Orb favoured to win the Derby
Verrazano a close second, oddsmaker says
LOUISVILLE, KY. — Trainer Doug O’Neill had a pretty darned good day on two courses. First he birdied the eighth hole during a Wednesday afternoon golf outing at Valhalla and then he aced the Kentucky Derby draw when Goldencents landed in the No. 8 post and was made the 5-1 third choice for Saturday’s race.
“It should be perfect for him,” said O’Neill, who saddled last year’s winner, I’ll Have Another.
“Perfect” was not the way last year’s Triple Crown series ended for O’Neill and his colt. He came under intense scrutiny after another one of his horses failed a drug test and I’ll Have Another was retired with a leg injury the day before the Belmont Stakes.
Orb was made the slight 7-2 favourite over undefeated Verrazano, one of a record-tying five horses for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Trained by Shug McGaughey, Orb drew the No. 16 post in a full field of 20 horses. Four horses have won from there, most recently Animal Kingdom two years ago. McGaughey is in racing’s Hall of Fame, but the 62-year-old trainer has yet to win the Derby in six tries.
Orb comes into the Derby on a four-race winning streak. He won the Florida Derby in his last start.
Wood Memorial winner Verrazano drew the No. 14 post and was the 4-1 second choice. There were four spots left in the gate — including the dreaded No. 1 and No. 2 — before Verrazano’s name was called. Being in the No. 14 hole gives the colt the benefit of extra room because of the gap between his spot and No. 15, which is the start of the auxiliary gate.
Another Pletcher horse, Revolutionary, was the fourth choice at 10-1 on the morning line set by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. The colt is ridden by Calvin Borel, a three-time Derby winner famous for riding the rail. Revolutionary drew the No. 3 post, leaving Borel close to his favourite route on the track.
“Very happy,” Pletcher said. “I think Calvin will be looking to go inside as soon as he could, so starting off inside was a good thing. Super Saver started from four.”
Pletcher won his only Derby in 2010 with Super Saver under a rail-hugging ride by Borel.
Normandy Invasion is the fifth choice at 12-1.
The other 15 horses are all 15-1 or higher, including Pletcher’s trio of Overanalyze (15-1), Palace Malice (20-1), and Charming Kitten (20-1).
If all 20 horses start, the total purse would be $2,199,800. The winner earns $1,439,800. Post time is 6:24 p.m. EDT.