Kentucky Derby 2015 Contenders: Early Favorites to Watch at Churchill Downs

California Chrome captured the imagination of the globe one year ago at Churchill Downs, but this year there is no true standout favorite going into the 2015 Kentucky Derby.

Granted, there's a favorite trainer thanks to the legendary Bob Baffert. There's no California Chrome, though, because two Baffert-trained horses by the names of Dortmund and American Pharoah are so dominant the eventual winner is as sure as a flip of a coin.

Make no mistake—the rest of the field features plenty of talent, having survived the points system to qualify for a spot at the opening gates.

But when it comes right down to it, there are only a handful of horses who classify as favorites.

2015 Kentucky Derby 

When: May 2, 2015

Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky

Post Time: 6:24 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Early Favorites to Watch 

Carpe Diem

Garry Jones/Associated Press

Carpe Diem is the outlier in the Baffert-heavy assault on Churchill Downs at the beginning of next month.

Then again, another legendary trainer, Todd Pletcher, leads the three-year-old colt to Kentucky for the event.

Carpe Diem is on fire as of late, taking first place in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby in March and winning the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at the beginning of the month. There, jockey John Velazquez rode Carpe Diem to victory.

Pletcher liked the arrangement so much the two will work together again at Churchill Downs, which is nothing short of fantastic news for Carpe Diem. Velazquez is legendary in his own right and already owns more than $5 million in winnings this year, per Equibase.com.

A winner in four of five starts, Carpe Diem has the fitness to keep pace with the heavyweights down the stretch and is not one to underestimate.

Dortmund

Uncredited/Associated Press

Trained by Baffert and with a sire by the name of Big Brown, it's not hard to figure out why Dortmund is right there with American Pharoah as a favorite.

Dortmund has never lost in six career starts and was last seen mopping up the competition at the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. He's the exact opposite of American Pharoah, a heavy worker who runs anything and everything and dominates inferior competition with the utmost ease.

Baffert made quite the comparison between the two, as The Courier-Journal captures:

Personal preference ends such a debate, as it should when it comes to Dortmund versus American Pharoah.

With jockey Martin Garcia up top, Dortmund is in a position to charge out of the gates at yet another race and put up a strong fight. The field is more competitive this time, but there's still something to be said for taking care of business each time out.

American Pharoah

Danny Johnston/Associated Press

Is American Pharoah the next California Chrome or more?

So seems to be the early signs after the three-year-old colt blew away the competition at the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby earlier this month.

Others in the know seem to be in awe of what American Pharoah brings to the table each time out, as Alicia Wincze Hughes of the Lexington Herald-Leader captures:

ESPN.com's Bill Finley offers American Pharoah high praise:

"

It starts with American Pharoah. With any of these horses it's too early to tell just how good they are or whether they will live up to the hype. But, then again, there's every chance he could be one of the greatest horses of our times. He reminds you of Seattle Slew. It's more than he beats his competition. He just flat out outruns them, flaunting his superiority every step of the way.

"

Detractors will point out American Pharoah doesn't face the stiffest of competition, but it's not a great point considering the times the horse posts are still elite.

Making American Pharoah all the more dangerous at Churchill Downs is the fact jockey Victor Espinoza will be up top. Folks know Espinoza as the guy who rode California Chrome last year and as one of the most decorated in the sport.

While there are names to remember at this year's Kentucky Derby, none seem to come close to American Pharoah.

Stats and information via KentuckyDerby.com unless otherwise specified.