Kentucky Derby 2018 Draw: Contenders, Post Positions and Odds

The full moon sets beyond the grandstands at Churchill Downs as a horse works on the track on Monday. The 144th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday. Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The undefeated chestnut colt Justify, who will break from Post 7, was made the morning-line favorite at 3-1 for the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Trained by the Triple-Crown winning Bob Baffert, Justify defeated the successful colt Bolt d’Oro by three lengths in the Santa Anita Derby on April 7, fueling the hype. And despite being at Churchill Downs less than 24 hours, he has already attracted a robust crowd at Baffert’s talent-laden Barn 33.

But all three of Justify’s three starts came in 2018, and no horse has won the mile-and-a-quarter Derby after not starting as a 2 year old since Apollo in 1882, leading to the dubious distinction, the Curse of Apollo.

“A lot of people have told me, ‘Please get a start in my horse before so we can get that thing out of the way,’” Baffert said of owners pushing to race their 2-year-old horses.

If ever there were horses who could reverse the curse, however, Justify or Magnum Moon, who went wire-to-wire in the Arkansas Derby, could be the one. “I think when the right horse comes along, it will happen,” said Magnum Moon’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, who is set to saddle four horses in the race.

Mendelssohn, breaking from Post 14, was made the second choice at 5-1, and Magnum Moon breaking from Post 16, was third at 6-1.

Solomini drew the dreaded 17 hole, from which no horse has ever won.

Blended Citizen was placed on the also-eligible list and can draw into the field should a horse be scratched before Friday at 9 a.m. Eastern.

Here’s the full field:

1. Firenze Fire

Trainer: Jason Servis Jockey: Paco Lopez Odds: 50-1

2. Free Drop Billy

Trainer: Dale Romans Jockey: Robby Albarado Odds: 30-1

3. Promises Fulfilled

Trainer: Dale Romans Jockey: Corey Lanerie Odds: 30-1

4. Flameaway

Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey: Jose Lezcano Odds: 30-1

5. Audible

Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Javier Castellano Odds: 8-1

6. Good Magic

Trainer: Chad Brown Jockey: Jose Ortiz Odds: 12-1

7. Justify

Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Mike Smith Odds: 3-1

8. Lone Sailor

Trainer: Tom Amoss Jockey: James Graham Odds: 50-1

9. Hofburg

Trainer: Bill Mott Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Odds: 20-1

10. My Boy Jack

Trainer: Keith Desormeaux Jockey: Kent Desormeaux Odds: 20-1

11. Bolt d’Oro

Trainer: Mick Ruiz Jockey: Victor Espinoza Odds: 8-1

12. Enticed

Trainer: Kieran McLaughlin Jockey: Junior Alvarado Odds: 30-1

13. Bravazo

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Jockey: Luis Contreras Odds: 50-1

14. Mendelssohn

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Odds: 5-1

15. Instilled Regard

Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke Odds: 50-1

16. Magnum Moon

Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Luis Saez Odds: 6-1

17. Solomini

Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Flavien Prat Odds: 30-1

18. Vino Rosso

Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: John Velazquez Odds: 12-1

19. Noble Indy

Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Florent Geroux Odds: 30-1

20. Combatant

Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. Odds: 50-1

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