Kentucky Derby field, stats and staff picks

Everything there is to know about the fastest two minutes, including insights from award-winning horse racing expert Dick Jerardi.

Opening odds via Churchill Downs/Mike Battaglia

Churchill Downs undercard: 12-2:30 p.m. (NBCSN); 2:30-5:30 p.m. (NBC)

More pre-race coverage: 5:30 p.m. (NBC)

Kentucky Derby post time: 6:50 p.m. (NBC)

Streaming: NBC Sports Live

When: Saturday, 6:50 p.m. post time (Race 12). Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky.

Wagering Info: 1-888-BET-2-WIN or www.parxracing.com/phonebet.php

Distance: 1 1/4 miles. Weights: 126 pounds. Purse: $3 million (if 20 start).

First place: $1,860,000. Second: $600,000. Third: $300,000. Fourth: $150,000. Fifth: $90,000.

Remaining Triple Crown schedule: Preakness Stakes, May 18; Belmont Stakes, June 8.

Morning Line: 15-1

Owner: Gary Barber. Trainer: Mark Casse. Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione .

Career Earnings: $501,569, 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-2-0-0

Last three: Louisiana Derby (9th), Risen Star Stakes (1st), LeComte Stakes (1st).

DJ’s breakdown: Put a line through his last race when had major problems early. Talented horse got very difficult post for his running style.

Morning Line: 20-1

Owner: R.A. Hill Stable, et. al. Trainer: Danny Gargan. Jockey: Junior Alvarado.

Career Earnings: $326,300. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-1-1-0

Last three: Wood Memorial (2nd), Withers Stakes (1st), Ramsen Stakes (2018, 3rd)

DJ’s breakdown: Claimed for $50,000 from his second start. Tries hard every time and will be a big price. Hitting the board is possible.

Morning Line: 15-1

Owner: Allied Racing Stable. Trainer: Bret Calhoun. Jockey: Gabriel Saez.

Career Earnings: $653,710. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-2-0-1

Last three: Louisiana Derby (1st), maiden/Fair Grounds (1st), maiden/Fair Grounds (3rd)

DJ’s breakdown: Totally blew up in last two starts in Louisiana. No horse has looked better in the mornings at Churchill.

Morning Line: 50-1

Owner: Wachtel Stable, et. al. Trainer: Peter Miller. Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke.

Career Earnings: $584,140. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-0-2-0

Last three: UAE Derby (2nd), Miracle Wood Stakes (2nd), allowance/Santa Anita (5th)

DJ’s breakdown: Not close to fast enough to have any chance. Finished second in a very bad rendition of the UAE Derby.

Morning Line: 5-1

Owner: WinStar Farm, et. al. Trainer: Bob Baffert. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Career Earnings: $619,520. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-0-2-0

Last three: Arkansas Derby (2nd), Rebel Stakes (2nd), Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity (2018, 1st)

DJ’s breakdown: Have a good friend who got 125-1 in November. Same connections as 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Super talented.

Morning Line: 15-1

Owner: R. A. Hill & Gatsas stables. Trainer: George Weaver. Jockey: Javier Castellano.

Career Earnings: $788,850. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-1-0-1

Last three: Blue Grass Stakes (1st), Fountain of Youth Stakes (3rd), Nashua Stakes (2018, 1st)

DJ’s breakdown: Early position will be everything from a tricky post with better speed to his outside. Dominated a weak Blue Grass.

Morning Line: 8-1

Owner: Gary & Mary West. Trainer: Jason Servis. Jockey: Luis Saez.

Career Earnings: $649,400. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-3-0-0

Last three: Florida Derby (1st), claiming/Gulfstream (1st), claiming/Gulfstream (1st)

DJ’s breakdown: Florida Derby winner unbeaten in four starts. Could have been claimed for $16,000 Dec. 20. Part of the pace.

Morning Line: 8-1

Owner: Juddmonte Farms. Trainer: Bill Mott. Jockey: Jose Ortiz.

Career Earnings: $653,000. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-2-0-0

Last three: Wood Memorial (1st), Tampa Bay Derby (1st), maiden/Aqueduct (2018, 1st)

DJ’s breakdown: Wood Memorial winner is the best bred horse in the race by superstar sire Tapit out of Grade I winner Close Hatches.

Morning Line: 30-1

Owner: Imperial Racing. Trainer: Brendan Walsh. Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Career Earnings: $1,590,400. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-1-0-0

Last three: UAE Derby (1st), Risen Star Stakes (13th), LeComte Stakes (5th)

DJ’s breakdown: Won a very weak running of the UAE Derby in Dubai after being overmatched in Louisiana. Seems very unlikely.

Morning Line: 30-1

Owner: Starlight Racing. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Corey Lanerie.

Career Earnings: $516,967. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-1-1-0

Last three: Sunland Derby (1st), Southwest Stakes (7th), allowance/Gulfstream (2nd)

DJ’s breakdown: Sunland Derby winner is improving, but would need another huge jump against this excellent field.

