The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, May 4th at the legendary Churchill Downs race track in Louisville, Kentucky. The race, which is scheduled to get underway at approximately 7:00pm ET (post time 6:24pm), can be seen live on NBC. There are a handful of horses expected to vie for the top spot this weekend, but the co-favorite to win the event is the More Than Ready sired Verrazano. As one of the Kentucky Derby Contenders 2013 favorites, Verrazano is drawing +400 moneyline odds to win the first leg of the Triple Crown Series.
The Todd Pletcher trained Verrazano enters the 139th Kentucky Derby with an unblemished record; however, it remains an inexperienced racer as its maiden race took place on New Year’s Day.
Since breaking his maiden, Verrazano has won a one mile Allowance race at Gulfstream Park as well as the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby (1 1/16 miles) and the Grade I Wood Memorial (1 1/8 miles).
Verrazano produced an unsavory 95 Beyer rating at the Wood Memorial (record low is 92), but he did defeat two other contenders in the key Derby Trail race in Normandy Invasion and Vyjack.
Verrazano’s pedigree and recent performances would suggest the extra eighth of mile at the Derby should not be much of an issue for the colt. Hall of Fame jockey John Velasquez, a veteran of 13 Kentucky Derby races and the winner of the 2011 Derby (Animal Kingdom), will, no doubt, help Verrazano run the kind of race it needs to in order to be a factor at the end.
Verrazano will start the Derby from post position 14. The last horse to start from gate 14 and win the Kentucky Derby was 1961 champion Carry Back.
Verrazano +400 (Post #14)
Orb +400 (Post #16)
Goldencents +450 (Post #8)
Revolutionary +900 (Post #3)
Normandy Invasion +1200 (Post #5)
Mylute +1200 (Post #6)
Overanalyze +1500 (Post #9)
Will Take Charge +1800 (Post #17)
Itsmyluckyday +1800 (Post #12)
Vyjack +1800 (Post #20)
Java’s War +2200 (Post #19)
Palace Malice +2500 (Post #10)
Charming Kitten +3000 (Post #15)
Oxbow +4000 (Post #2)
Lines of Battle +4500 (Post #11)
Giant Finish +5000 (Post #7)
Golden Soul +5000 (Post #4)
Falling Sky +5000 (Post #13)
Frac Daddy +5000 (Post #18)
Black Onyx +6500 (Post #1)
Kentucky Derby Preview: VerrazanoWhat horse racing bettors need to know about betting Verrazano in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday (5/04/13).