Verrazano is our pick to win the Kentucky Derby this Saturday.
Credit: Getty Images
It’s that time of the year again as the Kentucky Derby goes off this Saturday at 6:24 p.m.
We get you prepared for what is quite possibly your first look at playing the ponies this year. All odds are as of Thursday afternoon.
The horses …
1. Black Onyx (50/1)
Jockey: Joe Bravo
Trainer: Kelly Breen
A bit of an unknown, Black Onyx has raced nowhere near this pedigree and it will show.
2. Oxbow (33/1)
Jockey: Gary Stevens
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
This horse has struggled at distance and can be overtaken late. He’s likely not a player given this distance and the pace expected.
3. Revolutionary (7/1)
Jockey: Calvin Borel
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Revolutionary may not have the goods at this level but trainer Todd Pletcher remains a master of the big races and a strong stretch run to win the Louisiana Derby in late March gives this horse a good test at this level.
4. Golden Soul (50/1)
Jockey: Robby Albarado
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
A recent fourth at the Louisiana Derby casts doubt on this horse to hang with the major movers. He shifts very wide and may tire late.
5. Normandy Invasion (10/1)
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Chad Brown
He showed quality in running second in the recent Wood Memorial but hasn’t won against premier talent. A jockey like Javier Castellano gives this horse a shot.
6. Mylute (16/1)
Jockey: Rosie Napravnik
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Came up short in the Louisiana Derby but under rider Rosie Napravnik has a chance for a top-three finish. Napravnik is having a tremendous year to date.
7. Giant Finish (50/1)
Jockey: Jose L. Espinoza
Trainer: Anthony W. Dutrow
He has to run a perfect race to even show, but Giant Finish is capable of the spectacular despite being highly erratic.
8. Goldencents (15/2)
Jockey: Kevin Krigger
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Making a return trip to the Kentucky Debry after winning last year with I’ll Have Another, trainer Doug O’Neill has 5-1 Goldencents. The horse has been running up and down lately but rebounded from a fourth-place finish at Santa Anita in March in the San Felipe with a win at the Santa Anita Derby in early April.
9. Overanalyze (14/1)
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Trainer Todd Pletcher has another possibility out of Repole’s stable and has beaten several in this field with wins at the Arkansas Derby and Remsen Stakes.
10. Palace Malice (25/1)
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey Mike Smith won the Derby with Giacomo in 2005 but this horse will likely make him a pauper and not a prince.
11. Lines of Battle (33/1)
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
It seems that every year, a horse from the United Kingdom comes over hoping to win the Derby and Lines of Battle is the latest attempt by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien. A win in March at the UAE Derby at 1 3/16 miles shows this horse should be good enough to hang at this distance.
12. Itsmyluckyday (12/1)
Jockey: Elvis Trujillo
Trainer Eddie Plesa, Jr.
Certainly a candidate to show, a recent strong second at the Florida Derby shows that he isn’t out of place.
13. Falling Sky (50-1)
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: John Terranova II
He has faded the last few outings as competition has gotten stiffer and is likely to be a non-factor.
14. Verrazano (4/1)
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
It will be the talented John Velasquez who will be on 4-1 Verrazano, a horse that has tasted nothing but success lately. In early April, Verrazano won the Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, running the 1 1/8 mile in a crisp 1:50.27.
15. Charming Kitten (33/1)
Jockey: Edgar Prado
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Little thought of till taking third at the recent Bluegrass, this step up is likely a bit too much.
16. Orb (17/4)
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Claude R. McGaughey III
The early favorite to take the roses, Orb had impressive wins at Gulfstream in February in the Grade I Fountain of Youth and then a little more than a month ago at the Florida Derby, both trips under jockey John Velasquez. Orb will be ridden by Joel Rosario on Saturday and not Velasquez.
17. Will Take Charge (25/1)
Jockey: Jon Court
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
A bit unknown and unproven, Will Take Charge is an intriguing entrant from trainer D. Wayne Lukas but his recent win in the Rebel at Oaklawn Park was nowhere near the standard for Saturday. Still, this is a horse who hangs with the pace setters and makes a good push nearly every time.
18. Frac Daddy (33/1)
Jockey: Victor Lebron
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Frac Daddy, who is always solid against the best, will be ridden by the underappreciated Victor Lebron, who has the biggest race of his career on Saturday.
19. Java’s War (18/1)
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
After a big win at the Bluegrass at Keeneland three weeks ago, Java’s War made a statement for this race but comes in the least rested of the major players. Trainer Kenny McPeek is looking for his first Derby win.
20. Vyjack (18/1)
Jockey: Garrett Gomez
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Capable of hanging with the best, Vyjack could surprise with a late push and certainly has a post position that will keep him from getting bottled up early.
Kristian Dyer’s pick: Given the recent ride on Valesquez, Verrazzano has to be in the pool for a Top-3 finish and this horse has the ability to ride the race with enough quality to make a late push for a win.
Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
