Kentucky Derby 141 Odds Update - 4:15 pm (ET)

1 Ocho Ocho Ocho     24-1
2 Carpe Diem              7-1
3 Materiality               14-1
4 Tencendur                52-1
5 Danzig Moon           20-1
6 Mubtaahij                 13-1
7 El Kabeir                  SCRATCHED
8 Dortmund                 4-1
9 Bolo                         31-1
10 Firing Line              8-1
11 Stanford                 SCRATCHED
12 International Star   SCRATCHED
13 Itsaknockout          28-1
14 Keen Ice                40-1
15 Frosted                    9-1
16 War Story              40-1
17 Mr. Z                     31-1
18 American Pharoah 3-1
19 Upstart                   20-1
20 Far Right                37-1
21 Frammento             78-1

Kentucky Derby 141 Odds Update - 1:45 PM (ET)

1 Ocho Ocho Ocho     24-1
2 Carpe Diem              7-1
3 Materiality               14-1
4 Tencendur                53-1
5 Danzig Moon           20-1
6 Mubtaahij                 12-1
7 El Kabeir                  SCRATCHED
8 Dortmund                 4-1
9 Bolo                         31-1
10 Firing Line              8-1
11 Stanford                 SCRATCHED
12 International Star   SCRATCHED
13 Itsaknockout          28-1
14 Keen Ice                38-1
15 Frosted                    9-1
16 War Story              40-1
17 Mr. Z                     30-1
18 American Pharoah 3-1
19 Upstart                   21-1
20 Far Right                36-1
21 Frammento             94-1

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 Oaks To Remember

As Kentucky Derby is at hand, it is easy to forget about the Kentucky Oaks and the filly who won the race but this year's running will leave an indelible memory.

Former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones has been involved in Horse Racing for a number of years and had a great deal of success. Recently he has started to name horses after getting requests from employees at one of his favorite hotels in Florida. 

Kentucky Oaks winner Lovely Maria was named after a young lady in Florida with several disabilities after a request was to made to Governor Jones by an employee. The story seemed difficult to tell and even forced 56-year-old winning jockey Kerwin Clark to fight back tears when the story was mentioned.

In addition to the nice gesture than Gov. Jones made, trainer Larry Jones is just over a year removed from falling off a horse and lapsing into a coma. The doctors thought he would need brain surgery but it turned out the bleed in his brain has miraculously stopped and he left the hospital a few days later.

Fast forward to just over a year later, and Jones is not just back to his old self and winning a good deal of races, he captured two major Grade 1's in the past month - The Ashland at Keeneland and now the Oaks.

And finally there is Clark, the journeyman jockey who never really mad it big in 40 years in riding. But in the span of a month, he won two major races and simply said on Friday. "This is the best day of my life."

 

So this year's Kentucky Oaks turned out to be a memorable event with three unique stories that carry on the memory of this running for many years to come.

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

Kentucky Derby Odds Update - 2 pm (ET)

Odds Update as of 2 pm (ET)

2) Oxbow - 22-1
3) Revolutionary -  5-1
4) Golden Soul - 29-1
5) Normandy Invasion - 7-1
6) Mylute 13-1
7) Giant Finish - 37-1
8) Goldencents - 7-1
9) Overanalyze - 14-1
10) Palace Malice - 23-1
11) Lines of Battle - 32-1
12) Itsmyluckyday - 9-1
13) Falling Sky - 37-1
14) Verrazano - 9-1
15) Charming Kitten - 29-1
16) Orb - 7-1
17) Will Take Charge - 30-1
18) Frac Daddy - 23-1
19) Java's War - 24-1
20) Vyjack - 34-1

Kentucky Derby Odds Update - Noon (ET)

Odds Update as of Noon (ET)

