Classic Empire named favorite

Returning from health issues, he’ll start No. 14

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At Classic Empire’s lowest moments, when the early Kentucky Derby favorite was beset by hoof and back ailments and refusing to work, trainer Mark Casse shared a bit of advice with close friends.

“I have a few friends who like to bet in Vegas, and I told them to get all they can get,” Casse recalled. “Because everybody was counting him out, but he was long from done.”

Classic Empire is the once and future king of this year’s Derby field. He was the consensus best 2-year-old of 2016, winning all four races he finished, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. But in the first three months of 2017, he became better known for his health woes and erratic personality than for his race results. Then in the April 15 Arkansas Derby, he was back, roaring from the outside to pass Conquest Mo Money.

On Wednesday, Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia officially made him the 4-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s Derby. Classic Empire, ridden by Julien Leparoux, will start from the No. 14 post position.

“I still always thought he was the best horse,” Casse said. “I just didn’t come out and say it, because I was taking enough pressure in the press.”

As fascinating as Classic Empire’s rocky story has been, the fact he’s the favorite speaks to the unsettled state of this year’s Derby field. There are plenty of talented horses but none of them arrived here with

spotless resumes.

“We all have chances in there,” said trainer Dale Romans, who will saddle 20-1 choice J Boys Echo in the Derby. “I don’t think it’s a weak group of horses. I think it’s an even group of horses.”

Rival trainers view Classic Empire as a gifted horse and legitimate favorite. They just don’t view him as a world beater.

“When you look at it just on numbers, it’s very even,” said trainer Doug O’Neill, who won last year’s Derby with Nyquist and will saddle 20-1 choice Irap in this year’s race. “There’s no horses coming in — there are a lot of really nice 3-year-olds that just look like they’re getting better and better — but no freakish 2-year-olds that have continued on.”

No contender has proven he can handle everything thrown at him.

“It’s even in the fact that you have brilliance lacking experience,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who has three horses in the race, including popular handicapper’s choice Hence. “And when you put them all together, we know as horsemen that not everybody’s going to get their best circumstances.”

Irish War Cry is a 6-1 fourth choice in Battaglia’s morning line, and he’ll start from well outside at the No. 17 post. No horse has ever won the Derby from there, but trainer Graham Motion was content with the draw.

“Someone’s going to win from the 17 hole one day,” Motion said. “I was very happy with it. I think it suits the horse, actually. It doesn’t bother me at all.”

Todd Pletcher-trained Always Dreaming and hometown favorite McCraken are the co-second choices at 5-1.

Always Dreaming will start from the No. 5 post, an ideal spot for an inexperienced horse who blew away the field in the April 1 Florida Derby.

McCraken, undefeated in three races at Churchill Downs but coming off a disappointing run in the Blue Grass Stakes, will start from the No. 15 post.

No other horse is better than a 15-1 choice — odds shared by Girvin, Gunnevera, Hence and Gormley — in Battaglia’s early line for the field of 20.

Casse