Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
- On Saturday, 20 horses will step into the gates at Churchill Downs for the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby.
- Omaha Beach entered as the early favorite to win but was forced to scratch from the race due to injury.
- Below we go post by post to break down the chances of the seven favorites to win the roses now that Omaha Beach is out.
- Follow all of our Kentucky Derby coverage here.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
On Saturday, 20 horses will step into the gates at Churchill Downs, with one winning the "Run for the Roses" and taking the first step toward Triple Crown immortality.
After the official draw determined the post positions for the 20 horses in the field this year, the morning line was set, and bettors began to consider where they’d put their money down before the starting gun sounds on Saturday.
Read more: Kentucky Derby 2019: A beginner’s guide to betting the biggest horse race of the year
On Wednesday, early favorite Omaha Beach was forced to scratch due to injury. The news came as a shock to racing fans ready to support him, and his absence makes this year’s run at Churchill Downs as open a race as we’ve seen in years.
While any horse could win on Saturday, seven horses stand above the rest as having the potential to take home the roses and possibly make a run at the Triple Crown.
Below we break down the seven favorites of the 2019 Kentucky Derby.
Game Winner
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Post position: No. 16
Opening odds: 5/1
Why he can win: Just two horses have ever crossed the finish line before Game Winner, and one of them was Omaha Beach, who had to scratch due to injury. The other was stablemate Roadster, who barely edged out Game Winner at the Santa Anita Derby. If Game Winner runs his best race on Saturday, there’s no reason he shouldn’t leave with the roses.
Reasons to be wary: Roadster closed strong on Game Winner at the Santa Anita Derby. If Game Winner is forced to keep pace near the front of the pack again, Roadster or another strong closer could take advantage of the extra length of Churchill Downs and catch him at the last moment once again.
Roadster
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Post position: No. 17
Opening odds: 6/1
Why he can win: Roadster had already beaten one of the best horses in this field when he outran Game Winner at the Santa Anita Derby and proved in the same race that closing at the Kentucky Derby shouldn’t be a problem, even if he has some ground to catch up heading into the final turn.
Reasons to be wary: Roadster’s strong finish at the Santa Anita Derby was impressive but came in a race that featured just six horses. Even if he has all the closing speed in the world, if Roadster is too far back when he wants to make his move, finding an open lane in a 20-horse field might prove difficult.
Improbable
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Post position: No. 5
Opening odds: 6/1
Why he can win: Like Game Winner, Improbable has only lost to two horses in his career, one of which was Omaha Beach. The other was Long Range Toddy, who beat Improbable by a nose with the help of a brilliant ride from jockey Jon Court. In three separate races, Improbable is undefeated, and if he can find a favorable path on Saturday, he’s got the stuff to win.
Reasons to be wary: While some horses are coming into the Kentucky Derby in their best form, Improbable has lost his past two races. Of course, it only takes one great race to flip that script, but there are other horses in the field that are already trending in the right direction.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- The favorite to win the Kentucky Derby was forced to scratch due to injury, completely reshaping the biggest race of the year
- Kentucky Derby 2019: Everything you need to know about the 20 horses racing in the ‘Run for the Roses’
- 14 traditions that make the Kentucky Derby unlike any other event in sports
Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Tyler Lauletta)