Kentucky Derby Odds Update - 12 pm (ET)

1 Ocho Ocho Ocho     24-1
2 Carpe Diem              7-1
3 Materiality               14-1
4 Tencendur                56-1
5 Danzig Moon           20-1
6 Mubtaahij                 12-1
7 El Kabeir                  SCRATCHED
8 Dortmund                 4-1
9 Bolo                         33-1
10 Firing Line              8-1
11 Stanford                 SCRATCHED
12 International Star   SCRATCHED
13 Itsaknockout          29-1
14 Keen Ice                37-1
15 Frosted                    9-1
16 War Story              41-1
17 Mr. Z                     30-1
18 American Pharoah 3-1
19 Upstart                   21-1
20 Far Right                37-1
21 Frammento             94-1

Kentucky Derby 141 Odds Update - 10:45 AM (ET)

Good morning from Churchill Downs. We are now down to 18 horses for the Kentucky Derby so here are the current odds after the scratch of International Star.

1 Ocho Ocho Ocho     23-1
2 Carpe Diem              7-1
3 Materiality               14-1
4 Tencendur                58-1
5 Danzig Moon           20-1
6 Mubtaahij                 12-1
7 El Kabeir                  SCRATCHED
8 Dortmund                 4-1
9 Bolo                         34-1
10 Firing Line              8-1
11 Stanford                 SCRATCHED
12 International Star   SCRATCHED
13 Itsaknockout          29-1
14 Keen Ice                38-1
15 Frosted                    9-1
16 War Story              41-1
17 Mr. Z                     30-1
18 American Pharoah 3-1
19 Upstart                   21-1
20 Far Right                37-1
21 Frammento             99-1

Kentucky Derby Odds Update - 4 pm

Odds Update as of 4 p.m. (ET)

2) Oxbow - 22-1
3) Revolutionary -  5-1
4) Golden Soul - 29-1
5) Normandy Invasion - 8-1
6) Mylute 13-1
7) Giant Finish - 35-1
8) Goldencents - 7-1
9) Overanalyze - 14-1
10) Palace Malice - 22-1
11) Lines of Battle - 32-1
12) Itsmyluckyday - 9-1
13) Falling Sky - 36-1
14) Verrazano - 9-1
15) Charming Kitten - 29-1
16) Orb - 7-1
17) Will Take Charge - 31-1
18) Frac Daddy - 22-1
19) Java's War - 25-1
20) Vyjack - 30-1

Horse By Horse Look at the Preakness

Here's a quick look at the Preakness Dozen.

1) Aikenite (Career Record 8-1-2-2) - Trainer Todd Pletcher's "other" entrant's only win came last August at Saratoga. He usually puts in a good effort but appears a little overmatched here.

2) Schoolyard Dreams (Career Record - 6-2-2-1) - Do you remember Musket Man from last year? This horse has the same owner and trainer and should be close to the front. He hasn't run since finishing fourth to Eskendereya in the Wood Memorial but you should expect him to be in the thick of it down the stretch.

3) Pleasant Prince (Career Record - 9-1-2-2) - Expect him to be last early on and then make one big run as they turn for home. His best effort was a second place finish to Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box. If he's too far back, he may not be able to catch up.

4) Northern Giant (Career Record - 9-1-2-2) - He was on target for a run in the Derby before his last place finish in the Arkansas Derby last month. That effort is a big concern and may just be a little worn down after five races this year.

5) Yawanna Twist (Career Record - 4-2-2-0) - He has gotten better with each start but failed as the favorite in last month's Illinois Derby. His breeding suggests he won't want to go the Preakness distance but his trainer won this race a couple of years ago with Big Brown. His current odds are a little too short though.

6) Jackson Bend (Career Record - 10-5-4-0) - You can just throw out his performance in the Kentucky Derby (finished 12th). Now that he's back on a dry track, he should run much better. Not sure he will relish the Preakness distance but should be in the mix coming down the home stretch.

7) Lookin at Lucky (Career Record - 9-6-1-1) - He has been anything but lucky. The fact that he finished 6th in the Kentucky Derby despite getting bounced around like a pinball early in the race is remarkable. He has a new jockey, 25-year-old Martin Garcia, and that is bit of a concern but there is no questioning the horse's talent. He may be due for smooth sailing.

8) Super Saver (Career Record - 7-3-2-1) - The Kentucky Derby winner is out to prove to the world that his win two weeks ago wasn't a fluke. He will need to show the world that he can win away from Churchill Downs and also on a dry track. If "rockstar" jockey Calvin Borel can keep him clear of trouble again, he'll have a great shot to keep Triple Crown hopes alive and back up Borel's Triple Crown Guarantee.

9) Caracortado (Career Record -7-5-0-1) - He was destined to run in the Kentucky Derby until his 4th place finish last month in California. The key for him is to prove he can run on a normal dirt track. His biggest victories have come on the "artificial" dirt in California. If you like him, you will get great odds.

10) Paddy O'Prado (Career Record - 7-1-2-3) - His 3rd place finish in the Kentucky Derby was the best race of his life but now he has to prove, like Super Saver, that he can run well on a dry track away from Churchill Downs. The big question is whether he will be near the front early or drop back like he did in the Derby.

