The 152nd Kentucky Derby, the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, will take place on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race features a full field of 20 three-year-old horses competing for a $5 million purse, with the winner taking home $3.1 million.
Key Developments
Three horses have been scratched from the race due to injuries: Silent Tactic (foot injury), Fulleffort (ankle injury), and Right to Party (right front lameness). They have been replaced by Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta, respectively. Renegade, trained by Todd A. Pletcher, is the morning-line favorite at 4-1 odds. Other top contenders include Commandment and Further Ado, both trained by Brad H. Cox, at 6-1 odds, and Chief Wallabee, trained by William I. Mott, at 8-1 odds.
Race Details and Conditions
The race, known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," will cover 1 1/4 miles. The weather is expected to be cooler than average, with temperatures around 58 degrees at post time, and a chance of rain in the afternoon. The post-position draw has placed Renegade in the No. 1 post, which has not produced a winner since 1986.
Horse Backgrounds
Renegade qualified for the Derby by winning the Arkansas Derby in March and the Sam F. Davis Stakes in February. The Puma, another contender at 10-1 odds, finished third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Justify in 2018.
Betting and Post Time
The Kentucky Derby is the 12th race of the day at Churchill Downs, with an approximate post time of 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday. Odds will continue to shift as bettors place their wagers ahead of the race.