With no standout horse from this year’s capacity field of 20 three year olds, Dialed In was promoted to the head of the betting lists, partly on the back of his last-stride win at last month’s Florida Derby, but also through the rotten luck bestowed on most of his main rivals.

Dialed In’s master trainer Nick Zito has won the Kentucky Derby twice, in 1991 with Strike the Gold and again in 1994 with Go For Gin, but he was not making bold predictions about his lightly-raced colt despite getting the stamp of approval from bookmakers.

“They made us the favorite, so that’s OK,” Zito told reporters. “I’m flattered by it, very humbled by it. We’ll see what happens.” 

Two of the main contenders have dropped out and Uncle Mo, last season’s two year old of the year, could yet join them after a troubled lead-up to the race known as the Run For the Roses because the winner gets a blanket of red roses.

Uncle Mo suffered his first career loss last month, picked up a gastrointestinal infection, then drew awkwardly when the post positions were made on Wednesday. Connections were still considering scratching the horse but trainer Todd Pletcher remained optimistic.

“Uncle Mo will be OK from the 18 (post),” said Pletcher, who won the race last year with Super Saver. “He wants to get a good stalking position and he can do that from there.” 

The barrier draw offered little relief to the other major contenders. Santa Anita Derby winner Nehro drew 19 while Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch drew barrier one, a notoriously difficult gate to win from because of the risk of being boxed in on the tight, dirt, oval track.

“I have always wanted to be No. 1 but not in the Kentucky Derby starting gate,” said Archarcharch’s 70-year-old trainer William “Jinks” Fires. “It is still the shortest way around and at least I am not out next to the track kitchen.” While the absence of an overwhelming favorite may mean this year’s crop may not produce another Secretariat, it has opened up the race and given renewed hope that an unlikely winner could get their name on the honor roll.

Two trainers and one jockey are attempting to become the first females to win the 137-year-old classic, dubbed “the most exciting two minutes in sport.”  Kathleen O’Connell will saddle up the 50-1 longshot Watch Me Go while Kathy Ritvo, a heart-transplant survivor, prepares Mucho Macho Man, a 12-1 chance. Rosie Napravik will ride Pants on Fire, the Louisville Derby winner.

“I don’t think about first female to do this, first female to do that,” Napravik told reporters. “I am proud of it, but it’s not something I think about all the time.”  The lone international entrant this year is Master of Hounds, trained in Ireland by Aiden O’Brien, who has won many of the world’s great races but never the Kentucky Derby. He was the favorite in last year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile, won by Uncle Mo, and narrowly beaten at his last start in Dubai.

An expected crowd of 150,000 will cram into Churchill Downs while tens of millions of people will watch on television, as the race, steeped with tradition including the singing of My Old Kentucky Home and the drinking of Mint Juleps, unfolds.
 
 
 
 
REUTERS