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Home / Churchill Downs / Kentucky Derby 2021: Odds, Post Positions, Picks

Kentucky Derby 2021: Odds, Post Positions, Picks

Kentucky Derby 2021 Post Positions, Odds

Free Kentucky Derby PPs for Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Churchill Downs

Essential Quality will break from post position 14 as the 2-1 morning line favorite on Saturday in the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Seeking to become only the third 2YO champion in four decades to wear the Roses, Essential Quality will return to Churchill Downs for the first time since winning his maiden voyage there in impressive fashion last September for trainer Brad Cox and Godolphin. If successful, Essential Quality will be the first to enter the winner’s circle representing Godolphin after many years of trying.

Extra Info

“Everything you need to know about Kentucky Derby post positions”

Kentucky Derby 2021 Official Post Positions, Morning Line Odds, and Wiz Capper’s Fantasy Finish

147th Kentucky Derby
Grade 1
Post Time: 6:57 p.m. Eastern
Television: NBC (2:30-7:30)
Race 12
Distance: 1 1/4 miles
Purse: $3 million

PP HORSE/Best BEYER/BRIS TRAINER ML ODDS Fantasy Finish
1 Known Agenda – 94/94 Pletcher 6-1 1st
The inside draw on Derby Day hasn’t been good but he has tactical speed and raced inside to win the Florida Derby LTO. Blinkers, Pletcher and a top jock make him a top win contender and one of our “A,B,C,D” horses.
2 Like the King, 86 Ward 50-1 19th
Synthetic specialist whose sire was 12th in the ’13 Derby and 1st in the Belmont that year. Instead of pressing the pace, they may have found a new way to win from off the pace last time in the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Final work 6F 1:12.8
3 Brooklyn Strong Velazquez 50-1 15th
Where did he come from? Finds himself in the starting gate for the biggest race of his life after many defections and picks up Italian sensation Rispoli who rode Rock Your World to victory in the SA Derby. Feels like he could make the long tickets.
4 Keepmeinmind Diodoro 50-1 5th
The winner of the KYJC as a two year old, he has been unable to beat Essential Quality in three attempts. Final work 4F :46.2 best of 108 bullet move and NO BLINKERS this time. Might surprise on the board with change of equipment.
5 Sainthood Pletcher 50-1 13th
Pletcher at 50 to1? Ligthly raced son of turf specialist who won two of his final four career starts on dirt for Pletcher. Should have won his last start except for tons of trouble. Use underneath on long tickets at boxcar numbers.
6 O Besos Foley 20-1 18th
Son of Derby winner Orb raced with Lasix to get his two wins from five starts. No Lasix today.
7 Mandaloun Cox 15-1 8th
Swapped positions with Midnight Bourbon in two preps at Fair Grounds before a flat finish as the favorite in the Louisiana Derby. Expected connections to remove the blinkers for this one but they remain. Deep tickets player.
8 Medina Spirit Baffert 15-1 3rd
Velazquez won the Oaks for Pletcher who has 4 in here, but he sticks with this one for Baffert after chasing home Rock Your World in the Santa Anita Derby. He’ll be on the board.
9 Hot Rod Charlie O’Neill 8-1 7th
Louisiana Derby winner shipped in to take them all the way home. Was 100-1 in the BC Juvenile finishing 2nd. Gets new rider as Rosario lands on RYW. Gotta put him in the equation.
10 Midnight Bourbon Asmussen 20-1 9th
Mike Smith lands here and expect he’ll be close to the pace for as long as he can go. Chased ‘Charlie’ in the Louisiana Derby and almost lost 2nd. Can’t see him hanging around for long.
11 Dynamic One Pletcher 20-1 14th
Got nailed at the wire by stablemate to lose the Wood after his maiden win – that’s a big effort. Expect he’ll be mid-pack early. Check his 2nd place finish behind Greatest Honour and he is playable for a piece.
12 Helium Casse 50-1 17th
Circled the field to win the Tampa Bay Derby in early March to stay undefeated. Hasn’t raced since. Does Casse have a crystal ball? Why would Leparoux take the mount — not just for a trip around the track, right? Hmm.
12 Hidden Stash Oliver 50-1 10th
His last three on-the-board finishes in Derby preps were enough to get him into this after all the defections. Don’t see him making up 10 lengths on the favorite.
14 Essential Quality Cox 2-1 4th
So gutsy in the Blue Grass pressing Highly Motivated throughout before wearing that one down at the wire. Hard not to make him the undefeated and undisputed favorite. But 2 to 1 is shorter than his projected odds and feel like the BG could have taken too much out of him. This will be a tough test for him.
15 Rock Your World Sadler 5-1 2nd
Undefeated on turf and dirt after his SA Derby win over Baffert’s Medina Spirit. Son of Candy Ride will be hard to contain and should be cruising down the backside. Hard not to see him in TOP 3.
16 King Fury McPeek SCRATCHED  
That was a nice comeback off a 4 month layoff to win the Lexington but gotta think he was assisted by the sloppy track. Still, he’s 2 for 3 at Churchill – which is a BIG angle to BET ON. Gets a piece – don’t dismiss. BREAKING NEWS: “King Fury spiked a 104° fever this afternoon after he galloped this morning, went off his feed, and we obviously have to do the right thing.”
17 Highly Motivated Brown 10-1 6th
Castellano has been with him from the beginning and gave the favorite fits in the Blue Grass and sitting on a bullet since. Expect him to be hard pressed from the start with plenty of company from Rock Your World.
18 Super Stock Asmussen 30-1 12th
Beat Concert Tour in the Arkansas Derby last time out. He’s 0 for 2 at Churchill, draws way outside and doesn’t have tactical speed. Possible player underneath on deep tickets.
19 Soup and Sandwich Casse 30-1 11th
Won his first two and  was 2nd in the Florida Derby last time behind Pletcher’s Known Agenda. Looks like he only knows one way and from this far out he’ll have to use plenty of effort to get clear. Can’t see him being around in the end.
20 Bourbonic Pletcher 30-1 16th
As the saying goes…”You never know how you look until you get your picture took.” Would not be in here except for a last minute, longshot victory in the Wood off a runner-up performance two back at Parx. Pletcher played it perfectly. But this is a different day and he’ll be dropped over after the break with plenty to do. Could get a deep piece.