Mcgaughey has the favorite in Orb
Verrazano a close 2nd as one of five starters trained by Pletcher
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Orb has been made the early 7-2 favorite for the Kentucky Derby, with undefeated Verrazano the second choice in a full field of 20 horses.
Trained by Shug McGaughey, Orb drew the No. 16 post Wednesday. 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 previous tries.
Orb comes into the big race Saturday on a four-race winning streak. He won the Florida Derby in his last start.
‘‘I think where from he is, we’ll be solid,’’ McGaughey said. ‘‘Kind of hold our position, maybe try to creep in a little bit more around the first turn, and he can kind of watch what’s going on down on the inside.’’
Wood Memorial winner Verrazano, who’s undefeated, drew the No. 14 post and is the 4-1 second choice. The colt is one of a recordtying five starters trained by Todd Pletcher. He won his first and only Derby in 2010 with Super Saver.
‘‘We got everything we wanted,’’ Pletcher said. ‘‘No complaints whatsoever.’’
Trainer Doug O’Neill’s Goldencents landed in the No. 8 post and was made the 5-1 third choice.
‘‘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.
Another Pletcher horse, Revolutionary, was the fourth choice at 10-1 on the morning line. The colt is ridden by Calvin Borel, a threetime Derby winner famous for riding the rail. Revolutionary drew the No. 3 post, leaving Borel close to his favorite 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.’’
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).
Spiral Stakes winner Black Onyx drew the No. 1 post and is one of five 50-1 shots in the field. That spot has produced 12 Derby winners, tying with the No. 5 hole for the most successful post positions.