Kentucky Derby 2015: Updated Weather Forecast, Odds and Field Predictions

The field is set for the 2015 Kentucky Derby. The horses, jockeys, trainers, punters, owners and fans are ready for the off, and all that remains now is for the 141st Run for the Roses to begin.

Saturday's race will be over in a flash, belying the lengthy buildup. But it is the pace and power of the field that makes for the overwhelming excitement at Churchill Downs.

American Pharoah is the favourite to take the first leg of the Triple Crown, with big things expected of Bob Baffert's immense colt.

Read on for a look at the latest weather forecast for the race along with the most recent odds and projections for how the 10 furlongs will play out.

Time (ET)	Temperature (Fahrenheit)	Precipitation
5 p.m.	75, partly cloudy	0 per cent
6 p.m.	73, partly cloudy	10 per cent
7 p.m.	73, partly cloudy	10 per cent

No.	Post	Horse	Jockey	Odds	Predicted Finish
1	2	Ocho Ocho Ocho	Elvis Trujillo	25-1	11-18
2	3	Carpe Diem	John Velazquez	8-1	6
3	4	Materiality	Javier Castellano	16-1	5
4	5	Tencendur	Manny Franco	50-1	9
5	6	Danzig Moon	Julien Leparoux	33-1	4
6	7	Mubtaahij	Christophe Soumillon	12-1	2
7		El Kabeir	Calvin Borel	SCR
8	8	Dortmund	Martin Garcia	18-5	3
9	9	Bolo	Rafael Bejarano	40-1	11-18
10	10	Firing Line	Gary Stevens	12-1	10
11		Stanford	Florent Geroux	SCR
12		International Star	Miguel Mena	SCR
13	11	Itsaknockout	Luis Saez	33-1	8
14	12	Keen Ice	Kent Desormeaux	40-1	11-18
15	13	Frosted	Joel Rosario	16-1	7
16	14	War Story	Joe Talamo	50-1	11-18
17	15	Mr. Z	Ramon Vazquez	50-1	11-18
18	16	American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	13-5	1
19	17	Upstart	Jose Ortiz	25-1	11-18
20	18	Far Right	Mike Smith	40-1	11-18
21	19	Frammento	Corey Nakatani	66-1	11-18

American Pharoah to Triumph

It is not the boldest of predictions, picking the favourite to win, but it is very difficult to look past American Pharoah as the winner of the 2015 Derby.

The hype is real surrounding the Bob Baffert-trained colt, with Churchill Downs reporting the kind of testimonials he is receiving:

His eight-length victory in the Arkansas Derby was immense, as he blitzed a field that included Roses rivals Far Right and Mr. Z.   

Pharoah will be ridden by Victor Espinoza, winner of the Derby aboard California Chrome last year. The 42-year-old will have to overcome a wide draw in gate No. 16—a hole that has produced four winners down the years, per KentuckyDerby.com. 

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Espinoza has the experience to win again, having showed his acumen aboard American Pharoah in Arkansas.

A win for American Pharoah would get tongues wagging about a possible Triple Crown victory, a feat that has not been achieved since Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes back in 1978.

Pharoah looks to have the ability to go close, and he should get the first leg under his belt on Saturday by winning the Kentucky Derby.

Mubtaahij to Impress

Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Dubai-based Mubtaahij is something of an enigma ahead of America's biggest race. Trained by South African Mike de Kock, born in Ireland and ridden by Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon, the colt adds an international flavour to the lineup of 18.

Quite a place to make a debut on American soil, Mubtaahij could be a competitor at Churchill Downs and will be an unknown for many of those watching on Saturday.

Racing analyst Joe Kristufek likes the look of the UAE Derby winner, tipping Mubtaahij to challenge in a conversation with Bleacher Report:

As Kristufek notes, Mubtaahij's stamina could play a big role when it comes to making the running in the Derby.

He also has an advantage in that he starts from gate No. 7, a decent spot in which to begin the 10-furlong race to the finish.

While Mubtaahij does not look likely to beat American Pharoah and claim the win, a top-three finish is a definite possibility.