Fierceness Maintains Favoritism Ahead of 150th Kentucky Derby
Despite drawing the 17th post position, which has historically not produced a Derby winner, Fierceness continues to be the consensus favorite on the eve of the landmark 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.
At Twin Spires, Fierceness is listed at 9-5 odds, leading the pack ahead of contenders like Sierra Leone (6-1), Forever Young (8-1), and Catching Freedom (9-1).
Kentucky Derby Post Positions and Odds:
- Dornoch (15-1), Luis Saez
- Sierra Leone (6-1), Tyler Gaffalione
- Mystik Dan (27-1), Brian Hernandez
- Catching Freedom (9-1), Flavien Prat
- Catalytic (42-1), Jose Ortiz
- Just Steel (34-1), Keith Asmussen
- Honor Marie (16-1), Ben Curtis
- Just A Touch (17-1), Florent Gerouz
- T O Password (61-1), Kazushi Kimura
- Forever Young (8-1), Ryusei Sakai
- Track Phantom (52-1), Joel Rosario
- West Saratoga (32-1), Jesus Castanon
- Endlessly (52-1), Umberto Rispoli
- Domestic Product (38-1), Irad Ortiz
- Grand Mo The First (64-1), Emisael Jaramillo
- Fierceness (9-5), John Velazquez
- Stronghold (43-1), Antonio Fresu
- Resilience (28-1), Junior Alvarado
- Society Man (73-1), Frankie Dettori
- Epic Ride (63-1), Adam Beschizza
- Mugatu (87-1), Joseph Talamo
Prediction and Longshot:
Long-time owner Mike Repole is aiming for his first Derby win with Fierceness, although the unfavorable post position raises concerns. Sierra Leone, with a strong closing speed, is our favored longshot pick if he can handle the wait from the second post.
Stronghold (43-1) is another contender to watch, despite lengthening odds. Coming off a Santa Anita Derby win, he has consistently placed well in his career starts.
Derby Field Insights:
Fierceness, a homebred son of City of Light, has shown impressive form, particularly with his recent dominating win in the Florida Derby.
Sierra Leone, a deep closer with a record of no worse than second in his races, presents a formidable challenge from the No. 2 post. His gate behavior at Keeneland has been improved with additional prep sessions for the Derby.
Catching Freedom, trained by Brad Cox, showcases promise with a Louisiana Derby victory.
This year’s Derby also sees the inclusion of Japanese-bred colts like Forever Young and T O Password, adding an international flair to the event. Both are making their North American racing debuts, adding intrigue to an already exciting field.