2) Oxbow - 22-1
3) Revolutionary -  5-1
4) Golden Soul - 30-1
5) Normandy Invasion - 7-1
6) Mylute 13-1
7) Giant Finish - 38-1
8) Goldencents - 6-1
9) Overanalyze - 14-1
10) Palace Malice - 24-1
11) Lines of Battle - 33-1
12) Itsmyluckyday - 9-1
13) Falling Sky - 38-1
14) Verrazano - 9-1
15) Charming Kitten - 29-1
16) Orb - 7-1
17) Will Take Charge - 30-1
18) Frac Daddy - 23-1
19) Java's War - 23-1
20) Vyjack - 34-1

Early Derby Wagering - Day 1

The win odds after the 1st Day of Wagering

2) Oxbow - 25-1
3) Revolutionary -  5-1
4) Golden Soul - 31-1
5) Normandy Invasion - 8-1
6) Mylute 14-1
7) Giant Finish - 44-1
8) Goldencents - 5-1
9) Overanalyze - 14-1
10) Palace Malice - 25-1
11) Lines of Battle - 42-1
12) Itsmyluckyday - 11-1
13) Falling Sky - 48-1
14) Verrazano - 11-1
15) Charming Kitten - 32-1
16) Orb - 6-1
17) Will Take Charge - 31-1
18) Frac Daddy - 15-1
19) Java's War - 22-1
20) Vyjack - 43-1

Baffert - Still One of The Best

You can forgive trainer Bob Baffert for being disgusted and frustrated for another gut wrenching loss in the Triple Crown.

The Belmont Stakes, which Baffert has won once but has claimed victim to him on multiple occasions including three missed Triple Crown opportunities, is always one of the toughest races to win in the world. And before the Belmont, he thought he had a great chance with his entrant.

Paynter, a newcomer to the 3-year-old elite ranks, was a horse that Baffert thought very highly of but didn't think was ready to take on the best. But after an impressive win at Pimlico on Preakness Day, the  trainer decided Paynter was his Belmont horse.

Not long after Paynter won on Preakness Day, Bodemeister suffered his second straight nail biting defeat to I'll Have Another. The Preakness looked to be a perfect place for Bodemeister to turn the tables on the Derby winner as he was the lone speed but I'll Have Another proved to be too good.

The same scenario developed in the Belmont as jockey Mike Smith, who was also aboard Bodemeister in the Derby and Preakness, sent Paynter right to the lead and tried to slow down the pace as much as he could. It looked to be working as he looked comfortably in front for three quarters of the race. But, Union Rags, much like I'll Have Another did in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, wore down the Baffert trainee in the final strides.

“Is there a Triple Crown for seconds? I need a Triple Crown for second," Baffert said. "I really thought he was going to win today. He was doing so well. I just feel bad for [owner] Mr. [Ahmed] Zayat. The poor guy, he’s been tortured on this Triple Crown. Turning for home, I knew we had the horse to do it and that horse snuck up on him there. He’s still a young horse, still learning how to run. It’s over. When you get beat, you get beat.”

Upon reflection Baffert should smile widely about his Triple Crown performance. Any trainer in the world would be thrilled to have a chance to win any Triple Crown down the home stretch. It is very easy for a highly successful trainer to take that for granted but despite those tough defeats, Baffert's place among racing best all-time trainers is secure.

He already has won three Kentucky Derbys and five Preakness Stakes among many other elite races he has captured. And although he may have a restless night sleeping after suffering his third straight gut wrenching Triple Crown loss, he shouldn't want to trade places with anyone. Most trainer would want his "problems."

 

Notable Stats from the 138th Kentucky Derby

Notable Stats from the 138th Kentucky Derby

I'll Have Another

• The first winner from Post Position 19 
• Sixth straight year a horse has won the Derby after running just twice as a 3-year-old (before 2007, only six horses had ever accomplished that.)
• 16th horse to win the Kentucky Derby after running in the Santa Anita Derby
• 9th horse to win both the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby
• First horse to win both Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby since Sunday Silence in 1989
• First winner for trainer Doug O'Neill in his third attempt (his other two came in 2007)
• First winner for jockey Mario Gutierrez in his first Derby appearance
• First winner for owner J. Paul Reddam in three starts as a solo owner
• 45th Chestnut Colt to win
• 105th Kentucky bred to win

Bodemeister
Kentucky Derby runner-up set one of the fastest early paces in the history.

