Kentucky Derby Picks: Entrants Who Will Fail to Contend Late

The enormous stage and elite competition of the Kentucky Derby will prove to be too much for three hopeful horses. 

The following three horses on this list will earn their share of bets as they possess attributes that point toward success. However, they also have some key factors that are working against them and will doom them in the 139th Kentucky Derby. 

Revolutionary 

Trained by Todd Pletcher, this horse will be ridden by Calvin Borel and it will see a ton of action.

Revolutionary took the Louisiana Derby his last time out and did so by besting fellow Kentucky Derby hopeful Mylute.

However, it was just this last Nov. 24 that Revolutionary came in third in a mile-long race won by my favorite for Kentucky, Orb.

Revolutionary didn't have the speed to keep up with Orb then and he won't on May 4. Revolutionary will get stuck in traffic and not have what it takes to run down the leaders. 

Normandy Invasion

Normandy Invasion sparked a lot of interest in the Wood Memorial when he closed on the undefeated Verrazano to lose by less than a length.

That charge led him past another Derby hopeful, Vyjack.

That closing speed has bettors intrigued for the Derby. The problem is that Normandy Invasion is not used to winning. 

In two Grade II, mile-plus races leading up to the Wood, this horse finished second and fifth—with the fifth coming in February’s Risen Star at Fair Grounds. 

This is a talented horse, but I don't trust him against an elite field as he hasn't shown enough will to win. 

Will Take Charge

Will Take Charge will earn some hype heading into this race. He has nice pedigree and a solid resume.

Not to mention, he is trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

He was impressive in winning Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes by a head over Oxbow, but he hasn't been in action since that race, which was nearly two months ago.

While this means he will be fresh, it also means he won't be used to competition. With the big field and elite competition at the Kentucky Derby, that rust will doom Will Take Charge and he will be overwhelmed down the stretch.