Believe it or not, today is already the first Saturday in May - and that can only mean one thing: DERBY DAY! So start day-drinking Mint Juleps and put you on your loudest hat because it is time to celebrate. After 2 years of Covid – weirdness (Derby in 2020 was held in September to an empty Churchill Downs, and last year the joint was only half-full), this year is being billed as a “Return to Normal” Derby.
In a crowded field of 20 horses, anything can happen and, of course, any horse has a chance of taking home the $1.86 million winner’s share of the $3 million purse. But if early odds are any indication, it appears that this may come down to just a 5-horse race. Thus, if we were you - and if we were the gambling type - these are the horses we would consider to win this year's 148th Kentucky Derby in the 12th. Post time 6:57 PM:
HORSE: #3 Epicenter
TRAINER: Steve Asmussen
JOCKEY: Joel Rosario
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won Louisiana Derby
EARLY ODDS: 7-2
HORSE: #6 Messier
TRAINER: Tim Yakteen
JOCKEY: John Velazquez
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won Robert B Lewis
EARLY ODDS: 8-1
HORSE: #12 Taiba
TRAINER: Zedan Racing
JOCKEY Mike Smith
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won San Anita Derby
EARLY ODDS: 12-1
HORSE: #10 Zandon
TRAINER: Chad Brown
JOCKEY: Flavien Prat
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won Blue Grass
EARLY ODDS: 3-1
HORSE: #1 Mo Donegal
TRAINER: Todd Pletcher
JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won Wood Memorial
EARLY ODDS: 10-1