Kentucky Derby 2015 Horses: Entry List, Vegas Odds and Dark-Horse Contenders
The 2015 Kentucky Derby has a David-versus-Goliath feel to it.
Trainer Bob Baffert trots the two favorites to Churchill Downs this year. One is Dortmund, sired by Big Brown. The other is American Pharoah, ridden by Victor Espinoza, a legendary jockey who almost took California Chrome the distance in a dash for the Triple Crown one year ago.
The rest of the field doesn't receive much in the way of attention. It makes sense to a degree, as the two colts mentioned above haven't shown much in the way of weaknesses so far.
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Anything goes when the gates at Churchill Downs open, though. For bettors on the hunt for a better return, there are a few horses to keep in mind above all others.
2015 Kentucky Derby Lineup and Odds
| American Pharoah | 13-5 | Bob Baffert |
| Dortmund | 4-1 | Bob Baffert |
| Carpe Diem | 15-2 | Todd Pletcher |
| Mubtaahij | 10-1 | Mike de Kock |
| Materiality | 14-1 | Todd Pletcher |
| Firing Line | 16-1 | Simon Callaghan |
| Frosted | 16-1 | Kiaran McLaughlin |
| Upstart | 20-1 | Rick Violette Jr. |
| International Star | 20-1 | Mike Maker |
| El Kabeir | 33-1 | John Terranova II |
| Far Right | 33-1 | Ron Moquett |
| Itsaknockout | 40-1 | Todd Pletcher |
| Bolo | 40-1 | Carla Gaines |
| Danzig Moon | 40-1 | Mark Casse |
| Ocho Ocho Ocho | 40-1 | Jim Cassidy |
| Mr. Z | 40-1 | D. Wayne Lukas |
| Keen Ice | 50-1 | Dale Romans |
| Tencendur | 66-1 | George Weaver |
All Kentucky Derby odds courtesy of Odds Shark.
Dark-Horse Contenders
Materiality 14-1
Legendary trainer Todd Pletcher will also trot a few horses to Churchill Downs, with Carpe Diem sure to receive most of the attention.
It's a good thing for those who pay attention to Materiality.
Materiality blew away the field at the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, even besting the favorite Upstart. There, Materiality's elite speed was on display, and it looks enough to at least test the best of the best at the Kentucky Derby.
Steve Haskin of BloodHorse.com offered more recent thoughts on Pletcher's underrated contender:
Materiality also offers strong lineage for those who look for such a thing. He's sired by Afleet Alex, who almost took home a Triple Crown of his own back in 2005, the only hiccup being a third-place finish at Churchill Downs.
In short, Materiality touts the traits those who want an underdog look for—strong performances, great training and lineage.
Firing Line 16-1
Oddsmakers aren't in love with Firing Line because of recent results.
It's fair considering the Simon Callaghan-trained horse features a pair of second-place finishes over the course of his last three starts.
Still, it's important to dig deeper. Firing Line won the Grade 3 Sunland Derby, and in February's Robert B. Lewis Stakes, he lost by just a head to Dortmund—one of the two major favorites mentioned above.
Perhaps best of all, Callaghan doesn't see a need to change much of anything as Firing Line prepares for the big race.
"Definitely don't need to change anything," Callaghan said, per Jeremy Balan of BloodHorse.com. "He's maintained his fitness from that race really good... He's maturing, and [this work] indicates that he can rate and we can put him wherever we want in the race."
It's also important to note legendary jockey Gary Stevens will ride Firing Line at Churchill Downs. Call it another reason to love the horse—Stevens touts eight wins in Triple Crown races, three at the Kentucky Derby.
Thanks to pushing favorites to their limits and a smart man up top, Firing Line isn't one to underestimate this year.
Frosted 16-1
Change is the name of the game when it comes to Frosted.
The globe seemed to peg the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt as a Kentucky Derby contender, but a strange fourth-place finish at the Fountain of Youth Derby in February threw everything for a loop.
In short, Frosted looked like the easy winner going into the final stretch—then stopped. McLaughlin details the collapse and subsequent changes, per Richard Rosenblatt of Kentucky.com:
"I thought, like everybody else in America watching the race, or around the world, that he was going to win easy and when Irad (Ortiz, Jr.) threw the reins to ask him to go, he seemed to just put his head up and stop. We were quite frustrated, so we decided to just change everything that we could.
"
The biggest change? Joel Rosario, a name many should know, assumed the role of jockey.
Next up was the Wood Memorial, an easy win for the duo.
Rosario won the Kentucky Derby in 2013 and has everything it takes to keep Frosted in elite form. The strange loss a few months back hurts the resume, but when everything is clicking, Frosted has what it takes to run with the best of the best at Churchill Downs.
Stats and information via KentuckyDerby.com unless otherwise specified.
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