2019 Triple Crown: The 145th Kentucky Derby May 02, 2019 by Marc Jerbs

On Saturday, the first race of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby will held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. The Kentucky Derby is a Grade 1 race and will cover a total race distance of 1 and ¼ miles of the dirt-surfaced Churchill Downs. Post time of the race is set at 6:50PM ET.

This race is for three-year old horses only. Geldings/colts will carry 57 kg and fillies 55 kg weights. Up stake in the race is a US $3 million purse with the race winner taking home US $1.86 million.

Twenty one horses have qualified for the Kentucky Derby but early favorite Omaha Beach was scratched Wednesday morning due to a trapped epiglottis. It's an injury that will impact the horse ability to breathe while racing.

Trainer Bob Baffert is in line again for a chance for another Triple Crown shot after Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandell scratched Omaha Beach.

Bob Baffert's horse are Game Winner, Improbable and Roadster. All other horse has now a shot for the Kentucky Derby with early favorite Omaha Beach out of the running.

The sportsbook handicappers have installed Improbable as the new favorite to win Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.