Here's a look at his near record times

• Quarter Mile - :22.32 (8th fastest)
• Half Mile - :45.39 (5th fastest)
• Three-Quarters of a Mile - 1:09.80 (4th fastest)
• One Mile - 1:35.19 (5th fastest)

Bodemeister nearly became the 23rd horse to win the Derby in wire-to-wire fashion

Trainer Bob Baffert now has 23 Kentucky Derby starters which is the fifth most all-time.

He ties Herbert "Dick" Thompson, Woody Stephens and Pete Coyne for the most second place finishes in the Kentucky Derby (3).

Others

Gemologist was the 23rd undefeated horse to start in the Kentucky Derby

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas now has 45 Kentucky Derby starters, most all-time.

Trainer Todd Pletcher now has 31 Kentucky Derby starter, second most all-time.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith moved into fifth place all-time with 19 Kentucky Derby mounts

Jockey Kent Desormeaux is now tied for sixth all-time with 18 Derby mounts. He is tied with Chris McCarron and Gary Stevens.

Kentucky Derby Odds Update - 2 p.m (ET)

Here's an update of the Kentucky Derby odds as of 2 p.m. (ET).

1) Daddy Long Legs - 23-1
2) Optimizer - 35-1
3) Take Charge Indy - 10-1
4) Union Rags -9-2
5) Dullahan - 10-1
6) Bodemeister - 7-1
7) Rousing Sermon - 35-1
8) Creative Cause - 11-1
9) Trinniberg - 39-1
10) Daddy Nose Best - 12-1
11) Alpha - 21-1
12) Prospective - 58-1
13) Went the Day Well - 26-1
14) Hansen - 13-1
15) Gemologist - 8-1
16) El Padrino - 26-1
17) Done Talking - 31-1
18) Sabercat - 33-1
19) I'll Have Another - 12-1
20) Liasion 53-1

Fitting Finish

Another Belmont Stakes is in the books and we saw a huge upset with Ruler On Ice easily beating the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. Was it a total surprise that we saw an upset?

In a word...NO.

This has been an unpredictable Triple Crown as each race saw a surprise but this was the biggest of all them. Most of the fans seemed convinced that one of the horses for the Kentucky Derby would be able to pull out a win on Saturday but the best finish was Brilliant Speed, 3rd.

Plus with the bad weather and sloppy track, it was a perfect storm for an upset.

Right from the start, trouble was brewing as Animal Kingdom, the Derby winner, got into trouble as Mucho Macho Man bumped him a few steps from the starting gate and dropped back to last. Ruler On Ice was tracking Shackleford in second for most of the way and once the Preakness winner began to fade at the top of the stretch, he was home free. The only horse he had to fend off was another longshot, Stay Thirsty.

"At the half-mile pole, I was hearing whips cracking behind me and I could hear guys chirping to their horses, and all I'm doing is picking up the tempo," said Ruler On Ice's jockey Jose Valdivia. "With a half-mile remaining, I still felt like I have a lot of horse under me."

Now, as we head into the summer and start looking ahead towards the Breeders' Cup, who is the best 3-year-old in the country? More than likely the Animal Kingdom and Shackleford will battle for those honors but they may not meet again until the Breeders' Cup Classic in November.

Animal Kingdom's owner, Barry Irwin, indicated he might start the horse back on the Turf which could mean he'll bypass the Haskell and/or Travers.

Shackleford's plans are not known but it is a safe bet, if he comes out of the Belmont in good shape, that he will run in one of the big 3-year-old races left this year.

So with another upset in the book, it completes another disappointing Triple Crown series as we are 33 years without someone sweeping the three races. But the Breeders' Cup awaits and hopefully all the best 3-year-old will reunite to decide who is the best sophomore in the country.

Odds Update - 4 p.m.

