It is just about time for mint juleps, extravagant hats, and the fastest two minutes in sports.
The 150th Kentucky Derby, the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, is Saturday. Coverage begins on NBC and Peacock at 2:30P ET. USA Network and Peacock will have live Derby Day coverage from 12-2:20 p.m. ET.
Viewers can stream Derby Day coverage on Peacock, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app.
Fierceness is a sizable Derby favorite. Money continues to come in on the Todd Pletcher-trained horse as his odds now stand at 3-1. Already a heavy favorite, Fierceness caught an additional break when Encino scratched as it shifted the horse over one post position. Starting from Post 16 as opposed to Post 17 may not seem like much, but no horse has ever won the Derby from Post 17.
If he is successful, the Florida Derby winner will claim the majority of the record 5-million-dollar purse.
Bet the Edge is your source for the day in sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight throughout the Triple Crown season weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your podcasts.
The fastest horse in the field is Fierceness, but Sierra Leone (5-1) has been consistently strong and just a nose from a perfect 4-0. Purchased for 2.3 million dollars two years ago, the Chad Brown-trained horse has yet to run a bad race. Other challengers include Catching Freedom (8-1), Forever Young (6-1), and Just a Touch (11-1) are the other primary contenders for the Derby crown.
Looking to place a wager on the Kentucky Derby? Read below for a quick synopsis of each horse along with highlights from his biggest race and an analysis of his chances in the Derby courtesy of NBC Sports’ horse racing expert and Bet the EDGE host Drew Dinsick.
The Tale of the Tape
Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY
Who: 20, 3-year-old horses
Purse: $5,000,000
Distance: 1¼ miles
Post Time: 6:57P ET
Forecast: 79 degrees with a 35% chance of rain
Network: NBC and Peacock
The field is listed below post positions 1-21 along with pertinent betting info.
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- Trainer: D. Gargan | Jockey: L. Saez
- Won the Fountain of Youth Stakes
- Likes early speed and will need it
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis of Dornoch from Churchill Downs
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- Trainer: C. Brown | Trainer: T. Gaffalione
- Won the Blue Grass Stakes and the Risen Star
- The top closer in the field
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Sierra Leone
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- Trainer: K. McPeek | Jockey: B. Hernandez, Jr.
- Finished 3rd in the Arkansas Derby
- Won the Southwest on a messy track
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Mystik Dan
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- Trainer: B. Cox | Jockey: F. Prat
- Won the Louisiana Derby
- This colt keeps getting better
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Catching Freedom
Read More: The Draw for the 150th Kentucky Derby
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- Trainer: S. Joseph, Jr. | Trainer: J. Ortiz
- Finished 2nd in the Florida Derby
- 10 Derby winners since 1930 from the No. 5 post
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Catalytic
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- Trainer: D. Lukas | Jockey: K. Asmussen
- Finished 2nd in the Arkansas Derby
- More races (11) than any horse in the field
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Just Steel
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- Trainer: D. Beckman | Jockey: B. Curtis
- Finished 2nd in the Louisiana Derby
- 2-time winner at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Honor Marie
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- Trainer: B. Cox | Jockey: F. Geroux
- Finished 2nd in the Blue Grass Stakes
- Led in the Blue Grass until late
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Just a Touch
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- Trainer: D. Takayanagi | Jockey: K. Kazushi
- Won the Fukuryo Derby
- Will look to lead wire-to-wire
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of T O Password
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- Trainer: Y. Yahagi | Jockey: R. Sakai
- Won the UAE Derby
- 5-0 in 5 starts but UAE winners are 0-19 at the Derby
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Forever Young
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- Trainer: S. Asmussen | Jockey: J. Rosario
- Finished 4th in the Louisiana Derby
- Fast early but slows late
- Drew Dinsick’s analysis from Churchill Downs of Track Phantom
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- Trainer: L. Demeritte | Jockey: J. Castanon
- Finished 2nd in the Jeff Ruby Steaks
- Slowest horse in the race
- Drew Dinsick’s analysis from Churchill Downs of West Saratoga
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- Trainer: M. McCarthy | Jockey: U. Rispoli
- Won the Jeff Ruby Steaks
- 4-1 in career but Derby is first race on a dirt track
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Endlessly
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- Trainer: C. Brown | Jockey: I. Ortiz, Jr.
- Finished 1st in the Tampa Bay Derby
- Eight weeks since last race. Rested or rusty?
- Drew Dinsick’s analysis from Churchill Downs of Domestic Product
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- Trainer: V. Barboza, Jr. | Jockey: E. Jaramillo
- Finished 3rd in the Florida Derby
- Three, 3rd place finishes to date
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Grand Mo the First
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- Trainer: T. Pletcher | Jockey: J. Velazquez
- Won the Florida Derby
- Fastest horse in the field
- Drew Dinsick’s analysis from Churchill Downs of Fierceness
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- Trainer: P. D’Amato | Jockey: A. Fresu
- Won the Santa Anita Derby
- Not the fastest horse but possibly the most consistent
- Drew Dinsick’s analysis from Churchill Downs of Stronghold
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- Trainer: B. Mott | Jockey: J. Alvarado
- Won the Wood Memorial
- Jockey John Velazquez leaves for Fierceness
- Drew Dinsick’s analysis from Churchill Downs of Resilience
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- Trainer: D. Gargan | Jockey: F. Dettori
- Finished 2nd in the Wood Memorial
- 106-1 Odds at the Wood but finished 2nd
- Drew Dinsick’s Analysis from Churchill Downs of Society Man
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- Trainer: J. Ennis | Jockey: A. Beschizza
- Finished 3rd in the Blue Grass Stakes
- Expect fast early, fade quickly
- Drew Dinsick’s analysis from Churchill Downs of Epic Ride
Enjoy the race and a couple of sweats.