- The updated weather forecast for the Kentucky Derby calls for thunderstorms with a post-time temperature of around 75. The dirt track at Churchill Downs is expected to come up sloppy or muddy for the 1 1/4 mile Run for the Roses.
Of the 20 three-year-olds entered eight have run on tracks listed as other than fast. They are Storm in May, Imawildandcrazyguy, Street Sense, Hard Spun, Teuflesberg, Bwana Bull, Scat Daddy and Dominican.
Arkansas Derby winner Curlin was given the role as the morning line favorite at 7-2. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Curlin will start from post 2 with Robby Albarado riding.
"A horse of his size can take his position," noted Asmussen, "but we would have preferred to be further outside."
Asmussen also trains Zanjero who will break from just to the outside of Curlin. Zanjero is 30-1 in the program and will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan.
The 4-1 second choice is Tampa Bay Derby winner Street Sense. The colt was voted champion two-year-old of 2006 after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. He will start from post 7 with Calvin Borel in the saddle.
"We have the option to settle in any position we want," said Nafzger. "I'm lookin' forward to a great, great Derby."
Nafzger saddled 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled.
Set to break from the outside of Street Sense is Lane's End Stakes winner Hard Spun. Hard Spun won a stakes race last year on a sloppy track at Delaware Park.
Hard Spun is 15-1 in the morning line and will be ridden by Mario Pino.
Trainer Larry Jones is very happy with the post position.
"We were very pleased getting an early draw," Jones said. "I was surprised some of the other horses chose outside of me."
Trainer Todd Pletcher has five horses entered in Saturday's Run for the Roses. He is still seeking his first Triple Crown win and has three solid contenders for the Kentucky Derby.
The five runners trained by Pletcher are Cowtown Cat, Sam P., Scat Daddy, Circular Quay and Any Given Saturday. Cowtown Cat won the Illinois Derby, Scat Daddy won the Florida Derby with Any Given Saturday third in the Wood Memorial. Circular Quay captured the Louisiana Derby and Sam P. was third in the Santa Anita Derby.
Here is the complete field for Saturday's Kentucky Derby in post position order: Sedgefield 50-1 Julien Leparoux, Curlin 7-2 Robby Albarado, Zanjero 30-1 Shaun Bridgmohan, Storm in May 30-1 Juan Leyva, Imawildandcrazyguy 50-1 Mark Guidry, Cowtown Cat 20-1 Fernando Jara, Street Sense 4-1 Calvin Borel, Hard Spun 15-1 Mario Pino, Liquidity 30-1 David Flores, Teuflesberg 30-1 Stewart Elliott, Bwana Bull 50-1 Javier Castellano, Nobiz Like Shobiz 8-1 Cornelio Velasquez, Sam P. 20-1 Ramon Dominguez, Scat Daddy 10-1 Edgar Prado, Tiago 15-1 Mike Smith, Circular Quay 8-1 John Velazquez, Stormello 30-1 Kent Desormeaux, Any Given Saturday 12-1 Garrett Gomez, Dominican 20-1 Rafael Bejarano and Great Hunter 15-1 Corey Nakatani.
All the of the runners will carry 126 pounds. Post-time is 6:10 p.m. (et) and the race will be televised on NBC.
In addition to the more than $1 million that the winning owners will receive, there is now a $1 million bonus. Yum Brands, the sponsoring company of the Kentucky Derby, has put up the bonus. The $1 million bonus will be awarded if the victorious horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths, the margin of victory that Barbaro posted last year.
Of the 20 three-year-olds entered eight have run on tracks listed as other than fast. They are Storm in May, Imawildandcrazyguy, Street Sense, Hard Spun, Teuflesberg, Bwana Bull, Scat Daddy and Dominican.
Arkansas Derby winner Curlin was given the role as the morning line favorite at 7-2. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Curlin will start from post 2 with Robby Albarado riding.
"A horse of his size can take his position," noted Asmussen, "but we would have preferred to be further outside."
Asmussen also trains Zanjero who will break from just to the outside of Curlin. Zanjero is 30-1 in the program and will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan.
The 4-1 second choice is Tampa Bay Derby winner Street Sense. The colt was voted champion two-year-old of 2006 after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. He will start from post 7 with Calvin Borel in the saddle.
"We have the option to settle in any position we want," said Nafzger. "I'm lookin' forward to a great, great Derby."
Nafzger saddled 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled.
Set to break from the outside of Street Sense is Lane's End Stakes winner Hard Spun. Hard Spun won a stakes race last year on a sloppy track at Delaware Park.
Hard Spun is 15-1 in the morning line and will be ridden by Mario Pino.
Trainer Larry Jones is very happy with the post position.
"We were very pleased getting an early draw," Jones said. "I was surprised some of the other horses chose outside of me."
Trainer Todd Pletcher has five horses entered in Saturday's Run for the Roses. He is still seeking his first Triple Crown win and has three solid contenders for the Kentucky Derby.
The five runners trained by Pletcher are Cowtown Cat, Sam P., Scat Daddy, Circular Quay and Any Given Saturday. Cowtown Cat won the Illinois Derby, Scat Daddy won the Florida Derby with Any Given Saturday third in the Wood Memorial. Circular Quay captured the Louisiana Derby and Sam P. was third in the Santa Anita Derby.
Here is the complete field for Saturday's Kentucky Derby in post position order: Sedgefield 50-1 Julien Leparoux, Curlin 7-2 Robby Albarado, Zanjero 30-1 Shaun Bridgmohan, Storm in May 30-1 Juan Leyva, Imawildandcrazyguy 50-1 Mark Guidry, Cowtown Cat 20-1 Fernando Jara, Street Sense 4-1 Calvin Borel, Hard Spun 15-1 Mario Pino, Liquidity 30-1 David Flores, Teuflesberg 30-1 Stewart Elliott, Bwana Bull 50-1 Javier Castellano, Nobiz Like Shobiz 8-1 Cornelio Velasquez, Sam P. 20-1 Ramon Dominguez, Scat Daddy 10-1 Edgar Prado, Tiago 15-1 Mike Smith, Circular Quay 8-1 John Velazquez, Stormello 30-1 Kent Desormeaux, Any Given Saturday 12-1 Garrett Gomez, Dominican 20-1 Rafael Bejarano and Great Hunter 15-1 Corey Nakatani.
All the of the runners will carry 126 pounds. Post-time is 6:10 p.m. (et) and the race will be televised on NBC.
In addition to the more than $1 million that the winning owners will receive, there is now a $1 million bonus. Yum Brands, the sponsoring company of the Kentucky Derby, has put up the bonus. The $1 million bonus will be awarded if the victorious horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths, the margin of victory that Barbaro posted last year.
