5:46 p.m. Central, Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky.
PP HORSE; JOCKEY; TRAINER; ODDS
16 TAPWRIT; JL Ortiz;Todd Pletcher; 20-1
• Is a multiple stakes winner who scored convincingly in the Tampa Derby, and he has worked very well since a troubled fifth in the Blue Grass.
14 CLASSIC EMPIRE;Julian Leparoux;Mark Casse; 4-1
• Has benefit of two victories at Churchill as a 2-year-old, and the Juvenile Champion may have been "short" in a game Arkansas Derby victory and should move forward.
2 THUNDER SNOW;Christophe Soumillon;Saeed bin Suroor; 20-1
• Is a Group I winner in France, and the recent UAE Derby winner is riding a three-race winning streak and is easily the best derby horse to ship from Dubai.
8 HENCE; Florent Geroux;Steve Asmussen; 15-1
• Finished full of run to win the Sunland Derby, the same race that Mine That Bird came out of to win the Derby in 2009, and he appears to be peaking at the right time.
5 ALWAYS DREAMING;John Velazquez;Todd Pletcher; 5-1
• Ran them off their feet in a sharp Florida Derby victory, and he has been full of himself in recent works, suggesting he will be the one to catch and beat.
17 IRISH WAR CRY;Rajiv Maragh;Graham Motion; 6-1
• Earned a second triple-digit Beyer figure winning the Wood Memorial by better than 3 lengths, and trainer Motion saddled 2011 Derby winner Animal Kingdom.
15 MCCRACKEN;Brian Hernandez Jr.;Ian Wilkes; 5-1
• Won two stakes at Churchill as a 2-year-old, and suffered his first defeat in five starts when third in the Blue Grass as the post-time favorite.
18 GORMLEY;Victor Espinoza;John Shirreffs; 15-1
• Has recorded two Grade I victories at Santa Anita, including a slowly run renewal of the Santa Anita Derby, and he has proven wet track ability.
19 PRACTICAL JOKE; Joel Rosario;Chad Brown; 20-1
• Was a multiple Grade I winner as a 2-year-old, and he has never finished out of the money in 6 races, and was a clear second in the Blue Grass.
7 GIRVIN;Mike Smith;Joe Sharp; 15-1
• Won the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star at Fair Grounds, but recent foot issues give one pause to play with any kind of confidence.
1 LOOKIN AT LEE;Corey Lanerie;Steve Asmussen; 20-1
• Rallied from far back when third best in the Arkansas Derby, and he has improved in each of three races this season and figures to save all the ground.
9 IRAP;Mario Gutierrez;Doug O'Neill; 20-1
• Had blinkers removed after a dull Sunland Derby effort and responded by defeating six rivals at 31-1 odds in the Blue Grass, but loses jockey Leparoux, who opted for Classic Empire.
10 GUNNEVERA;Javier Castellano;Antonio Sano; 15-1
• Was a well beaten third behind Always Dreaming in the Florida Derby, but he was even-money after a decisive Fountain of Youth victory and is possible if the pace is contested.
13 J BOYS ECHO;Luis Saez;Dale Romans; 20-1
• Earned a triple-digit Beyer winning the Gotham at Aqueduct, and had trouble when fourth in the Blue Grass.
6 STATE OF HONOR;Jose Lezcano;Mark Casse; 30-1
• Showed early speed and held on well to finish second in the Florida and Tampa Derbies, but the added ground is unlikely to work in his favor.
4 UNTRAPPED;Ricardo Santana Jr.;Steve Asmussen; 30-1
• Flattened out after a 4-wide middle move in the Arkansas Derby, and he is having blinkers removed.
20 PATCH;Tyler Gaffalione;Todd Pletcher; 30-1
• Followed a maiden vi at Gulfstream with a second-place finish in the Louisiana Derby when making only his third career start.
12 SONNETEER;Kent Desormeaux;Keith Desormeaux; 50-1
• Is a 10-race maiden who finished second in the Rebel, and he is the type that could get up for a share of a superfecta.
11 BATTLE OF MIDWAY;Flavien Prat;Jerry Hollendorfer; 30-1
• Contested pace from start to finish second in the Santa Anita Derby, but he has yet to earn a Beyer figure greater than an 88.
3 FAST AND ACCURATE;Channing Hill;Mike Maker; 50-1
• Won the Spiral Stakes, the weakest derby prep this season, and his only start on dirt was a poor performance at Parx.
NOTE None of the top 20 horses withdrew by Friday's 9 a.m. scratch time, eliminating Royal Mo and Master Plan, the also-eligibles, from consideration.
Sports on 05/06/2017