Kentucky Derby 2019 Contenders: Horses, Jockeys with Best Chance at Triple Crown

Roaring down the stretch and winning the Kentucky Derby is a dream come true for nearly all horsemen involved in the sport. Just as baseball players dream of getting the winning hit in the World Series or a football player wants to score the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, jockeys want to be first under the wire in the Run for the Roses.

As good as winning the Derby will feel for the jockey and the winning horse's connections Saturday, it is not the ultimate. The horse, jockey, trainer and owner that are celebrating Saturday evening will be able to dream of winning the sport's Triple Crown.

The idea of winning the Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes in a five-week span is a remarkable confirmation of greatness for a three-year-old champion horse. History has demonstrated that it's the most challenging of undertakings.

Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978, and no horse was able to match that achievement until American Pharoah went on his magical run in 2015. The 37-year wait seemed interminable, and many thought the era of Triple Crown winners was over prior to American Pharoah's achievement. 

Justify matched that feat a year ago, making it two Triple Crown winners in a four-year span. The idea of making it two Triple Crown winners in a row seems like its too much to ask, but it is not unprecedented. Seattle Slew and Affirmed won back-to-back Triple Crowns in 1977 and '78, as both were undeniably all-time great horses.

Here's a look at the horses and jockeys in this year's field that would seemingly have a chance to find success in the Derby, Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.

2019 Kentucky Derby Field

Post position, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, Odds

2. War of Will, Mark Casse, Tyler Gaffalione, 15-1

3. Tax, Danny Gargan, Junior Alvarado, 20-1

4. By My Standards, Bret Calhoun, Gabriel Saez, 15-1

5. Gray Magician, Peter Miller, Drayden Van Dyke, 50-1

6. Improbable, Bob Baffert, Irad Ortiz Jr., 5-1

7. Vekoma, George Weaver, Javier Castellano, 15-1

8. Maximum Security, Jason Servis, Luis Saez, 8-1

9. Tacitus, Bill Mott, Jose Ortiz, 8-1

10. Plus Que Parfait, Brendan Walsh, Ricardo Santana Jr., 30-1

11. Cutting Humor, Todd Pletcher, Mike Smith, 30-1

12. Code of Honor, Shug McGaughey, John Velazquez, 12-1

13. Win Win Win, Michael Trombetta, Julian Pimentel, 12-1

14. Master Fencer (Japanese qualifier), Koichi Tsunoda, Julien Leparoux, 50-1

15. Game Winner, Bob Baffert, Joel Rosario, 9-2

16. Roadster, Bob Baffert, Florent Geroux, 5-1

17. Long Range Toddy, Steve Asmussen, Jon Court, 30-1

18. Spinoff, Todd Pletcher, Manny Franco, 30-1

19. Country House, Bill Mott, Flavien Prat, 30-1

AE-20. Bodexpress, Gustavo Delgado, Chris Landeros, 30-1

Scratched: Haikal, Omaha Beach

Odds courtesy of Churchill Downs PR.

Prior to getting scratched earlier in the week due to a breathing problem, Omaha Beach appeared to be the best and fastest horse in the field by a significant margin.

The race appears to be much more wide open without him, and trainer Bob Baffert has the top three horses in the field. 

Game Winner is ridden by Joel Rosario, and he is one of the finest jockeys in the nation. Rosario is know for his ability to move his mounts in and out of traffic with relative ease, and he is also very sharp coming down the stretch.

That ability matches up perfectly with Game Winner, because that horse likes to grind down his opponents and pick them off as he goes around the far turn and then down the lane. The key for Game Winner in the Derby is to get off to a sharp start so he doesn't get shuffled back and then to stay on pace for the first six furlongs. If he moves prior to that, he may not have enough left for his full stretch run, but if he bides his time, he could win this race and have a shot at the Triple Crown.

Improbable won all three of his races as a two-year-old, including a pair of stakes races. While he has had to settle for a pair of second-place finishes in 2019 in the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby, he is a horse that shows plenty of fight every time he is on the track.

He is paired with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., another top pro who can take advantage of any opening and get his charge to accelerate at the right moment. Improbable's ability to last in the 1 1/4-mile race is a big question, and even if he gets the proper trip and finds a way to win, that question will dog him if he gets to the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes with a pair of Triple Crown wins.

Roadster is Baffert's third horse in the Derby, and this horse may have a solid chance of winning all three races. He had throat surgery months ago, but he showed no signs of difficulty since returning as he has won a pair of races, including the Santa Anita Derby.

Jockey Florent Geroux came to the United States from France three years ago, and he has impressed his handlers with his instincts, intelligence and ability to get the most out of his horses. 

Baffert is not the only trainer with a chance to win the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown. Tacitus is trained by Bill Mott, and this horse appears to be ready for the big stage after winning the Tampa Bay Derby and the Wood Memorial. 

Jose Ortiz will ride Tacitus, and he is the brother of Irad Ortiz. Jose Ortiz won an Eclipse Award as the best jockey in North America in 2017, and he was second in the Kentucky Derby last year aboard Good Magic.

Strong horses including Maximum Security and Code of Honor could rise up to win the Kentucky Derby, but it's difficult to see either of those horses having a shot at the Triple Crown.

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Racing information from KentuckyDerby.com, BloodHorse.com and TwinSpires.com.