11) First Dude (Career Record - 6-1-3-1) - Trainer Dale Romans "other" horse comes off a third place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes last month. He's a horse with a lot of talent and Romans was really hoping he would have enough earnings to get into the Kentucky Derby. Another horse that will be a really good price. He's a live longshot.

12) Dublin (Career Record - 9-2-1-2) - The D. Wayne Lukas trained colt gets a new rider in Garrett Gomez. Depending on who you talk to, that's either a good or a bad thing. Gomez's experience and winning big races should help as Dublin also got into trouble in the Kentucky Derby. Although he hasn't won a race this year, this horse has been one of the most consistent. Definitely a horse to watch carefully.

Like Old Times for Lukas

For many many years, when Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas entered a horse in a 2-year-old stakes race, you had to pay close attention. He seemed unstoppable in all big freshman races.

Lukas had stables at every major racetrack and built an impressive roster of horses. That wouldn't stop him from shipping horses all over the country, which led to the "Wayne off the Plane" handicapping angle.

Now in the later stages of his career, the former basketball coach has a much smaller stable.
But that doesn't mean he's lost the ability to train young horses.

On closing day of the Saratoga meet, Lukas stepped back in time and sent Dublin to a nice two-length win over Aspire in the 105th renewal of the Hopeful.

It was the sixth win in the Hopeful for Lukas but this one might have the most Kentucky Derby promise of his previous five victories. Dublin is a son of Afleet Alex, who also won the Hopeful and went on to capture the Preakness and Belmont. His mother, Classy Mirage, was also a multiple graded stakes winner.

Lukas helped pick Dublin for owners Robert Baker and William Mack at the famous Keeneland Yearling Sale last September for $525,000.

"He has a long, rangy stride," Lukas said. "He’s got a lot of balance to him. He’s pretty gifted. I feel like he’s going to develop. This was my No. 1 pick in the sales. I still haven’t lost my eye in that part. I like to play in the main arena – these 2-year-olds, when they turn 3, that’s the name of the game. Bill Mack and Bob Baker are the reason this horse is here.”

You can be sure we will see Lukas and Dublin in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, another race Lukas used to own. His record there is five victories in 37 entrants.

For now, Lukas will ship Dublin back to his home base at Churchill Downs and two months from now, he could be the trainer people are talking again about when it comes to the Kentucky Derby.

Other horses to keep an eye as they get older are Aikenite, Backtalk and Westover Wildcat.

Derby Draw Analysis - Winners & Losers

Even with the late defection of Win Willy due to a leg injury Wednesday morning, the Kentucky Derby field still reached 20 with the late addition of Nowhere to Hide. Now with the Post Position Draw complete, let's take a look at the winners and losers during the draw.

WINNERS
15 - Dunkirk- The highly touted and talented colt will need a lot of breaks to go his way and his starting spot is a good start. The 15 post is great because this is the first gate in the Auxiliary Starting Gate. (The main starting gate holds just 14 horses.) As a result there is a nice space to his left that will give crucial room to maneuver early in the race. He will likely drop back early but it's good to have a little cushion right after the start.

16 - Pioneerof the Nile - Leave it to three-time Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert to put his colt (right) in spot that been successful over the last few years. As Dunkirk is likely to take advantage of the extra space to his left, Pioneer should benefit from that and stay outside and away from a lot of the traditional bumping that goes on at the start of the race. The key will be not getting pushed to far outside on the first turn.

6 - Friesan Fire - Although it isn't a tremendous victory for him, trainer Larry Jones put his horse in a pretty solid starting position. With his tactical speed, the colt should be able to get near the early lead and settle in a good spot to make his run around the far turn. The only danger for him could be is if he is squeezed by another horse to his inside. With the forecast for rain and his love for a sloppy track, this spot could win up being a huge plus in the end.

LOSERS

19 - Desert Party - A horse that appeared to be powerhouse owner Godolphin's best shot to win the Derby, drew the "short straw" by having a late selection. The result left him in a slot that no horse has won from in the 135-year history of the Derby. Since Desert Party likes to be near the lead, jockey Ramon Dominguez will have a tough decision to make: push his horse early to be near the lead and potentially use up some "gas" or take a chance in not pushing the pedal but could be pushed out wide on the first turn.

1 - West Side Bernie - A lot of times, being on the rail, in the No. 1 starting gate is a good thing. In the Derby, it's usually a death knell. Only one horse (Ferdinand, 1986) in the last 46 years has won for this spot. The inside spot will probably make West Side Bernie get near the lead early which is contrary to his running style of dropping back. If he doesn't move up early, he could get shut off and lose all chance early on.

20 - Flying Private - D. Wayne Lukas (right), a Hall of Famer and four-time Derby winning trainer, has been a master of getting a horse ready for a big race. But this 50-1 shot already had his work cut out for him but drawing the outside post might have sealed his fate. Only Big Brown, the 2008 Derby winner, has won from the starting position, and this horse is no Big Brown. He will be pushed outside on both turns which will likely use up most of his energy.

CAUTION

13 - I Want Revenge - Although the 3-1 Derby favorite isn't in a bad starting position, he has the potential of getting squeezed by General Quarters and Atomic Rain. The big advantage for I Want Revenge is that he overcame plenty of trouble in the Wood Memorial and has a very versatile running style. Young jockey Joe Talamo will be tested once again.

Photos courtesy of Eclipse Sports Wire