Kentucky Derby 2015: Top Contenders and Unheralded Horses in Lineup Field
The 141st running of the Kentucky Derby takes centre stage in Louisville on Saturday as 20 horses head to Churchill Downs for the sport’s most exhilarating race.
The $2 million event spans just 10 furlongs, which means that any horse with a starting berth has a big chance of emerging victorious, no matter their odds.
American Pharaoh is the red-hot favourite after winning his last four races on the spin, but as previous races have taught us, anything can happen in a Kentucky Derby.
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Here we take a look at the full race odds and a closer analysis of two horses that could shock the world.
| Horse | Odds |
| American Pharoah | 13-5 |
| Dortmund | 4-1 |
| Carpe Diem | 15-2 |
| Mubtaahij | 10-1 |
| Materiality | 14-1 |
| Firing Line | 16-1 |
| Frosted | 16-1 |
| International Star | 20-1 |
| Upstart | 20-1 |
| El Kabeir | 33-1 |
| Far Right | 33-1 |
| Bolo | 40-1 |
| Danzig Moon | 40-1 |
| Itsaknockout | 40-1 |
| Mr Z | 40-1 |
| Ocho Ocho Ocho | 40-1 |
| Keen Ice | 50-1 |
| Tencendur | 66-1 |
Firing Line, 16-1
Arnold Zetcher’s Firing Line seemingly has all the credentials of a Kentucky Derby champion and comes into the event in strong form.
With legendary jockey Gary Stevens on his back, Firing Line romped to an incredible victory at the Sunland Derby last time out, completely blitzing the competition with a stunning ride.
The good form doesn’t stop there, though, as Firing Line hasn’t finished worse than second in any of his last five races.
During that spell, he had to give second best to Kentucky Derby rival Dortmund on two occasions, although the longer race format on Saturday means Firing Line holds an advantage.
Trainer Simon Callaghan recently spoke with Xpressbet via YouTube and said he’s confident Firing Line can produce the goods:
Reigning supreme means fighting off the likes of American Pharaoh, but Firing Line wasn’t too far behind the favourite in practice.
As DRF’s Jay Privman revealed, Callaghan’s horse managed five furlongs in 59.8 seconds—just over a second more than American Pharaoh’s time:
Still, Firing Line undoubtedly has more to give, and if he has luck on his side ahead of the race, then he’ll be a big contender.
And at 16-1, he looks like a smart bet.
International Star, 20-1
International Star may be a long shot at 20-1, but he has glory in his blood.
He’s the son of 2000 champion Fusaichi Pegasus, and his preparation to follow in his father’s footsteps on Saturday couldn’t have gone better.
At the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, International Star was dominant, winning the Louisiana Derby for a clean sweep of Kentucky prep races over the preceding months.
His strong point is settling on the rails from the outside post before attacking hard, and that could well prove to be a winning formula at Churchill Downs.
Sure, the Kentucky Derby is far more challenging with a very talented field to negotiate, but International Star definitely has the ability to win, especially if he gets off to a quick start.
Jockey Miguel Mena will ride in his first Derby, but he appeared full of confidence with International Star via Twitter, saying that his horse is in good shape:
International Star has the priceless knack for coming on strong in the final furlongs, as he’s proved over his past few races.
So even if American Pharaoh or Firing Line looks like taking the crown, don’t be surprised to see International Star burst through for victory.
Odds via OddsShark.
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