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 Lopez 

2. Free Drop Billy (+3300)

Jockey: Robby Albarado

3. Promises Fulfilled (+4000)

Jockey: Corey Lanerie

4. Flameaway (+4000)

Jockey: Jose Lezcano

5. Audible (+550)

Jockey: Javier Castellano

6. Good Magic (+900)

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

7. Justify (+350)

Jockey: Mike Smith

8. Lone Sailor (+5000)

Jockey: James Graham

9. Hofburg (+1600)

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

10. My Boy Jack (+2200)

Jockey: Kent Desormeaux

11. Bolt d'Oro (+900)

Jockey: Victor Espinoza

12. Enticed (+2500)

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

13. Bravazo (+5000)

Jockey: Luis Contreras

14. Mendelssohn (+400)

Jockey: Ryan Moore

15. Instilled Regard (+5000)

Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke

16. Magnum Moon (+700)

Jockey: Luis Saez

17. Solomini (+2000)

Jockey: Flavien Prat

18. Vino Rosso (+1400)

Jockey: John R. Velazquez

19. Noble Indy (+2800)

Jockey: Florent Geroux

20. Combatant (+6600)

Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Favorites

Justify 

After defeating rival Bolt d'Oro and the rest of the field at last month's Santa Anita Derby, Justify 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 series—yet.

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, per 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 the 2016 Broodmare of the Year, and the latter is the sire of Justify.

As for trainer Aidan O'Brien, 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 and Mendelssohn share a sire in Scat Daddy, Magnum Moon has a Malibu Moon-Dazzling Song pedigree.

Don't forget one important tidbit: Magnum Moon's trainer is Todd A. Pletcher, who already has two Kentucky Derby victories on his resume. His horse Always Dreaming won last year's race.