2013 Kentucky Derby Horses: Expert Projections for Entire Field
If the last four Kentucky Derby races are any indication, the big favorites at this weekend's 139th Run for the Roses are set to walk away from Churchill Downs disappointed.
A betting favorite hasn't won the Derby since Big Brown in 2008, and recent races have featured 15-1 winner I'll Have Another in 2012, 20-1 winner Animal Kingdom in 2011 and 50-1 Mine That Bird in 2009. The pattern has caused many experts and horse racing fans to lean towards a sleeper on Saturday.
Here, Thoroughbred Racing PR man Stephen Panus offers some popular sleeper picks:
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Staying true to the underdog theme, Yahoo! Sports' Pat Forde presents his Kentucky Derby picks, which are "sure to go wrong":
It seems that Boston.com's Adam Kaufman has joined Panus on the Overanalyze bandwagon:
Is there such thing as a favored underdog?
Not sure, but if so Overanalyze has to be the closest thing to it. The Grade I Arkansas Derby winner, who will run out of post No. 9 on Saturday, is picking up tons of steam in the lead-up to the 6:24 p.m. ET post time.
Speaking of stocks rising and falling, NBC Sports' horse racing analyst, Randy Moss, discusses the ever-changing Kentucky Derby odds and confirms the unpredictability of the Triple Crown's first leg:
With so many possibilities in Saturday's race, I'm predicting the closest thing the Triple Crown has to a sure thing to win: Calvin Borel.
The three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey has been a master at navigating the rail at Churchill Downs in recent years, claiming the roses three times since 2007. On Saturday, Borel will ride favorite Revolutionary out of post No. 3, close enough to the rail where he can find a successful groove early on for Todd Pletcher's colt.
With rain showers expected to sloppy up the track conditions by post time on Saturday, there isn't a better bet than Derby master Borel and the Grade II Louisiana Derby winner, Revolutionary.
As much as I like Orb and Overanalyze, Borel has proven in recent years that no one operates Churchill Downs as well or as confidently as him. After all, not only is he the first jockey to win three times in a four-year span at the Run for the Roses, but he's won the Derby atop a favorite (Street Sense, 2007) and atop a heavy underdog (Mine That Bird, 2009).
Here's a look at my complete projections for Saturday's Kentucky Derby:
2013 Kentucky Derby Projections
| Place | Horse | Odds | Post |
| 1 | Revolutionary | 5-1 | 3 |
| 2 | Orb | 7-1 | 16 |
| 3 | Overanalyze | 14-1 | 9 |
| 4 | Goldencents | 6-1 | 8 |
| 5 | Verrazano | 9-1 | 14 |
| 6 | Palace Malice | 24-1 | 10 |
| 7 | Itsmyluckyday | 9-1 | 12 |
| 8 | Charming Kitten | 29-1 | 15 |
| 9 | Java's War | 22-1 | 19 |
| 10 | Normandy Invasion | 7-1 | 5 |
| 11 | Mylute | 13-1 | 6 |
| 12 | Golden Soul | 31-1 | 4 |
| 13 | Vyjack | 36-1 | 20 |
| 14 | Will Take Charge | 30-1 | 17 |
| 15 | Frac Daddy | 23-1 | 18 |
| 16 | Oxbow | 22-1 | 2 |
| 17 | Lines of Battle | 33-1 | 11 |
| 18 | Giant Finish | 39-1 | 7 |
| 19 | Falling Sky | 39-1 | 13 |
*Odds via KentuckyDerby.com. Note: Black Onyx has been scratched from post No. 1.
Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.
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