1) Archarcharch - 13-1
2) Brilliant Speed - 26-1
3) Twice The Appeal - 10-1
4) Stay Thirsty - 16-1
5) Decisive Moment - 37-1
6) Comma to The Top - 35-1
7) Pants On Fire - 7-1
8) Dialed In - 5-1
9) Derby Kitten - 34-1
10) Twinspired - 29-1
11) Master of Hounds - 12-1
12) Santiva 35-1
13) Mucho Macho Man - 9-1
14) Shackleford - 24-1
15) Midnight Interlude - 8-1
16) Animal Kingdom - 22-1
17) Soldat 14-1
18) Uncle Mo - SCRATCHED
19) Nehro - 10-1
20) Watch Me Go - 27-1

12 Noon - Derby Odds Update

1) Archarcharch - 12-1
2) Brilliant Speed - 25-1
3) Twice The Appeal - 9-1
4) Stay Thirsty - 15-1
5) Decisive Moment - 37-1
6) Comma to The Top - 35-1
7) Pants On Fire - 7-1
8) Dialed In -5-1
9) Derby Kitten - 31-1
10) Twinspired - 27-1
11) Master of Hounds - 17-1
12) Santiva 32-1
13) Mucho Macho Man - 9-1
14) Shackleford - 22-1
15) Midnight Interlude - 10-1
16) Animal Kingdom - 20-1
17) Soldat 15-1
18) Uncle Mo - SCRATCHED
19) Nehro - 10-1
20) Watch Me Go - 27-1

First Day Kentucky Derby Day Odds

Now that the first day of wagering is in the books, here is the rundown of the odds of the 19 Derby horses.

1) Archarcharch - 13-1
2) Brilliant Speed - 30-1
3) Twice The Appeal - 7-1
4) Stay Thirsty - 17-1
5) Decisive Moment - 42-1
6) Comma to The Top - 43-1
7) Pants On Fire - 9-1
8) Dialed In - 9-2
9) Derby Kitten - 29-1
10) Twinspired - 21-1
11) Master of Hounds - 18-1
12) Santiva 30-1
13) Mucho Macho Man - 12-1
14) Shackleford - 19-1
15) Midnight Interlude - 10-1
16) Animal Kingdom - 24-1
17) Soldat 17-1
18) Uncle Mo - SCRATCHED
19) Nehro - 7-1
20) Watch Me Go - 29-1

Update Derby Odds - 4 p.m.

Updated Kentucky Derby Odds - 4 p.m.

1) Archarcharch - 13-1
2) Brilliant Speed - 29-1
3) Twice The Appeal - 8-1
4) Stay Thirsty - 16-1
5) Decisive Moment - 39-1
6) Comma to The Top - 42-1
7) Pants On Fire - 9-1
8) Dialed In - 9-2
9) Derby Kitten - 27-1
10) Twinspired - 21-1
11) Master of Hounds - 20-1
12) Santiva 26-1
13) Mucho Macho Man - 11-1
14) Shackleford - 20-1
15) Midnight Interlude - 10-1
16) Animal Kingdom - 23-1
17) Soldat 19-1
18) Uncle Mo - SCRATCHED
19) Nehro - 8-1
20) Watch Me Go - 29-1

First Look at Derby Odds

Now that Uncle Mo is scratched from the Kentucky Derby and the wagering has begun, here is a first look at the odds for the Derby....

1) Archarcharch - 12-1
2) Brilliant Speed - 25-1
3) Twice The Appeal - 10-1
4) Stay Thirsty - 13-1
5) Decisive Moment - 36-1
6) Comma to The Top - 38-1
7) Pants On Fire - 8-1
8) Dialed In - 7-2
9) Derby Kitten - 27-1
10) Twinspired - 22-1
11) Master of Hounds - 99-1
12) Santiva 31-1
13) Mucho Macho Man - 8-1
14) Shackleford - 23-1
15) Midnight Interlude - 15-1
16) Animal Kingdom - 48-1
17) Soldat 21-1
18) Uncle Mo - SCRATCHED
19) Nehro - 10-1
20) Watch Me Go - 20-1

Missing Derby Star

The “Run for the Roses” is rapidly approaching and one of the all-time great Kentucky Derby jockeys may well be on the sidelines this year.

