Zandon Named 3-1 Morning Line Derby Choice from Post 10

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/02/2022 - 11:04
Link: 
Zandon Named 3-1 Morning Line Derby Choice from Post 10
Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Rick Samuels
Zandon works April 29 at Churchill Downs

Jeff Drown's Zandon , winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in his final prep and a buzz horse around Churchill Downs this week, was installed the 3-1 morning-line favorite after drawing post 10 for the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). 

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter , winner of the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), was made the 7-2 second choice.

Zandon, bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones and a son of Upstart  , was a 2 1/2-length winner over Smile Happy  in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. Multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will saddle Zandon, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat.

Epicenter, a son of Not This Time   bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farm, is trained by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Asmussen still seeks his first Derby score from 23 starters. He has finished second twice and third twice. Joel Rosario, who won the 2013 Derby aboard Orb , has the call.

Twenty horses are slated to start in the Derby with a pair of also-eligibles: Rich Strike  and Rattle N Roll .

Sign up for

The Derby, worth $3 million, has a post time of 6:57 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on NBC. The Derby cost owners $25,000 to enter and $25,000 to start. The winner's share is set at $1,860,000. Scratch time is 9 a.m. May 6.

Post position 5 has been the most successful path to Derby glory, with 10 winners coming from that slot. Always Dreaming   won from post 5 in 2017. The rail slot, even with eight winners, has been a problem spot over the last several decades with Ferdinand (1986) being the last to win from inside. A new starting gate was unveiled in 2020 that should help alleviate some issues for those drawn inside.

Mo Donegal , who races for Donegal Racing and two-time Derby winner trainer Todd Pletcher, drew the rail.

Justify   (2018) was the last winning favorite of Derby, and over the last 10 years, six post-time choices as won the Run for the Roses.

Kentucky Derby 148, May 7, Churchill Downs 

Post - Horse - ML

1 - Mo Donegal - 10-1

2 - Happy Jack - 30-1

3 - Epicenter - 7-2

4 - Summer Is Tomorrow - 30-1

5 - Smile Happy - 20-1

6 - Messier - 8-1

7 - Crown Pride (JPN) - 20-1

8 - Charge It - 20-1

9 - Tiz the Bomb - 30-1

10 - Zandon - 3-1

11 - Pioneer of Medina - 30-1

12 - Taiba - 12-1

13 - Simplification - 20-1

14 - Barber Road - 30-1

15 - White Abarrio - 10-1

16 - Cyberknife - 20-1

17 - Classic Causeway - 30-1

18 - Tawny Port - 30-1

19 - Zozos - 20-1

20 - Ethereal Road - 30-1

AE: Rich Strike, Rattle N Roll