There’s nothing quite like the Kentucky Derby. Instead of burning rubbers on hot cement, this race brings crisp galloping sounds on manicured soil. This coming Saturday, on May 4, the 145th edition of the fastest two minutes in sports will be held at its usual stomping grounds at Churchill Downs, where the best of the best three-year-old colts will determine who among them has what it takes to finish first in this punishing race that stretches 1 1/4 miles.
Last year, it was Justify who took the first leg of the Triple Crown by storm on a wet Churchill Downs track. Who will it be this year? We bring you a tidy list of favorites, a sleeper, and a long shot to choose from below.
Omaha Beach possesses the shortest odds for the 2019 Kentucky Derby, and it’s not hard to see why. Trained by Richard E. Mandella and owned by Fox Hill Farms, Inc., Omaha Beach has forced his competitors to eat his dust over his lat three races. Over that span, Omaha Beach has placed first in all races, including the Grade 1 stakes Arkansas Derby earlier in April. This horse hasn’t placed out of the money in a race since debuting in 2018. Since then, Omaha Beach has racked up three wins, a pair of second places, and a third place. Omaha Beach, who will be commandeered by Mike E. Smith at the Kentucky Derby, reportedly had an ultra-smooth final tune-up at Churchill Downs before the first leg of the Triple Crown. Mandella has expressed his thrill over that trial run by Omaha Beach, which registered the second-fastest time among all that had workouts at the track.
You don’t name a horse Game Winner without having a crazy amount of confidence in it. And why wouldn’t owner Gary L. West feel that way towards his three-year colt? After all, Game Winner, like Omaha Beach, has been sensational since racing in 2018. Game Winner was like a house on fire when its career took off, winning each of its first four races, which included three Grade 1 stakes. Game winner has placed second, however, in his last two races, finishing runner up to Omaha Beach at the Rebel Stakes (Grade 2) and at the Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1) behind Roadster. What’s more about Game Winner is that it is being trained by arguably the best in the business in the form of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Horses trained by Baffert this year has win 17 races, placed second 27 times and third 13 times out of 90 races. Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby five times so far in his legendary career, and was the trainer behind the success of last year’s Derby winner, Justify.
Baffert will have his hands full at Churchill Downs, as he’ll have three horses running in the first leg of the Triple Crown. Apart from the aforementioned Game Winner, Baffert is also training Roadster for the biggest horse race of the year. Although Roadster has fewer races than Game Winner with four, it has a higher success rate than Game Winner, having recorded three wins in its career. Roadster even thought Game Winner a lesson or two about speed when it won the Santa Anita Derby earlier in April. In its debut at Del Mar in July of last year, Roadster turned plenty of heads by winning the race by a 4 1/4 length. Roadster will be whipped by Mike E. Smith on race day at Churchill Downs, where success is no stranger to the 53-year-old veteran jockey. Smith rode Giacomo all the way into a huge upset victory at the Kentucky Derby. He was also Justify’s jockey in 2018’s legendary Triple Crown-winning campaign.
You’ll be hearing more of Tacitus as the Kentucky Derby inches closer and closer, as it’s becoming to be a sexy pick for sleeper hunters. Tacitus kicked off his racing career with a mediocre but promising note, finishing fourth at Belmont Park in October of 2018. By its second race, Tacitus seemed to have it all figured out, as he finished first at Aqueduct then garnered wins at Tampa Bay Derby (Grade 2) and at the Wood Memorial (Grade 2), which was his final preparation race for the Kentucky Derby. Tacitus isn’t known for his blazing speed, but his endurance and ability to keep it close in long-course races are qualities that are just perfect for the Kentucky Derby. Tacitus also leads all horses in qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby with 150 – way ahead of Omaha Beach’s total of 137.5 at second place.
By My Standards could be the one to deliver the huge payday for punt bettors. Prized at +3000, the Allied Racing Stable-owned colt hasn’t finished outside of top three ever. He made his debut at Churchill Downs back in November and placed runner-up right away. In its first and only graded stakes race, By My Standards topped the Louisiana Derby last March.
Writer’s Prediction
Game Winner gives Bob Baffert another Kentucky Derby victory.