Calvin Borel, who is the only rider in Derby history to have won three times in a four year stretch (2007-2010), does not currently have a horse for this year’s renewal. His best chance, Elite Alex, finished a disappointing ninth in the Arkansas Derby. But all may not be lost for Borel as there are potentially three mounts that could open up in the next few days.

One could be J P’s Gusto, who was a well-beaten eighth in the Arkansas Derby. Right now, the connections are deciding if they want to run their colt in the Derby and if they decide it’s a go, then they may well be in the market for a new jockey.

 Borel aboard Rachel Alexandra in '09 Preakness

Another potential spot for Borel, although less likely, is Arkansas Derby runner-up Nehro.  Jockey Corey Nakatani already has one potential Derby ride with Santa Anita Derby runner-up Comma To The Top and if he sticks to that colt, then trainer Steve Asmussen would need a new jockey. Borel does not ride for Asmussen much but they did team up to win the Preakness in 2009 with the great filly Rachel Alexandra. (pictured right).

Another possible open spot for Borel is if Animal Kingdom commits to the Derby over the next few days. The colt, who won the Spiral Stakes last month, will more than likely need another rider as jockey Alan Garcia has already committed to ride Fountain of Youth winner Soldat. Plus, Animal Kingdom has had a different rider in each of his four starts.

The last open slot could be European based Master of Hounds. Jeff Lowe of Thoroughbred Times reported that Borel's agent Jerry Hissam plans to reach out to trainer Aidan O'Brien to see if he can get his client aboard the colt.

If none of those opportunities comes to pass then the Derby will be without a jockey who has had one of the most remarkable runs in racing history.

(Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire)

Kentucky Derby "Stat of the Day"

With the 137th Kentucky Derby approaching, I have compiled a list of interesting stats and tidbits. I will add at least one per day via Twiiter (@lanegold) and below will be a list of all the nuggets I have posted so far.

If there's a stat you would like to see, please let me know.

• Uncle Mo is the only horse in this year's field with over $1,000,000 in earnings. He has $1,436,000 in earnings. The next closest is Dialed In ($879,206) and Archarcharch ($832,744).

• For those Master of Hounds fans, no horse since 1937 has won the Derby with just one start as a 3-year-old. The best finish was by Challedon (2nd) in 1939.

• Toby's Corner's father (Bellamy Road) and grandfather (Mister Frisky) were beaten Kentucky Derby favorites.

• Only two horses since 1937 have run worse than 4th in last pre-Derby start and went on to win Run for the Roses. Count Turf (5th, Wood Memorial) and Iron Leige - 1957 (5th, Derby Trial.

• There are 18 Derby winners starting with the letter "S", most ever. Of the 18, three won Triple Crown. (Sir Barton, Secretariat and Seattle Slew).

• The Lexington, which is set to run this weekend at Keeneland, has produced two Derby winners - Charismatic, 1999 &; Swale, 1984. Charismatic is the only horse to have won both races. Swale finished 2nd in the Lexington.

• Dialed In is looking to become first post-time favorite to win the Derby with four lifetime starts. The other horses who were favored - Coaltown (1948, 2nd. Note: - He was coupled with Triple Crown Winner Citation) and Indian Charlie (1998, 3rd).

• Dialed In will try to become just the third horse and first since 1918 to win Derby with just four lifetime starts. (Other winners - 1902 - Alan-a-Dale and 1918 - Exterminator)

• The Arkansas Derby has produced five Derby winners (1983, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2010). Only two horses won both.

• The Toyota Blue Grass has produced 23 Derby winners but only one has won both in last 31 years - Strike The Gold - 1991.

• There has been six horses that won the Derby after finishing 3rd in their last pre-Derby start.