American Pharoah has emerged as the favorite for Saturday's Kentucky Derby after running away with the Arkansas Derby earlier this month. Bovada's Monday odds for the 141st Run for the Roses has American Pharoah as the betting favorite at 5 2 ahead of Dortmund at 4 1.
Both horses are trained by three time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert.
Carpe Diem at 15 2 Mubtaahij at 10 1 and Materiality at 12 1 are the next three horses down the odds list in what is expected to be a 20 horse field.
Post positions will be determined on Wednesday when the morning line odds will be announced.
The Kentucky Derby will be televised by NBC with post time at Churchill Downs scheduled for 5 24 p.m. CDT Saturday.
A rundown on the 20 horses assured of getting into the Kentucky Derby if their owners choose to enter them as determined by Churchill Downs' Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings
American Pharoah finished fifth in his first race but has since reeled off four victories pulling away at the end of each of them and winning by a combined 22.25 lengths. Most recently American Pharoah won the Grade I Arkansas Derby by 8 lengths on April 11. Trainer Bob Baffert who has trained three Kentucky Derby winners Silver Charm in 1997 Real Quiet in 1998 and War Emblem in 2002. Jockey Victor Espinoza who won the 2002 Kentucky Derby aboard War Emblem. Triple Crown Pedigree American Pharoah's grandsire Empire Maker won the 2003 Belmont Stakes after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby. His great grandsire Unbridled won the 1990 Kentucky Derby. American Pharoah's sire Pioneer of the Nile finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby.
Bolo ended his 2 year old season with a pair of victories. As a 3 year old he's run third in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 7 and the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 4 with Derby contender Dortmund winning both races. Trainer Carla Gaines. Jockey Rafael Bejarano. Triple Crown Pedigree Bolo's great damsire is 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.
Carpe Diem has won both his outings in 2015 taking the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby on March 7 and the Grade I Blue Grass on April 4. Carpe Diem has won four of his five career races including the Grade I Breeder's Cup Futurity on Oct. 4. Trainer Todd Pletcher who trained 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Jockey John Velazquez who won the 2011 Kentucky Derby on Animal Kingdom.
Danzig Moon finished second 3 lengths behind Derby contender Carpe Diem in the Grade I Blue Grass on April 4. Carpe Diem also won the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby on March 7 when Danzig Moon ran fourth. Danzig Moon has turned in the fastest 5 furlong workout at 58.80 seconds since the contenders arrived at Churchill Downs. Trainer Mark Casse Jockey Julien Leparoux. Triple Crown Pedigree Danzig Moon's grandsire A.P. Indy won the 1992 Belmont Stakes and 1964 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Northern Dancer is his great damsire.
Dortmund has done nothing but win in six races. Three of them have come this year including the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 4. If Dortmund were a football player he'd be the first off the bus for every road game because of his intimidating size. Trainer Bob Baffert who has trained three Kentucky Derby winners Silver Charm in 1997 Real Quiet in 1998 and War Emblem in 2002. Jockey Martin Garcia. Triple Crown Pedigree Dortmund's sire Big Brown won the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes but pulled up in the Belmont Stakes with a foot problem in his bid for the Triple Crown.
El Kabeir is well campaigned the Kentucky Derby will be his 10th race. He has four wins including the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs two seconds two thirds and one fourth. El Kabeir is coming off a third place showing behind Frosted and Tencendur at the Grade I Wood Memorial on April 4. He has turned in the fastest 4 furlong workout at 46.81 seconds since the contenders arrived at Churchill Downs. Trainer John Terranova II. Jockey Calvin Borel who has ridden three Kentucky Derby winners Street Sense in 2007 Mine That Bird in 2009 and Super Saver in 2010.
Far Right has a nine race career that includes three firsts three seconds two thirds and a fourth and three races at Churchill Downs. After winning his first two races of 2015 Far Right ran second in American Pharoah's eight length victory in the Arkansas Derby on April 11. Trainer Ron Moquett. Jockey Mike Smith who won the 2005 Kentucky Derby aboard Giacomo. Triple Crown Pedigree Far Right's great grandsire Seattle Slew won the 1977 Triple Crown.
Firing Line warmed up for the Kentucky Derby by winning the Grade III Sunland Derby by 14.25 lengths in a track record time on March 22. He lost his previous two races to Dortmund by a head after leading in the stretch in both. In five races Firing Line has two wins and three seconds never more than one half length behind. Trainer Simon Callaghan. Jockey Gary Stevens has ridden three Kentucky Derby winners Winning Colors in 1988 Thunder Gulch in 1995 and Silver Charm in 1997.
Frosted bounced back from a disappointing fourth place finish after leading in the stretch of the Grade II Fountain of Youth on Feb. 21 by winning the Grade I Wood Memorial by 2 lengths on April 4. Before those races he had one victory and four seconds on his record. Trainer Kiaran McLauglin. Jockey Joel Rosario who won the 2013 Kentucky Derby on Orb. Triple Crown Pedigree Frosted is a descendant of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew through both his sire and dam.
