John Pletcher-trained colt Forte and Brad Cox’s filly Wet Paint are the morning line favorites respectively for the 149th Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
FILE – Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Forte to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile race at Keeneland Race Course, Friday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Lexington, Ky. Todd Pletcher-trained colt Forte and Brad Cox’s filly Wet Paint are the morning line favorites respectively for the 149th Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Forte, the 2-year-old champion whose 190 points led the Derby qualifying trail, drew the No. 15 post at 3-1 odds on Monday, May 1, 2023, for the $3 million premier race for 3-year-olds. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) JEFF ROBERSON
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Todd Pletcher-trained colt Forte and Brad Cox’s filly Wet Paint are the morning line favorites respectively for the 149th Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
Forte, the 2-year-old champion whose 190 points led the Derby qualifying trail, drew the No. 15 post at 3-1 odds for the $3 million premier race for 3-year-olds. He brings in a five-race winning streak and has won six of seven starts, including last month’s Arkansas Derby won by a length over Mage, who will start from the No. 8 post at 15-1 odds.
Stablemate Tapit Trice is the 5-1 second choice after drawing the No. 5 post on Monday, with Cox’s Angel of Empire (154 points) the 8-1 third choice after drawing the No. 14 post.
Wet Paint will lead Friday’s $1.25 million Oaks from the No. 7 post at 5-2 odds. One of three fillies trained by Louisville-born Cox among 12 entrants for the 1 1/8th mile race, she has won all three starts this year and enters with consecutive Grade 3 stakes wins in the Fantasy and Honeybee respectively at Oaklawn Park.
Any suspense over where Forte would start the 1 1/4-mile race was cut quickly when the son of Violence and Queen Caroline by Blame was called out with the first supplement drawn. That also pleased Pletcher, a Hall of Famer, about stress after Mo Wicklow and Known Agenda started the last two Derbys from the rail. They finished fifth and ninth respectively.
The two-time Derby winner had no complaints either with draws for Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns, a 12-1 choice from the No. 6 post. Both are 3-0 as 3-year-olds and coming off wins in the Blue Grass (Keeneland) and Louisiana Derby respectively.
“I think it’s different with the one (post) with the new starting gate,” Pletcher said. “But, I felt like it cost us a position or two last year and the year before. So, just happy to get out of there and really pleased with all post positions.”
Meanwhile, Cox hopes strength in numbers yields his first outright Derby victory nearly 15 months since Mandaloun was elevated to the 2021 win following Medina Spirit’s failed postrace drug test.
Angel of Empire certainly has the credentials after his 4 1/4-length win in the Grade 1 Illinois Derby. He has two victories and a second as a 3-year-old and a solid post just a couple spots right of stablemate Jace’s Road (50-1). Those placements might ease Cox’s dread after Hot Show (30-1) and Verifying (15-1) drew the Nos. 1 and 2 posts, potentially forcing both to avoid getting bunched against the rail out of the gate.
“Angel of Empire, I think it’s a good draw,” Cox said. “(Jockey) Flavien (Prat) should be able to break running and get a good position mid-pack. That’s what I’m envisioning. Jace’s Road will probably be a little more forwardly placed as opposed to Angel of Empire. Hopefully he can get himself up in the mix.”
Wet Paint and Natural have respectable spots in the Oaks, giving Cox two good chances to win that race for the third time in six years.
Post time for the Derby is 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Oaks goes off Friday at 5:51 p.m. ET.
The Kentucky Derby field from the rail out with odds: Hot 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 Action (10-1); Shut Down (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 Girl (30-1); Lord Miles (30-1); Keep Going (50-1). Also eligible: Cyclone Mischief (30-1); Mandarin Hero (20-1); King Russell (50-1). ___
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