Just hours before the 149th edition of the Kentucky Derby was due to begin, the odds boards took a significant hit when Derby favorite Forte was dropped from the race. Churchill Downs announced the decision after a Saturday morning practice session that did not appear to have gone as planned.
Forte, who came into the Derby on a five-race winning streak, previously stumbled during a practice session at the Churchill Downs course on Thursday; However, coach Todd Pletcher and co-owner Mike Repole have not expressed concern in discussions with the media. After practice on Saturday, Forte was looked after by a veterinarian appointed by the state racing commission.
At one point a strong 3-1 favorite for the Derby win, Forte was also sitting on a solid post position at 15 before his retirement. Tapit Twice (9/2) and Angel of Empire (9/2) are now the top favorites on the odds board.
Forte is now the fifth horse to be scratched by this derby, the most in a single such race since 1936. With just 18 horses in the field, it will be the skinniest since 2020, an outlier in itself as only 15 horses made the race Course in a race delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The removal of Forte continues a disastrous week at Churchill Downs as five horses died on the track in preparation for this weekend’s races. An active post-mortem investigation is ongoing at the University of Kentucky.
The Post position draw for the derby took place on Monday. Hit Show and Verifying, both coached by Brad Cox, finished 1-2. In total, Cox will start with four horses at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Though Forte is out, Pletcher, an eight-time Eclipse Award winner, will still have two starters in the field: Tapit Trice, Kingsbarns. Click here for a list of all Kentucky Derby horses with their trainers, jockeys and owners.
Of the 148 Kentucky Derby winners to date, 35% have been favorites. Longshots are creeping through, however, with Rich Strike surprising everyone last year by winning as an underdog 80-1.
Who will win the Kentucky Derby, and which massive longshot is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to get Jody Demling’s Kentucky Derby picks and see what giant longshots are competing, all from the expert who’s nailed 10 Derby Oaks doubles.
Below are the odds for each horse as well as the post positions for the race.
2023 Kentucky Derby post positions
#1 Post: 1 Hit Show
#2 post: 2 review
#3 Contribution: 3 Two Phil’s
Post #4: 4 Confidence Game
Post #5: 5 Tapit Trice
Post No. 6: 6 Kingsbarns
#7 Post: 7 Reincarnation
#8 Contribution: 8 Mages
Item #9: 11 Disarm
Post #10: 12 Jace’s Road
Post #11: 13 Sun Thunder
Post #12: 14 Angel of Empire
Post #13: 16 Raise Cain
14th place: 17 Derma Sotogake (JPN)
Post #15: 18 Rocket Can
Post #16: 21 Cyclone Mischief
Post #17: 22 Mandarin Hero
Post No. 18: 23 King Russell
Item No. 19: free
Item No. 20: free
Scratched: 9 Skinner, 10 Practical Movement, 15 Forte, 19 Lord Miles, 20 Continuar
Odds for the Kentucky Derby 2023
- Tapit Trice – 9/2
- Angels of the Empire – 9/2
- Derma Sotogake (JPN) – 7-1
- Two Phils – 7-1
- Kingsbarns – 10-1
- Reincarnate — 13-1
- Confidence play — 16-1
- Magicians — 17-1
- Verify — 17-1
- Mandarin Hero (JPN) – 21-1
- Disarm — 24-1
- Hit Show – 26-1
- Rocket Can — 27-1
- Raise Cain – 30-1
- Sun Thunder–30-1
- Jace’s Road — 32-1
- King Russell – 32-1
- Cyclone Mischief – 33-1