Kentucky Derby Schedule: Complete Info for Best 2 Minutes in Sports
The Kentucky Derby is known by a variety of nicknames, including the “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Run for the Roses.”
Regardless of what you choose to call this historic horse race, the 2013 edition is guaranteed to be approximately two minutes of incredible intrigue and amazing thoroughbred action.
You’re not going to want to miss a single, precious second of the first leg of the Triple Crown, so keep reading to find out where to watch it, which horses to keep an eye on and much more.
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Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky.
When: Saturday, May 4
Post Time: 6:24 p.m. ET
Watch: NBC
Contenders to Watch
Verrazano: 11-1
This horse heads into the Derby just behind Orb as the favorite, mostly due to the fact that he is undefeated in his four career starts and displayed flashes of sheer dominance in his prep races.
He’s being ridden by John Velazquez—who also mounted Orb, another contender, at times during the prep schedule—and trained by Todd Pletcher, a successful combination with recent, winning experience in this event (Velazquez in 2011 with Animal Kingdom, Pletcher in 2010 with Super Saver).
Verrazano wowed the crowd at the Tampa Bay Derby back on March 9 and followed it up with a solid victory in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in early April.
He showed the ability to start strong, kick into another gear and stave off efforts from other contenders down the stretch during these preliminary races. There is a good reason he’s a favorite and well worth a bet in this race.
Orb: 6-1
This contender is being trained by a Hall of Famer in Shug McGaughey and ridden by Joel Rosario, two notables who have yet to claim a Kentucky Derby crown.
They are hoping that changes in 2013, when Orb prepares to make an unforgettable Run for the Roses.
Orb is one of the better horses in the race, although casual observers may be scared to watch when he sits a considerable distance off the lead.
Don’t fret, however, as the thoroughbred came back from nearly three lengths to capture the Florida Derby on May 30.
That win was especially impressive, considering the surge allowed him to surpass Itsmyluckyday, another horse in this race and one of the faster competitors in the field.
Goldencents: 5-1
This is one of the more popular horses in the field, as he is being trained by Doug O’Neill—who found much success with I’ll Have Another in 2012—and partially owned by Louisville’s Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino.
However, Goldencents has earned some of this buzz by winning the Santa Anita Derby in early April and squarely placing himself among the favorites competing here at the Kentucky Derby.
His weakness is pure speed, but the length of the Churchill Downs track and slower pace should allow Goldencents to be right in the thick of things when the horses cross the finish line on Saturday evening.
Complete Field and Race Information
2013 Kentucky Derby | Grade I | Purse: $2.18 Million | Distance: 10 furlongs | Post Time: 6:24 p.m. ET
*Post positions and odds via KentuckyDerby.com.
Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
| SCR | SCR | N/A |
2 | Oxbow | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | 25-1 |
3 | Revolutionary | Calvin Borel | Todd Pletcher | 5-1 |
4 | Golden Soul | Robby Albarado | Dallas Stewart | 31-1 |
5 | Normandy Invasion | Javier Castellano | Chad Brown | 8-1 |
6 | Mylute | Rosie Napravnik | Tom Amoss | 14-1 |
7 | Giant Finish | Jose L. Espinoza | Anthony W. Dutrow | 44-1 |
8 | Goldencents | Kevin Krigger | Doug O'Neill | 5-1 |
9 | Overanalyze | Rafael Bejarano | Todd Pletcher | 14-1 |
10 | Palace Malice | Mike Smith | Todd Pletcher | 26-1 |
11 | Lines of Battle | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien | 42-1 |
12 | Itsmyluckyday | Elvis Trujillo | Eddie Plesa, Jr. | 11-1 |
13 | Falling Sky | Luis Saez | John Terranova II | 49-1 |
14 | Verrazano | John R. Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | 11-1 |
15 | Charming Kitten | Edgar Prado | Todd Pletcher | 32-1 |
16 | Orb | Joel Rosario | Claude R. McGaughey III | 6-1 |
17 | Will Take Charge | Jon Court | D. Wayne Lukas | 31-1 |
18 | Frac Daddy | Victor Lebron | Kenny McPeek | 15-1 |
19 | Java's War | Julien Leparoux | Kenny McPeek | 22-1 |
20 | Vyjack | Garrett Gomez | Rudy Rodriguez | 43-1 |
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