7-0 in his career – will attempt to become the first Kentucky Derby champion to win from post No. 13 since Smarty Jones in 2004.
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“It’s pretty exciting to have the favorite for the Kentucky Derby”, he said. Bet a dollar on Nyquist to win, and you get your dollar back plus three more. Owned by Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables and Jay Bligh, My May Sam’s pedigree is Trappe Shot – Lauren Byrd, by Arch. A closer in terms of running style, My Man Sam’s jockey for this weekend will be Irad Ortiz Jr.
Baffert said the last time he was assigned with post No. 17 “was with Point Given with Gary Stevens”.
Japanese entry Lani is listed at 30-1.
“It sucks”, said Desormeaux, who has won the Derby three times. Creator will break from the No. 3 post with Gun Runner in the No. 5.
Trainer Doug O’Neill forgot that fact until Reddam reminded him.
In a race where numerous top contenders prefer to come from behind, one of the biggest question marks this week was who would go to the early lead and whether there would be fast enough fractions to set things up for the closers.
Keith Desormeaux said he remains confident in part because Nyquist’s best speed figures – statistics used to rate a horse’s performance relative to field speed and track conditions – aren’t as good as Exaggerator’s best.
But in an interesting twist, the only real speed horse, and the one most likely to be in a hurry to get to the front, Danzing Candy, will break from the far outside, the No. 20 post, under jockey Mike Smith, who won the 2005 Derby aboard 50-1 shot Giacomo.
Last year, Baffert won with American Pharoah, who swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to win the sport’s first Triple Crown in 37 years. In his last three starts, he has had little trouble defeating Exaggerator, Brody’s Cause, and Mohaymen, three of the most accomplished colts in the bunch.
The Block News Alliance consists of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Blade of Toledo, Ohio, and television station WDRB in Louisville, Ky. But he was fine with the No. 17, even though no horse has ever won the Derby from there. Mor Spirit follows at 12-1.
The only horse who appeared to be significantly compromised by post position was Trojan Nation, who comes into the race winless and drew the dreaded No. 1 hole. It’s a quality that served American Pharoah previous year and California Chrome in 2014.
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Second choice in the first leg of USA thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown is Exaggerator, an 8-1 choice starting from the 11th post position, with Creator, Gun Runner and Mohaymen joint third picks at 10-1 in the 20-horse field. He’ll start from the No. 10 post on 20-to-1 longshot Whitmore.
