Preview of the 2014 Kentucky Derby

Starting positions have been determined so it’s time to take a look at what’s in store for the Kentucky Derby this year. Starting at post 5, California Chrome remains locked in as the favorite to win the big race. While the other horses will need to step up their game to have a shot at winning Saturday’s Derby, California Chrome is the only horse already performing at the level of performance needed to take first place. If you believe in omens, you’ll be interested to know that Churchill Downs gave the odds favorite a saddle towel with his name misspelled as “Califorina Chrome”. A corrected towel should be delivered by race day, but is this a sign that it’s not going to be Chrome’s day?

With Hoppertunity being forced to drop out of the race due to an injured left-front foot, Wicked Strong is emerging as a favorite runner-up to Chrome. The horse has been in the area since Sunday, taking a good gallop around the grounds and looking good about it. “He galloped pretty much like he always does, starts out real slow, looking around, and once he gets warmed up he starts stretching out,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkins. “He worked seven-eighths of a mile Friday at Belmont Park in 1:27:11.”

Hot on the heels of Wicked Strong is Danza, who won an impressive victory at the Arkansas Derby. His trainers think he’s reaching a peak of performance just in time for the big day in Kentucky.

A great looking value horse might be Intense Holiday. There’s a lot of buzz around this horse even though the odds remain steep. Intense Holiday has been good for the classic distance and has been looking strong in warm ups, so if he can push his performance to the next level in time for Saturday, we could be in for an upset.

Check the latest odds and place your bets on the Kentucky Derby right here on Sports Interaction.