Kentucky Derby 2018 Contenders: Odds, Jockey and Pedigree Info for Top Favorites
The Run for the Roses is mere days away, leaving fans with just a little more time to get ready for the big day.
The 144th running of the Kentucky Derby will be held at Churchill Downs on Saturday, with post time at 6:34 p.m. ET. The race itself is scheduled to start at 6:46 p.m. ET.
Of course, the winner will be in position to make a run at the coveted Triple Crown. But who is favored to wind up in the winner's circle?
2018 Kentucky Derby Odds (Odds via OddsShark)
1. Firenze Fire (+6600)
Jockey: Paco Lopezย
2. Free Drop Billy (+3300)
Jockey:ย Robby Albarado
3. Promises Fulfilled (+4000)
Jockey:ย Corey Lanerie
4. Flameaway (+4000)
Jockey:ย Jose Lezcano
5. Audible (+550)
Jockey:ย Javier Castellano
6. Good Magic (+900)
Jockey:ย Jose Ortiz
7. Justify (+350)
Jockey:ย Mike Smith
8. Lone Sailor (+5000)
Jockey:ย James Graham
9. Hofburg (+1600)
Jockey:ย Irad Ortiz Jr.
10. My Boy Jack (+2200)
Jockey:ย Kent Desormeaux
11. Bolt d'Oro (+900)
Jockey:ย Victor Espinoza
12. Enticed (+2500)
Jockey:ย Junior Alvarado
13. Bravazo (+5000)
Jockey:ย Luis Contreras
14. Mendelssohn (+400)
Jockey:ย Ryan Moore
15. Instilled Regard (+5000)
Jockey:ย Drayden Van Dyke
16. Magnum Moon (+700)
Jockey:ย Luis Saez
17. Solomini (+2000)
Jockey:ย Flavien Prat
18. Vino Rosso (+1400)
Jockey:ย John R. Velazquez
19. Noble Indy (+2800)
Jockey: Florent Geroux
20. Combatant (+6600)
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Favorites
Justifyย
After defeating rival Bolt d'Oro and the rest of the field at last month's Santa Anita Derby, Justifyย enters this year's Kentucky Derby as the overwhelming favorite.
With a Scat Daddy-Stage Magic pedigree, this three-year-old colt will have to overcome the past in order to come out victorious. As the Derby's official website notes, Scat Daddy has not produced a winner in the American Triple Crown seriesโyet.
While some may be concerned about Justify's lack of seasoning and the Apollo Curse, trainer Bob Baffert welcomes the challenge.
"I'd rather have a really talented horse than one who's seasoned and just on par with the rest of them," Baffert said, perย Newsday's Ed McNamara. "Back in the day people would run their horses a lot more and run their two-year-olds a lot earlier. The game has changed. It's going to happen."
Mendelssohn
Perhaps Justify's biggest competition may be Mendelssohn.
The two-year-old colt enters Churchill Downs on a two-race winning streak in 2018, having won the UAE Derby at the end of March. That followed up a victory at the 2018 Patton Stakes less than two months ago.
Mendelssohn has an interesting pedigree in the form of Leslie's Lady by Scat Daddy. The former was theย 2016 Broodmare of the Year, and the latter is the sire of Justify.
As for trainer Aidan O'Brien,ย Mendelssohn could be the one to finally snap his winless run at the Derby. He enters the weekend having gone without a win in five attempts thus far.
Magnum Moon
There is no doubt Magnum Moon is one to keep an eye on.
The two-year-old colt has won a race in each of the past two months, coming out on top at the Rebel Stakes in March and the Arkansas Derby in April. Of course, like Justify, the dreaded Apollo Curse comes into play here.
While Justify andย Mendelssohn share a sire in Scat Daddy, Magnum Moon has aย Malibu Moon-Dazzling Song pedigree.
Don't forget one important tidbit: Magnum Moon's trainer isย Todd A. Pletcher, who already has two Kentucky Derby victories on his resume. His horseย Always Dreaming won last year's race.
