LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- The cast of characters for the 149th Kentucky Derby was reworded in the days prior to the race. What didn't alter: Forte is the early 3-1 favorite on Saturday in a relatively wide-open field of 19 horses.
4 horses were scratched-- Practical Move, Lord Miles, Continuar and Skinner-- and 3 horses waiting on the also-eligible list moved into the field. They are Cyclone Mischief, Mandarin Hero and King Russell.
In 2015's Derby was a stunner: 80-1 shot Rich Strike weaved his method through traffic and came rushing up the rail to win. NBC Sports' overhead replay of the race was seen more than 36 million times.
A crowd of about 150,000 is anticipated to jam Churchill Downs to wager and see the 1 1/4- mile Derby. Post time is 3:57 p.m. PT.
Specialty breaks from the No. 15 post, which has produced six winners. The dark brown colt is trained by two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher, who also has the 2nd favorite in Tapit Trice, at 5-1.
The Todd Squad includes Kingsbarns, and it's an outstanding trio.
Strength was in 2015's 2-year-old champ and has 6 wins in seven career starts, consisting of five in a row. Tapit Trice is 4 for 5 and Kingsbarns is 3 for 3.
" You could state it's the deepest team we've brought so far," Pletcher stated.
Louisville-born Brad Cox won his first Derby belatedly when Mandaloun was elevated to first place after Medina Spirit's disqualification nine months after the 2021 race.
" There's no excitement of winning the Derby through a phone call," he stated. "There's no celebration, there's no winning photo."
Cox has a leading 4 possibilities to make the winner's circle in person this year: early 8-1 3rd option Angel of Empire; Hit Show; Verifying; and Jace's Road.
" I'm sure it would be a feeling like no other," he said.
Gary and Mary West, who own Hit Show, are seeking retribution of their own.
Their horse, Maximum Security, crossed the Derby goal initially in 2019, however was disqualified for interference after a 22-minute delay while stewards reviewed video. Country House was awarded the garland of red roses. The Wests sued unsuccessfully to have the stewards' decision reversed.
" They wish to cross the wire first and stay up," Cox said. "They got an actually live crack. This colt is truly succeeding."
A couple of jockeys are trying to find comparable fulfillment.
Luis Saez rode Maximum Security in 2019 and got a 15-day suspension for hindering others; he's seeking his first Derby win aboard Tapit Trice. Florent Geroux, who was on Mandaloun, is on Jace's Road.
For the second straight year, the Derby is without Bob Baffert. The Hall of Fame trainer with a record-tying 6 triumphes is soon to finish a two-year ban by Churchill Downs Inc. He was punished after Medina Spirit flunked a post-race drug test.
Baffert's shadow still looms large over the Twin Spires. A colt previously trained by him, Reincarnate, will be in the starting gate.
His Derby entry, Lord Miles, was scratched. Two of Joseph's horses passed away after races at the track in the days leading up to the Derby.
New anti-doping and medication rules to be implemented by the sport's new main governing body won't work until May 22, after the Derby and the Preakness.
Japan is represented by Derma Sotogake and Mandarin Hero, offering the nation two chances to win the Derby for the very first time.
Derma Sotogake and Two Phil's are the most knowledgeable runners in the field, having made 8 career starts.
" He has a lot of experience and it has made him harder and tougher," said Christophe Lemaire, who will ride Derma Sotogake. "It is necessary to have that experience with 18 other horses in a top-level race."
Self-confidence Game, a 20-1 longshot, will try to win coming off an unheard-of 10-week layoff.
Saturday's forecast calls for partially warm skies and a high of 77 degrees.
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