This Saturday, twenty of the best equine athletes will run in 145th Kentucky Derby at the historic Churchill Downs. Picking the winning horse in this large field can be a difficult task even for a seasoned handicapper. We wanted to breakdown the greatest two minutes in sports race field for you!
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WAR OF WILL
Post Position: 1
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Trainer: Mark Casse
Owner: Gary Barber
Career Record:
Starts: 8
Wins: 3
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $501,459
War of Will was a disappointing 9th as the favorite in the Louisiana Derby after an awkward start. Prior to that, he was the winner of the Risen Star and the LaComte at Fair Grounds. He does have one win at Churchill Downs last November and is usually sitting just off the pace. Post position number one is a tough place to be for a 20 horse field. War of Will is at 20/1 morning line odds.
TAX
Post Position: 2
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Owner: R. A. Hill Stable Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch, and Corns Racing Stable
Career Record:
Starts: 5
Wins: 2
Seconds: 2
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $326,200
Tax was second in the Wood Memorial after getting in a stretch-long battle with Tacitus, both of whom came from off the pace. He was the winner of the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct in February. Tax is usually up close with the front runners and is at 20/1 morning line odds.
BY MY STANDARDS
Post Position: 3
Jockey: Gabriel Saez
Trainer: Bret Calhoun
Owner: Allied Racing Stable
Career Record:
Starts: 5
Wins: 2
Seconds: 2
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $653,710
By My Standards was the upset winner of the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds this March. That was his first start in a stakes race, however, he does have one other win in a Maiden Special at Fair Grounds. By My Standards is another one who usually likes to sit just off the pace. He has 20/1 morning line odds.
GRAY MAGICIAN
Post Position: 4
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
Trainer: Peter Miller
Owner: Wachtel Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Gary Barber
Career Record:
Starts: 8
Wins: 1
Seconds: 3
Thirds: 2
Total Earnings: $584,140
Gray Magician only has one career win, that came last November at Del Mar. His most recent start was in the UAE Derby at Meydan, where he finished very strong in second place. Drayden Van Dyke makes his KY Derby debut riding Gray Magician for the first time. Gray Magician traditionally likes to stalk the pace. He has 50/1 morning line odds, and is one of three grays in the field.
IMPROBABLE
Post Position: 5
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Winstar Farm, China Horse Club, and Starlight Racing
Career Record:
Starts: 5
Wins: 3
Seconds: 2
Thirds: 0
Total Earnings: $ 619,520
Improbable is one of three horses trained by two-time Triple Crown winning trainer Bob Baffert. He was second in the slop in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in his most recent outing. He does have three career wins, including one over the Churchill Downs surface. Improbable usually likes to be part of the early pace, but will be removing the blinkers for the derby, with odds of 6/1.
VEKOMA
Post Position: 6
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: George Weaver
Owner: R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables
Career Record:
Starts: 4
Wins: 3
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $788,850
Vekoma was the winner of the Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 6th, where he drew away from the field as the favorite. Javier Castellano rode him for the first time in that start and will ride again on Derby day. Vekoma traditionally stalks the pace. He has 20/1 morning line odds.
MAXIMUM SECURITY
Post Position: 7
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: Jason Servis
Owner: Gary and Mary West
Career Record:
Starts: 4
Wins: 4
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 0
Total Earnings: $649,400
Maximum Security has stepped on the track four times in his career…and was victorious in all. He is the only horse in the field that can say they’re undefeated. Trained by Parx Racing-based trainer Jason Servis but Maximum Security has not raced in PA. Prior to winning the Florida Derby, he was a winner of his third career start by 18 lengths. Maximum Security usually likes to be up front and could be part of a very fast pace, at odds of 10/1.
TACITUS
Post Position: 8
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Career Record:
Starts: 4
Wins: 3
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 0
Total Earnings: $653,000
Tacitus was the winner of the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, in his most recent start and was also the winner of the Tampa Bay Derby. Tacitus’s running style may benefit him in the KY Derby, as he has traditionally been a closer. Tacitus is one of three grays in the field, at odds of 10/1.
PLUS QUE PARFAIT
Post Position: 9
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Owner: Imperial Racing
Career Record:
Starts: 7
Wins: 2
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 2
Total Earnings: $1,590,400
Plus Que Parfait was the winner of the UAE Derby at Meydan, that was his first win against stakes company. His only other career win came last October at Keeneland when he won a maiden special weight event by a nose. Jockey Richardo Santana was aboard for that win, and he climbs back aboard again in the KY Derby. Plus Que Parfait usually races from off the pace and has 30/1 morning line odds.
CUTTING HUMOR
Post Position: 11
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Starlight Racing
Career Record:
Starts: 6
Wins: 2
Seconds: 2
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $516,967
Cutting Humor won his first stakes race in the Sunland Derby when just held on to win by a neck. He does show one other win at Gulfstream Park West in November. In his only other try against stakes company, he was 7th in the Southwest at Oaklawn Park. Cutting Humor usually likes to sit just off the speed, morning line odds 30/1.
