The top two picks on the morning line will start from positions at different ends of the gate when an expected field of 20 horses lines up for the 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby (G1) around May 4, 6:57 p.m. at Churchill Downs.
Florida Derby (G1) Winner severity the 5-2 morning-line favorite, scheduled to start from post 17 at a single gate of 20 stalls while the winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) Sierra Leone Option 3-1, will start from lesson 2.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, looking to score his third Kentucky Derby, will watch last year’s 2-year-old male champion Fierceness start 17th.
“I’m fine with that,” Pletcher said. “We were hoping for a draw somewhere outside. Of the numbers remaining at that time (of the draw), it was one of the better numbers. It had enough time to load and set up without having to expect to stand at the gate for too long.”
Pletcher said in the coming days he will discuss race strategy with three-time Derby winner John Velazquez. In winning last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Fierceness was judged a little off the pace and he scored the points lead in the Florida Derby (G1), where he won The 13 1/2-long streak in prep racing has produced the most Kentucky Derby winners at 25.
“It seems like most of the speed is inside them,” Pletcher said. “So hopefully they’ll break it completely and then let Johnny make the decision on how fast he wants to go and survey everything inside.”
Kentucky Derby racetrack and odds
If there are no changes to his infield, Repole Stable’s Fierceness will start from the only position that has never produced a Derby winner. Even though owner/breeder Mike Repole had some bad luck during Derby week, he wasn’t worried about this oddity — instead he accepted the challenge to be the top fairy.
“I like it,” he said.
While Fierceness will be looking for a good start from the outside, the late-running Sierra Leone is looking to save ground while avoiding traffic as he starts from 2nd. The son of the record-breaking sire green Gun Runner rallied from ninth to win at Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland.
“It was a touch further than I would have liked if I had been able to pick it up,” said trainer Chad Brown, who is looking for his first Derby win after two previous placings. But I wouldn’t want him outside.” classic. “I think to get closer if you pull to the outside, you’ll have to grab them and guide them before it’s your turn; that’s difficult when you’re on the outside. So with that said, I’d rather stay inside.”
Sierra Leone will attempt to become the first Blue Grass winner since Strike the Gold in 1991 to win the Kentucky Derby and the first Derby starter to overcome 2nd to win the classic since being introduced. confirmed in 1978. Before this year’s Blue Grass, Sierra Leone saw a bit of action as he was placed 10th. When placed 2nd in the Derby slide, he would largely avoid away from the crowd.
“That’s not a bad thought,” Brown said when asked about that scenario. “I’m not really sure; maybe.
“I’ve taken him to the gate a few times this week. He’s done really well. So I’m really confident he’ll be able to load and the team in Churchill is led by starter Scott Jordan same. I don’t predict the gate will be the deciding factor if he wins or loses, it will really affect the trip and whether he is good enough or not.
Brown will also take charge of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner. Domestic products who was leading 30-1 at the morning line and drew a 15.
Although the top two options in the field will have a projected 14 gates between them, that gap is not as wide as the gap between trainer Danny Gargan’s two Derby starters, who have withdrawn out in—winner Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) Dornoch —and outside position—Wood Memorial Stakes runner-up (G2) Social man —in field 20.
Post 1 has been something to avoid in recent years — no horse has won from the inside post since Ferdinand in 1986 — but with Churchill now using a 20-stall gate, this post could be good than five side gates.
“Dornoch will run out of there so it’s not the end of the world,” Gargan said. “This is the new gate so many people say the only hole is not the same as before. So we won’t be breaking into that funny turn and that will help too. I don’t think it’s a smile kiss of death.”
“There’s no pace on our outside so hopefully he’ll stop running and we’ll put him in front and see how it goes. We’ve planned to keep his face It’s clean, now we’re going to keep it very clean. And Society Man is closer so he’s going to push and get ahead and sit in the middle of the pack, maybe 10th and hopefully make it. big accumulation.”
Louisville, Ky., native Brad Cox will attempt to win his second Derby when he dispatches Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Seize freedom (track 4), runner-up Blue Grass Just one touch (8th post) and Lexington Stakes winner (G3) encino (lesson 9).
Cox likes his runner postings and said he hopes the late-running Catching Freedom can go well.
“He needs to find his stride,” Cox said. “He will be in the second half of the field and (rider Flavien Prat) will have a good ride and we will see what happens.”
Two athletes from Japan in the field, winner of the UAE Derby (G2) Youth forever And TO password who top the Japan Road to Kentucky Derby points standings, will be tied with Forever Young in 11th and TO Pass in 10th.
D. Wayne Lukas will make his first start for the 50th Derby on Steel only , who finished runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Four-time Derby winner Lukas noted that after the start, it was important that all runners get placed in the first turn of the quarter-mile test. Just Steel is scheduled to start from post 6.
Item: Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1)
Churchill DownsSaturday, May 4, 2024, Stage 12
- Class I
- 1 1/4m
- Dust
- 5,000,000 USD
- 3 years old
- 6:57 pm (local)
Kentucky Derby
Post Horse Trainer Jockey ML Odds
1 Dornoch Danny Gargan Luis Saez 20
2 Sierra Leon Chad Brown Tyler Gaffalione 3
3 Mystik Dan Kenny McPeek Brian Hernandez Jr. 20
4 Catching Freedom Brad Cox Flavien Prat 8
5 Saffie Joseph Jr. Catalyst Jose Ortiz 30
6 Just Steel D. Wayne Lukas Keith Asmussen 20
7 Honorable Mention Marie Whit Beckman Ben Curtis 20
8 Just One Touch Brad Cox Florent Geroux 10
9 Encino Brad Cox Axel Concept 20
10 TO Password Daisuke Takayanagi Kimura Kazushi 30
11 Yoshito Yahagi Ryusei Sakai is forever young 10
12 Phantom Track Steve Asmussen Joel Rosario 20
13 West Saratoga Larry Demeritte Jesus Castanon 50
14 Timeless Michael McCarthy Umberto Rispoli 30
15 Domestic product Chad Brown Irad Ortiz Jr. 30
16 Grand Mo Victor Barboza Jr. first Emisael Jaramillo 50
17 Aggression Todd Pletcher John Velazquez 5-2
18 Stronghold Phil D’Amato Antonio Fresu 20
19 Resilience Bill Mott Junior Alvarado 20
20 Social Men Danny Gargan Frankie Dettori 50
Epic ride AE21 John Ennis Adam Beschizza 50
AE22 Mugatu Jeff Engler Joe Talamo 50
