American Pharoah Taking On Eighteen in $2 Million Kentucky Derby

American Pharoah tops the field as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 for trainer Bob Baffert. Purchased for $300,000 as a yearling, he went on to be named the Eclipse Award winner for champion two-year-old last year after a pair of Grade 1 wins. As a sophomore, he is a perfect two-for-two and won the Arkansas Derby (G1) last time out in an eight-length romp as the heavy favorite. Victor Espinoza will remain aboard and they will break from post position eighteen.

Dortmund putting undefeated streak on the line

Baffert will also saddle Dortmund as the second choice at 3-1 on the morning line. A massive chestnut son of Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, he is undefeated from six starts and won a race at Churchill Downs as a juvenile. This year, he has had three consecutive graded stakes victories on the West Coast. Regular rider Martin Garcia will be in the irons and they will break from post eight.

Carpe Diem a major threat for Pletcher

Also in the field at morning line odds of 8-1 is Carpe Diem for trainer Todd Pletcher, one of three horses he will saddle in the race. Purchased for $1.6 million as a juvenile, he has won four of his five starts and was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall. He won the Blue Grass (G1) as the heavy favorite in his final Derby prep and will break from post position two under jockey John Velazquez.