Morning Line: 30-1

Owner: Shadwell Stable. Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin. Jockey: Raviv Maragh

Career Earnings: $373,900. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-2-0-1

Last three: Wood Memorial (3rd), Gotham Stakes (1st), Jimmy Winkfield Stakes (1st)

DJ’s breakdown: Never raced anywhere but Aqueduct in mostly small fields. Did not train Thursday because of a hoof issue. Could be scratched.

Scratched

>>READ MORE: Omaha Beach coughs up a chance to run the Derby

Morning Line: 12-1

Owner: W.S. Farish. Trainer: Shug McGaughey. Jockey: John Velazquez.

Career Earnings: $478,820. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-1-0-1

Last three: Florida Derby (3rd), Fountain of Youth Stakes (1st), Mucho Macho Man Stakes (4th)

DJ’s breakdown: Liked him more last fall than now. May have to pass most of the field, never easy in this cavalry charge.

Morning Line: 12-1

Owner: Live Oak Plantation. Trainer: Mike Trombetta. Jockey: Julian Pimentel.

Career Earnings: $367,300. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-1-1-1

Last three: Blue Grass Stakes (2nd), Tampa Bay Derby (3rd), Pasco Stakes (1st)

DJ’s breakdown: Grandson of Smarty Jones has come from way back in his last two starts, never the optimum Derby style with traffic.

Morning Line: 50-1

Owner: Katsumi Yoshizawa. Trainer: Koichi Tsunoda. Jockey: Julien Leparoux .

Career Earnings: $234,392. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-1-1-0.

Last three: Fukuryu Stakes (2nd), Hyacinth Stakes (4th), allowance/Japan (1st)

DJ’s breakdown: Japanese horse is a complete mystery. There is great racing there, but no way to know how this horse matches up.

Morning Line: 9-2

Owner: Gary & Mary West. Trainer: Bob Baffert. Jockey: Joel Rosario.

Career Earnings: $1,846,000. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-0-2-0.

Last three: Santa Anita Derby (2nd), Rebel Stakes (2nd), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (2018, 1st)

DJ’s breakdown: The 2018 2-year-old champion has never run a bad race, but is not any faster now than he was six months ago.

Morning Line: 5-1

Owner: Speedway Stable. Trainer: Bob Baffert. Jockey: Florent Geroux.

Career Earnings: $706,200. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-2-0-0

Last three: Santa Anita Derby (1st), allowance/Santa Anita (1st), Del Mar Futurity (2018, 3rd)

DJ’s breakdown: Bob Baffert said Santa Anita Derby winner was his next superstar before a throat issue kept him away for six months.

Morning Line: 30-1

Owner: Willis Horton Racing. Trainer: Steve Asmussen. Jockey: Jon Court.

Career Earnings: $854,459. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-1-1-1

Last three: Arkansas Derby (6th), Rebel Stakes (1st), Suthwest Stakes (3rd)

DJ’s breakdown: Upset Improbable in a division of the Rebel, but never ran that fast before and barely ran at all in the Arkansas Derby.

Morning Line: 30-1

Owner: Wertheimer and Frere. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Manny Franco.

Career Earnings: $260,000. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-1-1-0

Last three: Louisiana Derby (2nd), allowance/Tampa Bay (1st), Saratoga Special Stakes (2018, 3rd)

DJ’s breakdown: Finished a solid second in the Louisiana Derby. Should be in vicinity of early pace, but not sure he can finish with these.

Morning Line: 30-1

Owner: Mrs. J.V. Shields Jr., et. al. Trainer: Bill Mott. Jockey: Flavien Prat.

Career Earnings: $260,175. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-1-1-1

Last three: Arkansas Derby (3rd), Louisiana Derby (4th), Risen Star Stakes (2nd)

DJ’s breakdown: Trainer Bill Mott has won almost all of the big races except the Derby. A chance here, better chance with Tacitus.

Morning Line: 30-1

Owner: Top Racing, et. al. Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. Jockey: Chris Landeros.

Career Earnings: $208,700. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-0-2-0.

Last three: Florida Derby (2nd), Maidens/Gulfstream (2nd), Maidens/gulfstream (4th).

DJ’s breakdown: Finished second in the Florida Derby at 71-1. Winless horse (0-5) he drew in when morning-line favorite Omaha Beach was scratched Wednesday.

Win: Betting a horse to finish first.

Place: Betting a horse to finish first or second.

Show: Betting a horse to finish first, second or third.

Across the board: Betting an equal amount to win, place and show.

Exacta: A bet on which horses will finish first and second, in order.

Quinella: A bet on which horses will finish first and second, regardless of order.

Trifecta: A bet on which horses will finish first, second and third, in order.

Superfecta: A bet on which horses will finish first, second, third and fourth, in order.

Pick Six: Correctly picking the winners of six consecutive designated races. Pick Six wagering on Saturday at Churchill Downs begins with Race 7.