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Kentucky Derby favorite Forte draws the No. 15 position

May 2, 2023

Three local 3-year-olds, all longshots for Saturday’s 149th running of the Kentucky Derby, landed favorable starting positions during Monday’s post-position draw in the Aristides Lounge at Churchill Downs.

Practical Move, winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity, San Felipe Stakes and Santa Anita Derby in his past three starts, drew the No. 10 post and was installed as the co-fourth choice at 10-1 on the morning line. Ramon Vazquez has the mount on the Tim Yakteen-trained son of Practical Joke.

Yakteen will also saddle Reincarnate in the Run for the Roses. The Good Magic colt was previously trained by Bob Baffert but was transferred to Yakteen’s barn to be eligible for the Derby. Baffert is banned from running horses in the Derby until next year. Reincarnate, third in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park after winning the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita in January, is 50-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by John Velazquez while breaking from post No. 7.

The third Southland-based Derby horse is Skinner, trained by John Shirreffs. He’ll be ridden by Santa Anita’s leading jockey, Juan Hernandez, who will ride in his first Kentucky Derby. He’s 20-1 and drew the No. 9 post. Shirreffs won the 2005 Derby with 50-1 longshot Giacomo. Skinner, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, finished third in the Santa Anita Derby.

Yakteen was short and sweet when commenting on his duo’s post positions.

“Do I like them? Yes,” he said.

Said Shirreffs of Skinner’s draw: “Thumbs up. It’s a good draw.”

Forte, who has won six of seven races lifetime and is the Derby’s 3-1 morning-line favorite, will start from the No. 15 post position with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard. He’ll be looking to give trainer Todd Pletcher his third Derby victory following wins with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017). Pletcher also has the second choice on the morning line, Tapit Trice (Luis Saez, 5-1), and Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns (Jose Ortiz, 12-1). Tapit Trice brings a four-race winning streak into the race and will start from post No. 5, and Kingsbarns will break from the No. 6 hole.

“I’m good with all of them,” Pletcher said. “Good draws. We’re very happy with it.”

What’s it going to take for Pletcher to find the winner’s circle?

“Key is the first step, get away cleanly and then establish position,” he said. “Tapit Trice isn’t super quick, but hopefully he can get into the first turn, save some ground, get into a good position.”

Brad Cox, who won his first Derby in 2021 when original winner Medina Spirit was disqualified for testing positive for a banned substance and Mandaloun was declared the official winner, will start four horses Saturday, including Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire, the third choice on the morning line at 8-1. The Classic Empire colt also won the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds and will be ridden by Flavien Prat, who won the 2019 Derby with 65-1 longshot Country House after Maximum Security was disqualified for interference.

Cox’s other starters are all longshots, including Verifying (15-1), Hit Show (30-1) and Jace’s Road (50-1). Hit Show (Manny Franco) was second in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, Verifying (Tyler Gaffalione) was second behind Tapit Trice in the Blue Grass Stakes and Jace’s Road was third in the Louisiana Derby.

Of Hit Show drawing the dreaded rail, Cox said, “It’s OK. We’ll live with it. We have to. He’s doing great.”

Post time for the Derby is 3:57 p.m. PT on Saturday.

The Kentucky Derby field from the rail out with odds: Hit Show (30-1); Verifying (15-1); Two Phil’s (12-1); Confidence Game (20-1); Tapit Trice (5-1); Kingsbarns (12-1); Reincarnate (50-1); Mage (15-1); Skinner (20-1); Practical Move (10-1); Disarm (30-1); Jace’s Road (50-1); Sun Thunder (50-1); Angel of Empire (8-1); Forte (3-1); Raise Cain (50-1); Derma Sotogake (10-1); Rocket Can (30-1); Lord Miles (30-1); Continuar (50-1). Also eligible: Cyclone Mischief (30-1); Mandarin Hero (20-1); King Russell (50-1).

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Kentucky Derby favorite Forte draws the No. 15 position

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