HAIKAL
Post Position: 11
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Owner: Shadwell Stable
Career Record:
Starts:
Wins: 3
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $373,900
Haikal came from another zip code to get up and win the Gotham at Aqueduct in March after benefitting from a wicked early pace. His most recent start was in the Wood Memorial where he made up 11 lengths to finish third behind Tacitus and Tax. With a fast early pace possible in the KY Derby, Haikal could be a live longshot as a closer with odds of 30/1.
OMAHA BEACH *SCRATCHED ON 5/1/19
Post Position: 12
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Owner: Fox Hill Farms
Career Record:
Starts: 7
Wins: 3
Seconds: 3
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $1,121,800
Omaha Beach was the winner of both the Arkansas Derby and a division of the Rebel at Oaklawn. Those were his first tries against stakes company. Omaha Beach will likely be sent off as the favorite. He is traditionally part of the pace with 4/1 odds.
CODE OF HONOR
Post Position: 13
Jockey: John Velazquez
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Owner: W.S. Farish
Career Record:
Starts: 7
Wins: 3
Seconds: 3
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $478,820
Code of Honor was an even third in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream in his last start, he was the winner of the Fountain of Youth two starts back. His other career win came last August at Saratoga in a maiden special. Code of Honor usually races from mid-pack and currently has a 15/1 morning line odds.
WIN WIN WIN
Post Position: 14
Jockey: Julian Pimentel
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
Owner: Live Oak Plantation
Career Record:
Starts: 6
Wins: 3
Seconds: 2
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $367,300
Win Win Win won his first two career starts at Laurel Park last year before entering a stakes race for the first time in the Heft at Laurel Park where he was second. He was a closing third on a speed-favoring track in the Tampa Bay Derby. Win Win Win has 15/1 odds.
MASTER FENCER
Post Position: 15
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Trainer: Koichi Tsunoda
Owner: Katsumi Yoshizawa
Career Record:
Starts: 6
Wins: 2
Seconds: 2
Thirds: 0
Total Earnings: $234,392
Master Fencer is the lone international shipper in the KY Derby field, coming in from Japan. He has two career wins, one at Kyoto and one at Hanshin. Julien Leparoux picks up the mount for Master Fencer’s first start on American soil. He currently has 50/1 morning line odds.
GAME WINNER
Post Position: 16
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Gary and Mary West
Career Record:
Starts: 6
Wins: 4
Seconds: 2
Thirds: 0
Total Earnings: $1,846,000
Game Winner is coming off of two solid second place finishes, one at Oaklawn and one at Santa Anita. He shows one win on the Churchill Downs surface last year in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Game Winner likes to race from the midpack and has a running style of a stalker, with 5/1 odds.
ROADSTER
Post Position: 17
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Speedway Stable
Career Record:
Starts: 4
Wins: 3
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $706,200
The third of three of Baffert’s horses in the KY Derby field, Roadster has won his last two starts, including the Santa Anita Derby where he just got up to win over stablemate and KY Derby competitor Game Winner. Roadster’s closing running style may benefit him in the Derby, he has 6/1 odds.
LONG RANGE TODDY
Post Position: 18
Jockey: Jon Court
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owner: Willis Horton
Career Record:
Starts: 8
Wins: 4
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $854,459
Long Range Toddy was 6th beaten 15 lengths in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park where he pressed the pace. He does have four career wins, including a division of the Rebel two starts ago. Jockey Jon Court will become the oldest jockey to ever compete in the KY Derby, at age 58. Long Range Toddy likes to press the pace, he has post 18 at odds of 30/1.
SPINOFF
Post Position: 19
Jockey: Manny Franco
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Wertheimer & Frere
Career Record:
Starts: 4
Wins: 2
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $260,000
Spinoff please second in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds, beaten just a half-length in his most recent start. He does have two career wins, including a 12 length romp at Tampa Bay Downs. Spinoff is another one who likes to be part of the pace, he has morning line odds of 30/1.
COUNTRY HOUSE
Post Position: 20
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: Mrs. J. V. Shields Jr., E. J. M. McFadden, and LNJ Foxwoods
Career Record:
Starts: 6
Wins: 2
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 1
Total Earnings: $260,175
Country House will start widest of all from post position 20, he shows one career win at Gulfstream Park in January. Since then he was second in the Risen Star, fourth in the Louisiana Derby, and third in the Arkansas Derby. Country House likes to close, he is 30/1.
Bodexpress
Post Position: 21
Jockey: Chris Landeros
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Owner: Top Racing LLC, Global Thoroughbred, and GDS Racing Stable
Career Record:
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Seconds: 3
Thirds: 0
Total Earnings: $208,700
Bodexpress drew into the Kentucky Derby field after the scratch of Omaha Beach. He comes into the derby as a maiden after finishing second in the Florida Derby after pressing the pace. That was his first start against stakes company. Bodexpress will likely be up close and pressing the pace, he’s 30/1 on the morning line.
Morning line odds from 5/1/2019
Photo Credit: Churchill Downs
Horse data from Equibase
