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Orb, Verrazano headline full Kentucky Derby field

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 1 (UPI) -- Saturday's 139th running of the Kentucky Derby drew a full field of 20, headed by morning-line favorites Orb and Verrazano.

There also is one "also eligible," Fear the Kitten, for the 1 1/4-miles race under the iconic Churchill Downs Twin Spires. Fear the Kitten would start if any of the Top 20 is withdrawn before 9 a.m. Friday.

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Orb, a son of Malibu Moon, is the 7-2 early pick by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. He represents veteran trainer Shug McGaughey, who seeks his first Kentucky Derby winner. He will start from the No. 16 slot in the auxiliary starting gate in search of his fifth straight win.

Verrazano, a More Than Ready colt, tops five starters for trainer Todd Pletcher. Verrazano burst onto the Derby scene with dominating wins in his first two starts at Gulfstream Park, then won the Grade II Tampa Derby and the Grade I Wood Memorial. He was listed at 4-1 on the morning line after picking up gate No. 14.

Pletcher's other starters are Louisiana Derby winner Revolutionary, Arkansas Derby winner Overanalyze, Blue Grass runner-up Palace Malice and Blue Grass third Charming Kitten. D. Wayne Lukas will seek his fourth Derby winner with Oxbow and Will Take Charge. Kenny McPeek's two starters, Frac Daddy and Java's War, drew gates No. 18 and 19 with Vyjack getting the outside stall.

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Also among the morning-line favorites is Goldencents, winner of the Santa Anita Derby, who drew post No. 8.

Lines of Battle, a British-trained War Front colt who earned his way into the Kentucky Derby with a victory in the Group 1 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on World Cup night, was installed in post position No. 11.

The field for Saturday's $1 million, Grade I Kentucky Derby, Presented by Yum! Brands, by post position, with jockey, trainer and morning-line odds:


1. Black Onyx, Joe Bravo, Kelly Breen, 50-1

2. Oxbow, Gary Stevens, D. Wayne Lukas, 30-1

3. Revolutionary, Calvin Borel, Todd Pletcher, 10-1

4. Golden Soul, Robby Albarado, Dallas Stewart, 50-1

5. Normandy Invasion, Javier Castellano, Chad Brown, 12-1

6. Mylute, Rosie Napravnik, Tom Amoss, 15-1

7. Giant Finish, Jose Espinoza,Tony Dutrow, 50-1

8. Goldencents, Kevin Krigger, Doug O'Neill, 5-1

9. Overanalyze, Rafael Bejarano, Todd Pletcher, 15-1

10. Palace Malice, Mike Smith, Todd Pletcher, 20-1

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11. Lines of Battle, Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien, 30-1

12. Itsmyluckyday, Elvis Trujillo, Ed Plesa Jr., 15-1

13. Falling Sky, Luis Saez, John Terranova, 50-1

14. Verrazano, John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 4-1

15. Charming Kitten, Edgar Prado, Todd Pletcher, 20-1

16. Orb, Joel Rosario, Shug McGaughey, 7-2

17. Will Take Charge, Jon Court, D. Wayne Lukas, 20-1

18. Frac Daddy, Victor Lebron, Kenny McPeek, 50-1

19. Java's War, Julien Leparoux, Kenny McPeek, 15-1

20. Vyjack, Garrett Gomez, Rudy Rodriguez, 15-1

21 (AE). Fear the Kitten, Mike Maker

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