Kentucky Derby - how many horses in this years field & who will win it?

Question

triple crown???

Answer 1

There will be 20 horses entered at the Draw on Wed.  Right now there are around 24 horses pointing to the race.  There is no also eligible list for the Derby so if a horse scratches between Wed. and Sat. the field will be reduced.

There's always a chance for a Triple Crown and this year is as good as any.  Who will it be?  Ask me next Sunday ;)

Answer 2

We will not know until next Wednesday at 5pm.  I do not see a Triple Crown winner this year.

Answer 3

bobbyboy

Answer 4

It looks like a full field of 20 will contest the race this year.  The field is limited to 20 horses, with entry decided by graded stakes earnings.  This is the list of the top 25 horses entered in the Derby, ranked by graded stakes earnings:

1 Street Sense $1,482,000

2 Scat Daddy $1,308,500

3 Circular Quay $1,116,134

4 Curlin $780,000

5 Nobiz Like Shobiz $778,500

6 Great Hunter $752,500

7 Stormello $642,900

8 Dominican $498,484

9 Tiago $450,000

10 Cowtown Cat $437,253

11 Hard Spun $360,000

12 Storm in May  $227,500

13 Zanjero $205,000

14 Xchanger $202,890

15 Any Given Saturday $177,969

16 Liquidity $161,200

17 Cobalt Blue $150,000

18 Sam P. $146,500

19 Sedgefield $127,500

20 Teuflesberg $122,942

21 Imawildandcrazyguy $104,000

22 Chelokee $100,000

23 Reporting for Duty $100,000

24 Starbase $93,106

25 Delightful Kiss $83,000

Every year, in the week or ten days leading up to the Derby, it seems that one or more of the top 20 drops out either because of illness or injury or decision by connections to race elsewhere, and I would be surprised if this year is any different.  I'm glad Teuflesberg got into the top 20, because he was right on the cusp and I think he's heaps better than his earnings indicate.  

So which horses actually face the starter on May 5th is still to be settled.

....And once the field is settled, there's the draw for post postion to be worked out.  That can have a HUGE impact on how the race is run.  The race can be won or lost in the draw for post position;  while it can be argued that a good horse should be able to win from any post, past Derby history argues that even a great horse can have his chances compromised at the start, so I don't think any handicapper will go out on a limb in predicting the winner until the post positions are drawn.

The other wild card is the weather.  I don't know what the 7-day forecast for Louisville is, and I don't think anyone else can have much certainty.  If it rains on Derby day, that will certainly have an impact on the race.  So we have to wait and see how that goes.  I'm hoping for clear and sunny with a fast track, but I'm sure that the connections of at least a couple of horses are probably hoping the track comes up muddy!

This is what makes the week leading up to the Derby so intense:  all the unknowns and variables that don't solidify until the actual day of the race.  I love it!

Answer 5

11 horses and they will all be called ..secret herbs and spices.

And I feel that Colonel Sanders may win it this year

Answer 6

the one who wins will be whichever one crosses the finish line first.  As you probably already know, it's not the horse with the highest odds that wins, it's the one that runs the best on that day.

Answer 7

nightwish