Kentucky Derby 2016: Post Time, TV Schedule, Post Positions Info

The quest for back-to-back Triple Crowns begins on Saturday. Twenty horses will race in the 142nd Kentucky Derby, and one majestic, galloping mammal will look to duplicate American Pharoah's historic feat from one year ago. 

At least three horses have a legitimate chance to win the Derby. There doesn't appear to be one that will dominate like American Pharoah did, and this could be the closest Kentucky Derby in recent memory.

Here's all the information you need for when to turn your TV to NBC.

142nd Kentucky Derby Info

When: Saturday, May 7

Where: Churchill Downs Racetrack, Louisville, Kentucky

TV: NBC

Post Time: 6:34 p.m. ET

Post Position Draw Date: Wednesday, May 4

Kentucky Derby Favorites

Gun Runner

Let's start with the horse sitting atop the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard, and one of the hottest horses racing right now.

Gun Runner has won four of his last five races, including both of his runs in 2016. The three-year-old Colt from Kentucky has raced on 1 1/16-mile tracks in three of his last four races, and also won on a 1 1/8 most recently on March 26.

Garry Jones/Associated Press

Racing an extra quarter mile is foreign territory for Gun Runner. This is the task put in front of 29-year-old jockey Florent Geroux, who spent last year watching the Kentucky Derby from the green room in Churchill Downs and now has the chance to race in it.

“They say it’s a pretty intense race,” Geroux said, per Jonathan Lintner of the Courier-Journal. “I’ll be excited, but I wouldn’t say nervous. I’m just hoping for a good trip and that my horse is good enough.”

There's no doubt he'll be good, but oddsmakers don't seem fond of Gun Runner. Odds Shark has Gun Runner at fourth behind two other favorites that will be discussed shortly.

Endurance will be the key for Gun Runner. He'll have a solid chance to win if he can go that extra length.

Exaggerator 

Since October, Exaggerator has been a consistent Colt. Since coming in second at the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 3, he recorded another second-place finish and two first-place wins. The most recent win came at the Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

Much like Gun Runner,  Exaggerator hasn't had much experience running that additional quarter mile. Trainer Kent Desormeaux knows that could be an issue given the magnitude and length of the race, but was pleased with the recovery later on.

Garry Jones/Associated Press

Per Claire Novak of the Blood-Horse, Desormeuax said:

"

It's typical, especially with a big race like that, you're going to see a horse regress. In other words, they need to rest and recover in that time. He did that pretty quickly, he recovered pretty quickly in the first week, and since then he's progressed to this point. We're just glad not to see a continual regression after that first week. He's progressing; that's positive.

"

Exaggerator hasn't been a consistent winner, but the results show he shouldn't be counted out of any race.

If it comes down to the final turn, it should be expected for Exaggerator to be one of the first few to cross the finish line.

But will he be the first to cross the line?

Nyquist

Nyquist is batting 1.000.

Seven races up, seven races down. All seven have resulted in Nyquist, the clear-cut favorite of the Kentucky Derby according to Odds Shark, being the first horse to cross the finish line.

Nyquist won the Florida Derby on April 2 after winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile back in October. He may not win by near-double-digit lengths, but if any horse can win the Triple Crown, it's the one who has yet to lose.

“He seems very happy, and we’re happy,” Nyquist trainer Doug O’Neill said, per Lintner. "The intention is just, today and tomorrow, just have nice, easy—let everything check him out—more of a mental exercise.”

Listed as a 10-3 favorite, it's too difficult to see Nyquist losing here. He's been the most consistent horse in the field.

This will be his first try on a track of this length, as well, but the tone changes when you've yet to taste defeat. It will take a lot to take Nyquist out of the running.