Handicapping the Kentucky Derby

20-1

C. Borel (1-5)

D. Carroll (0-0)

4/3-0-0

Twenty-five years ago Eddie Delahoussaye won this race two straight years (1982-83). Now it's Calvin's chance.

17. Cowboy Cal

20-1

J. Velazquez (0-9)

T. Pletcher (0-19)

6/3-2-0

Trainer will try to avoid making it five straight years having a horse finish last or second to last.

18. Recapturetheglory

20-1

E. Baird (0-0)

L. Roussel III (0-2)

6/2-1-2

His 3-year-old glory has come and gone — winning the Illinois Derby on April 5.

19. Gayego

15-1

M. Smith (1-14)

P. Lobo (0-0)

5/3-2-0

Dug in to win the Arkansas Derby but received perfect trip. Betting his run in front of 160,000 will be much different.

20. Big Brown

3-1

K. Desormeaux (2-14)

R. Dutrow (0-0)

3/3-0-0

Don't get stuck behind Rick Dutrow when betting. He's bringing a wheelbarrow full of money to bet on his horse.

30-1

R. Douglas (0-1)

B. Mott (0-4)

8/2-0-3

Last win came at Delta Downs, and he's winless (0-3) as a 3-year-old.

12. Smooth Air

20-1

M. Cruz (0-0)

B. Stutts (0-0)

7/3-2-2

Cruz and Stutts — not your household names on the first Saturday in May.

13. Bob Black Jack

20-1

R. Migliore (0-4)

J. Kasparoff (0-0)

7/3-2-1

Can a Cal-bred win the Derby after setting world record for 6 furlongs (1:06-2/5) earlier this year? Nope.

14. Monba

15-1

R. Dominguez (0-4)

T. Pletcher (0-19)

5/3-0-0

Won Grade I Blue Grass over stablemate Cowboy Cal, so his earnings skyrocketed. I'll give 10,000-1 on a Pletcher exacta.

15. Adriano

30-1

E. Prado (1-8)

G. Motion (0-0)

7/3-1-0

Debuted on the turf and has run once on old-fashioned dirt — not a typical Derby-winning résumé.

20-1

J. Leparoux (0-1)

N. Zito (2-19)

8/4-1-0

The inside post is 0 for 21 (third place being the best finish) since Ferdinand and Bill Shoemaker won the 1986 race.

2. Tale of Ekati

15-1

E. Coa (0-1)

B. Tagg (1-3)

6/3-1-0

Not a good sign when jockey Edgar Prado goes elsewhere after winning the Wood Memorial.

3. Anak Nakal

30-1

R. Bejarano (0-3)

N. Zito (2-19)

6/2-1-0

Zito's past 16 Derby runners have finished out of the money dating to 1995.

4. Court Vision

20-1

G. Gomez (0-4)

B. Mott (0-4)

6/3-1-2

He has won over the Churchill strip and should pass runners late to nab a small piece.

5. Eight Belles

15-1

G. Saez (0-0)

L. Jones (0-1)

9/5-2-1

You think Hillary is in tough? Watch this gray filly tackle 19 boys under the Twin Spires.

15-1

R. Albarado (0-9)

S. Asmussen (0-7)

6/3-2-0

Had every chance to win Arkansas Derby after wide trip — not endorsing a hanger to get draped in roses.

7. Big Truck

50-1

J. Castellano (0-2)

B. Tagg (1-3)

8/3-1-1

Works like a Ferarri in the morning but think he'll run like a 5-miles-to-the gallon, beat-up truck.

8. Visionaire

20-1

J. Lezcano (0-1)

M. Matz (1-1)

6/3-1-1

A very wide trip and slow pace really compromised his chances in the Blue Grass Stakes.

9. Pyro

6-1

S. Asmussen (0-7)

S. Bridgmohan (0-2)

7/3-2-1

Every Derby winner since 1957 finished at least fourth in its prep race — this guy finished 10th (but on Polytrack).

10. Colonel John

4-1

C. Nakatani (0-13)

E. Harty (0-0)

6/4-2-0

Exploded in final 50 yards to win 1-1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby; another eighth of a mile should make him grin.