post and is the 4-1 second choice. The colt is one of a record-tying five starters trained by Todd Pletcher. He won his first and only Derby in 2010 with Super Saver.
Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents is the third choice at 5-1 and will break from the No. 8 post. He’s trained by Doug O’Neill, who won last year with I’ll Have Another.
Another Pletcher horse, Revolutionary, is the fourth choice at 10-1 on the morning line set by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. The colt is ridden by Calvin Borel, a three-time Derby winner famous for riding the rail. Revolutionary drew the No. 3 post, leaving Borel close to his favorite route on the track.
Normandy Invasion is the fifth choice at 12-1.
The other 15 horses all are 15-1 or higher, including Pletcher’s other horses – Overanalyze (15-1), Palace Malice (20-1), and Charming Kitten (20-1).
One of those 15-1 odds, Itsmyluckyday, checked in under the Run for the Roses’ radar.
Barely a month ago, Itsmyluckyday was the 8-5 favorite for the Florida Derby. He ran a big race there, finishing second to Orb. But the loss dropped Itsmyluckyday’s profile, and that’s just fine with trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.
“It’s a good thing,” he said. “I don’t mind at all.”
That Derby was not the ultimate goal.
“As much as we would have liked to have won it, as much as we were disappointed we didn’t win it, the true objective is the race coming up Saturday,” he said Wednesday.
Spiral Stakes winner Black Onyx drew the dreaded inside post and is one of five 50-1 shots in the field.
Oxbow and Will Take Charge will be the record 46th and 47th Derby starters for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Derby winner. Both are long shots – Will Take Charge at 20-1 and Oxbow at 30-1.
The 21st horse on the points list is Fear the Kitten, an also-eligible who would need a defection before 9 a.m. Friday, when Derby wagering opens, to get into the 1-mile race.
Associated Press writer Mike Farrell contributed to this report.
