Kentucky Derby 2013 Contenders: Most Likely Horses to Make Run at Triple Crown

The 2013 Kentucky Derby is going to be stocked with viable contenders in the race's 139th running. However, there are several that stand out from the 20-horse field as potential candidates to make a push for the rare Triple Crown.

Every promising thoroughbred's bid has fallen short since 1978, when Affirmed last pulled off the feat, per Horse Racing Nation.

If there were a trio to be counted upon as possible dominant forces to ultimately capture all three of horse racing's most coveted races at once, the following three horses would comprise it.

Verrazano

Although the three-year-old just began competitive racing in 2013, he hasn't lost yet—and for the majority of the time during his performances, he has looked like the premier horse in the sport as of now.

Verrazano is the best combination of size and speed in this race, and it's just a matter of whether he can keep it up down the final straightaway. That is somewhat of a concern because on the one and one-eighth mile track at the Wood Memorial Stakes, Verrazano let up ever so slightly down the stretch.

That allowed Normandy Invasion to nearly steal the race at the finish after an impressive outside charge. However, Verrazano held on to remain undefeated in four outstanding showcases.

Winning will prove difficult for Verrazano, though, as he will look to become just the second horse since Apollo, who won in 1882, to win the Derby after not racing as a two-year-old. Considering his rapid development, he could be the horse to snap that historical pattern.

Verrazano also has the talent and elite Hall of Fame team of trainer Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez—the 2011 Derby winner with Animal Kingdom—perched on top of the dynamic horse.

Orb

Although the aforementioned Verrazano may be considered the favorite, the co-leader in Kentucky Derby points is certainly making a case for himself in workouts.

When Orb took the track on Monday morning and put on a dazzling display of four furlongs in 47.8 seconds and five in just over one minute, it was clear that he came to win.

The Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman was so stunned that he went as far to say that Orb would coast to victory if he ran on Saturday like he did in this particular showcase:

That's a bold assertion, especially because Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has stated that he intends to make Verrazano the morning-line favorite on Wednesday.

Just about the only thing missing on jockey Joel Rosario's resume is a triumph in a Triple Crown race. Trainer Claude R. "Shug" McGaughey III may be in the Hall of Fame already, but he is a Lexington native who has never had a horse win the Run for the Roses.

That should only be more incentive to focus this horse hard and ultimately make a push for nailing horse racing's trifecta. A victory in Louisville would continue the momentum for the Florida Derby winner and push Orb into the discussion for legitimately pursuing the Triple Crown.

Normandy Invasion

As mentioned earlier, the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack got extremely interesting thanks to Normandy Invasion going on an absolute tear after the final turn.

Had he been turned loose earlier, a win was definitely not out of the question. It's been three races since Normandy Invasion's last triumph, but this is a horse that is ready to break out into a perennial star at any moment.

Jockey Javier Castellano is the leading money winner in the 2013 season (h/t Equibase.com) and has simply had to get used to Normandy Invasion. If his last time out in New York was any indication, it seems he's figured out how to ride him properly.

A victory at Churchill Downs would put Castellano just one Belmont Stakes away from the career Triple Crown, and he has a horse with enough upside and closing explosiveness to possibly get it all done in 2013.

Trainer Chad Brown notes that his horse has a lot of intelligence and can do a little bit of everything.

Normandy Invasion's constant improvement, versatility and penchant for closing strong may be enough to catapult him into the Triple Crown conversation despite not as much hype.

Note: All race history for the horses and past Derby winners is courtesy of KentuckyDerby.com.