Kentucky Derby 149: Post Positions, Morning Line Odds Set

The field for the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby is set. Monday afternoon officials at Churchill Downs filled in the starting gate and set the morning line odds, with 2-year-old champion Forte as the early favorite for Saturday’s race beneath the Twin Spires.

The drama was nipped in the bud early with Forte’s name called first at No. 15. The 3-1 favorite, there have been four Kentucky Derby winners from post position No. 15 since 1984, most recently Smarty Jones.

The second choice drew No. 5, Tapit Trice. Winner of the Blue Grass Stakes and the most expensive horse bought at sale ($1.3 million), the Todd Pletcher trained horse opens at 5-1.

Another one of Pletcher’s three entries, Kingsbarns is one of 34 horses to enter the Kentucky Derby unbeaten. Only nine have kept that streak alive following the run for the roses. Derma Sotogake, a Japanese horse that’s popular among handicappers, drew the maligned No. 17, a post position that has never won the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby Post Positions, Morning Line Odds and Jockey

1. Hit Show, 30-1, Manny Franco

2. Verifying, 15-1, Tyler Gafflione

3. Two Phil’s, 12-1, Jareth Loveberry

4. Confidence Game, 20-1, James Graham

5. Tapit Trice, 5-1, Luis Saez

6. Kingsbarns, 12-1, Jose Ortiz

7. Reincarnate, 50-1, John Velazquez

8. Mage, 15-1, Javier Castellano

9. Skinner, 20-1, Juan Hernandez

10. Practical Move, 10-1, Ramon Vazquez

11. Disarm, 30-1, Joel Rosario

12. Jace’s Road, 15-1, Florent Geroux

13. Sun Thunder, 50-1, Brian Hernandez

14. Angel of Empire, 14-1, Flavien Prat

15. Forte, 3-1, Irad Ortiz

16. Raise Cain, 50-1, Gerardo Corrales

17. Derma Sotogake (JPN), 10-1, Christophe Lemaire

18. Rocket Can, 30-1, Junior Alvarado

19. Lord Miles, 30-1, Paco Lopez

20. Continuar (JPN), 50-1, Ryusei Sakai

AE 21: Cyclone Mischief, 30-1, Joel Rosario,

AE 22: Mandarin Hero (JPN), 20-1, Kazushi Kimura

AE 23: King Russell, 50-1, Rafael Bejarano