Favorites have ruled the Kentucky Derby since the implementation of the points-based qualifying system five years ago, winning every Run for the Roses during that time. Seven of the 20 runners are listed at 12-1 or lower on the 2018 Kentucky Derby morning line, highlighting the deep pool of worthy win candidates in this race.
Audible won the Florida Derby, Magnum Moon the Arkansas Derby, Noble Indy the Louisiana Derby, and Vino Rosso the Wood Memorial. In a world as well ordered as the one trainer Todd Pletcher has created at the racetrack, one of them would win this. But that's not how these things work, and no one knows it better than Pletcher.
Kentucky Derby post positions are set, and with that ritual out of the way, connections can move on to strategize about getting away cleanly.
Luis Saez is like any other jockey – he'd be overjoyed to win the Kentucky Derby. And with the mount on undefeated Magnum Moon in the 144th Derby, Saez stands as good a chance as any to be surrounded by roses Saturday evening at Churchill Downs. Victory, however, would come with a certain bittersweet tinge.
A day after morning-line favorite Monomoy Girl had her chances of winning the Kentucky Oaks lessened when she drew post 14 for the Kentucky Oaks, Tuesday’s draw for the Kentucky Derby proved of far lesser consequence, at least for many of the race’s leading contenders.
Mike Welsch's 2018 Kentucky Derby analysis.
Brad Free's 2018 Kentucky Derby analysis.
Matt Bernier's 2018 Kentucky Derby analysis.
