LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 30 (UPI) -- Seventeen horses were entered Wednesday for Saturday's 129th running of the Kentucky Derby but only one of them caught the oddsmaker's eye.
Empire Maker, winner of the Florida Derby and the Wood Memorial, drew post position No. 12 and was listed at a miserly 6-5 in the morning line by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.
The last time a Kentucky Derby favorite was posted at such a short price in the morning line was 1992, when Arazi started the wagering at 6-5. Arazi finished eighth. Since Spectacular Bid won the 1979 Derby as the favorite, the only winning favorite has been Fusiachi Pegasus in 2000.
The next-lowest odds in Saturday's field are 6-1, for Illinois Derby winner Ten Most Wanted. Posted at 8-1 are Santa Anita Derby winner Buddy Gil and Blue Grass Stakes winner Peace Rules. All others were posted at double-digit odds.
Empire Maker vaulted into the favorite's role when he won the March 15 Florida Derby by 9 3/4 lengths. He came back to win the Wood by a half length, without being asked for his best by jockey Jerry Bailey.
Trainer Bobby Frankel, whose Hall of Fame career does not yet include a Kentucky Derby victory, revealed this week that Empire Maker, a son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled, suffered a bruised foot, probably in the Wood. But he continues to insist the bruise won't compromise his Derby chances.
"He's fine," Frankel said during the post position draw, denying he has changed the colt's training regimen because of the foot problem.
"I change my mind all the time," he said.
Asked why he picked post No. 12, he said: "Jerry asked me to put him in that spot."
Frankel took No. 5 for his other Derby starter, Peace Rules.
Ten Most Wanted's trainer, Wally Dollase, took post No. 16 for the son of Deputy Commander, who will have Pat Day aboard.
Dollase said Ten Most Wanted's victory in the Illinois Derby, overcoming traffic problems, showed maturity. "His father was the same way," Dollase said. "He's getting it all together."
Trainer Bob Baffert, who lost Kafwain to an injury earlier in the week, has only 12-1 longshot Indian Express in Saturday's field. Indian Express, a Utah-bred son of Indian Charlie, ran his first two races in Panama, then shipped to California, where he finished second to Buddy Gil in the Santa Anita Derby by a short nose.
"I think he's improving since he's been here, since the Santa Anita Derby," Baffert said.
Ron Ellis, trainer of Atswhatimtalknbout, also said his 12-1 longshot is thriving in Lousiville. "The Kentucky bluegrass. He likes grazing in that. He's doing very well here," Ellis said. He said the son of A.P. Indy will run with blinkers for the first time after working well with the equipment.
The post position draw likely had little impact on tactics or the pace of Saturday's race.
The most likely "speed" horses, Brancusi, Peace Rules, Funny Cide and Indian Express, drew post positions 2, 5, 6 and 9 respectively. All will have a chance to gun for the lead during the first run down the long Churchill Downs stretch.
Conversely, the horses that will run from the back of the pack, including Supah Blitz and Sir Cherokee, will start from No. 1 and No.3 and will be able to fall back and save ground around the first turn.
If all 17 horses start on Saturday, the 129th Run for the Roses will be worth $1,115,200, of which $815,200 will go to the winning owner.