International Star has won his three of his outings this year sweeping New Orleans' three Derby preps including the Louisiana Derby on March 28. He's won all three of his races with Miguel Mena aboard. International Star's 171 points top the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings. International Star won two of his six races as a 2 year old. Trainer Mike Maker. Jockey Miguel Mena. Triple Crown Pedigree International Star's sire is Fusaichi Pegasus the winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby.
Itsaknockout won his first two races then finished second to Upstart in the Grade II Fountain of Youth on Feb. 21 and fourth 21 lengths behind Derby contender Materiality in the Grade I Florida Derby on March 28. Trainer Todd Pletcher who trained 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Jockey Luis Saez. Triple Crown Pedigree Itsaknockout's sire Lemon Drop Kid won the 1999 Belmont Stakes.
Keen Ice won one of his four 2 year old starts and has come in fifth third and fourth as a 3 year old in Grade II races with International Star winning in Keen Ice's past two outings. Trainer Dale Romans. Jockey Kent Desormeaux a three time Kentucky Derby winner on Real Quiet in 1998 Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000 and Big Brown in 2008. Triple Crown Pedigree Keen Ice is the son of Curlin the 2007 Preakness Stakes winner.
Materiality has won all three of his career starts including beating Upstart by 1.5 lengths in the Grade I Florida Derby on March 28. He didn't race as a 2 year old and Apollo in 1882 is the only Derby winner who did not race as a 2 year old. Trainer Todd Pletcher who trained 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Jockey Javier Castellano. Triple Crown Pedigree Materiality's sire Afleet Alex won the 2005 Preakness and Belmont after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby.
Mr. Z has 12 races under his saddle but only one victory in his first outing. After finishing last and coming in 20.75 lengths behind Derby contender International Star in the Louisiana Derby on March 28 Mr. Z came back with a third place showing behind American Pharoah and Far Right at the Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 11. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has saddled four Kentucky Derby winners Winning Colors in 1988 Thunder Gulch in 1995 Grindstone in 1996 and Charismatic in 1999 and Mr. Z will be his record 48th Derby starter. Jockey Ramon Vazquez. Triple Crown Pedigree Mar. Z's grandsire A.P. Indy won the 1992 Belmont Stakes.
Mubtaahij is Irish bred with winning European bloodlines and will be the only horse in the field that has raced farther than one and one eighth mile. He's making his first run in the United States. After finishing fifth and seventh in his first two races on turf he has four wins and a second place finish by a head on dirt. Mubtaahij is expected to be the first horse since 2005 to run in the Kentucky Derby without using the anti bleeding medication Lasix. Trainer Mike de Kock. Jockey Christophe Soumillon.
Ocho Ocho Ocho won his three 2 year old outings then started 2015 by finishing eighth 15.5 lengths behind winner and Derby contender Dortmund in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 7. He came back to finish third behind Carpe Diem and Danzig Moon in the Grade I Blue Grass on April 4. Trainer Jim Cassidy. Jockey Elvis Trujillo. Triple Crown Pedigree Ocho Ocho Ocho's sire Street Sense won the 2007 Kentucky Derby.
Stanford finished one quarter length back of Derby contender International Star in the Louisiana Derby on March 28 and 5.75 lengths back in second to Derby contender Materiality in the Islamorada Stakes on March 6 in his past two outings. Trainer Todd Pletcher who trained 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Jockey Florent Geroux. Triple Crown Pedigree Stanford's grandsire A.P. Indy won the 1992 Belmont Stakes. He's one of three sons of Malibu Moon in the race along with Danzig Moon and Mr. Z. Malibu Moon's career ended prematurely because of an injury.
Tencendur finished second and 2 lengths back to Derby contender Frosted the last time out in the Grade I Wood Memorial on April 4. He ran only once as a 2 year old but has four races this year starting with a victory followed by a fourth and a fifth. Trainer George Weaver. Jockey Manny Franco.
Upstart has four victories among his seven starts to go with two seconds and one third. After beating Derby contender Frosted by 5.5 lengths in the Grade II Holy Bull in January Upstart has run second in the Grade II Fountain of Youth and the Grade I Florida Derby where he finished 1.5 lengths behind another Derby contender Materiality. Trainer Rick Violette Jr. Jockey Jose Ortiz. Triple Crown Pedigree Upstart is the grandson of two Belmont Stakes winners A.P. Indy in 1992 and Touch Gold in 1997.
War Story won his two outings as a 2 year old and has posted a pair of seconds and third as a 3 year old with Derby contender International Star winning all three of the 2015 races in New Orleans. Trainer Tom Amoss. Jockey Joe Talamo. Triple Crown Pedigree War Story's great damsire A.P. Indy won the 1992 Belmont Stakes.
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