11. Haikal (Rajiv Maragh, 30/1): He gets out very slow, spotting the field as many as 14 lengths in his last two races. With his closing style, he’s a runner that really benefits from the quick early fractions and perhaps a speed duel up front. He should take well to the added furlongs of the Kentucky Derby and looms as a long shot, who might be able to hit the board closing late at a nice price.
12. Omaha Beach (Mike Smith, OTB): SCRATCH
13. Code of Honor (John Velazquez, 12/1): He’s coming off a third place finish in the Florida Derby after getting bumped at the start. The Florida Derby was an odd race with Maximum Security left alone uncontested on the front end. Despite Maximum Security having his way on the front end, Code of Honor showed a nice late-closing kick off easy fractions. Look for him to be positioned well to run down the leaders in the deep stretch.
14. Win Win Win (Julian Pimentel, 12/1): He’s one of only a few horses with a closing style and is another that looks like he will benefit from the faster early fractions. The post position does not deter him and he will definitely be spotting the field a lot of early lengths. The added couple of furlongs of the Derby look advantageous to him and he’s another that should be flying late in deep stretch.
15. Master Fencer (Julien Leparoux, 50/1): This is the first ever Japanese-bred horse to try its luck in the Kentucky Derby. He has two wins in three career starts and has had almost a week in Louisville to prep for the change of scenery and get adjusted to the new track. He is a long shot for a reason and does not look like he will at any point be a factor on the first Saturday in May.
16. Game Winner (Joel Rosario, 9/2): He’s been a beaten favorite in both of his 2019 career races, however, he narrowly missed finishing second in both. He draws a very difficult post position for a horse that isn’t a true closer or one that doesn’t seem to posses a lot of early speed. This outside post may force him farther back than ideal. Without seeing experience closing or off a troubled trip, the price appears too short. Game Winner moved from 5/1 odds to the new Kentucky Derby favorite at 9/2 upon Omaha Beach's withdraw.
17. Roadster (Florent Geroux, 5/1): He’s another runner that was hoping for a better post position draw as he may be forced very wide early on the first turn, due to the outside post and his lack of early speed. He loses the services of jockey Mike Smith to Omaha Beach, and while this is not the worst jockey change, it’s still a huge disadvantage losing Smith, who has been on board in all of his four career starts. It’s tough to find complaints with this colt who has looked very good in all of his California races.
18. Long Range Toddy (Jon Court, 30/1): He is coming off a disappointing effort in the Arkansas Derby, racing over a sloppy track. He didn’t take well to the off track and being forced wide, but he has put forth some good efforts. It will be difficult to navigate out of the outside post as a runner not possessing much early speed or showcasing any type of a solid late-closing kick.
19. Spinoff (Manny Franco, 30/1): The best part of this runner is his training. It’s very rare you see a Todd Pletcher horse with such high morning line odds attached. He’s lightly raced and has only made two starts since August and it’s very possible he’s sitting on a big race as his times have steadily been improving. He’s taken well to the early bumping in his most recent two races, which preps him for what’s to come in the Kentucky Derby.
20. Country House (Flavian Prat, 30/1): If any horse is going to draw the outside and not be affected by it, then it would be this runner who starts very slowly and has shown a decent late-closing kick. He will be hoping for a pace meltdown up front to track down tired runners late. He’s worthy of a closer look into rounding out your superfecta wagers.
21: Bodexpress (Chris Landeros, 30/1): He draws in to the Derby after the late scratch of Omaha Beach. In his most recent start in the Florida Derby, he was sent off a 71/1 where he surprised a lot of people and finished second. He has yet to win a career race before and appears completely overmatched. There's a reason the last maiden runner to win the Kentucky Derby was way back in 1933.
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