Classic Empire is 4-1 favorite

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After he endured hoof and back injuries and a reluctance to train, things are looking up for Classic Empire.

The bay colt was made the early 4-1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby on Wednesday, with just four of the 20 horses listed at single digits in a wideopen race.

Classic Empire was idle for three months after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and being named 2-year-old champion last year. He made his 3-year-old debut with a thirdplace finish in the Holy Bull Stakes in February. Then came two more months off, and twice during that time, the colt didn’t want to train.

“It’s been a crazy road, but we’re right where we want to be,” trainer Mark Casse said.

Classic Empire restored Casse’s confidence in him by delivering a half-length victory in the Arkansas Derby in mid-April.

Classic Empire will break from the No. 14 post Saturday. Just two horses have won the Derby from there. The last was Carry Back in 1961.

Classic Empire’s sire, Pioneerof the Nile, finished second in the 2009 Derby. Recent history is on Classic Empire’s side. The favorite has won the Derby each of the past four years. It’s the longest such streak since the 1970s.

Always Dreaming and McCraken, a three-time winner at Churchill Downs, are co-second choices at 5-1.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Always Dreaming drew the No. 5 post, which has produced nine Derby winners, most recently California Chrome in 2014. Blue Grass Stakes winner McCraken will break from the No. 15 hole. The most recent of five winners from there was Triple Crown champion American Pharoah two years ago.

Casse is one of three trainers with multiple horses in the race. He also trains State of Honor. Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen have three starters each. Pletcher is seeking his second Derby win from the trio of Always Dreaming, Tapwrit and Patch.

Asmussen has yet to win the Derby in his long career. He’ll saddle Lookin At Lee, Untrapped and Hence.

Irish War Cry is the fourth choice at 6-1 and drew the No. 17 post. No horse has ever won from there.

Four horses are listed at 15-1: Girvin, Hence, Gunnevera and Gormley. Six horses are 20-1 shots: Lookin At Lee, Thunder Snow, Irap, J Boys Echo, Tapwrit and Practical Joke.

There are even bigger odds for bettors who like extreme long shots. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Battle of Midway, Untrapped, State of Honor and Patch, the one-eyed horse, are all at 30-1.

Hollendorfer told The Chronicle he was happy with the No. 11 post for Battle of Midway.

“We like our post quite a bit,” the Bay Area trainer said. “I need to study the (Racing) Form and talk to ( jockey) Flavien (Prat) before we make a basic plan, but it’s a rider’s race and we’ll see what happens.”

Patch, whose left eye was removed because of infection, drew the No. 20 post on the far outside. He won’t be able to see the rest of the field to his left. Freelance writer Larry Stumes

contributed to this report.