Here is the prospective field for this years Run For The Roses. Things are apt to change in the next 10 days. Already the waste of a gate GRONKOWSKI has dropped out due to an infection of some kind, and another qualifier QUIP is passing on The Derby and will focus on The Preakness Stakes. The field should be solidified by weeks end and post positions are drawn on Wednesday, May 2nd. Listed here today (in no particular order) will be HORSE, trainer and jockey. Morning line odds will be issued Wednesday as well.
MAGNUM MOON Todd Pletcher Luis Saez
VINO ROSSO Todd Pletcher John Velazquez
GOOD MAGIC Chad Brown Jose Ortiz
AUDIBLE Todd Pletcher JJ Castellano
NOBLE INDY Todd Pletcher TBA
BOLT d’ORO Mick Ruis Victor Espinoza
ENTICED Kiaran McLaughlin Jr. Alvarado
MENDELSSON Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore
JUSTIFY Bob Baffert Mike Smith
FLAME AWAY Mark Casse Jose Lezcano
SOLOMINI Bob Baffert Flavien Pratt
BRAVAZO D. Wayne Lucas TBA
MY BOY JACK Keith Desormeaux Ken Desormeaux
PROMISES FULFILLED Dale Romans Corey Lanerie
FREE DROP BILLY Dale Romans Robby Albarado
LONE SAILOR Tom Amoss James Graham
HOFBURG Bill Mott Irad Ortiz Jr.
FIRENZE FIRE Jason Servis Paco Lopez
COMBATANT Steve Asmussen TBA
INSTILLED REGARD Jerry Hollender TBA
The jockeys are listed with the horse(s) they rode in it’s last race. The TBA is a result of a conflict, as a jockey may have ridden more than one of The Derby qualifying horses. It can be an interesting betting angle to see which horse the jockey (along with his agent) choose to ride. For instance, jockey Johnny V. has always been trainer Todd Pletcher’s Go-To rider. Pletcher has four horses running, so the thinking is that Johnny V. feels that VINO ROSSO has the best chance of the four to win. Just some more Kentucky dirt to muddy the betting waters. More to come on The Derby and wagering on it, in upcoming posts.