Finally Back to Normal at the 148th Running of the Kentucky Derby

Believe it or not, today is already the first Saturday in May - and that can only mean one thing: DERBY DAY! So start day-drinking Mint Juleps and put you on your loudest hat because it is time to celebrate. After 2 years of Covid – weirdness (Derby in 2020 was held in September to an empty Churchill Downs, and last year the joint was only half-full), this year is being billed as a “Return to Normal” Derby.

In a crowded field of 20 horses, anything can happen and, of course, any horse has a chance of taking home the $1.86 million winner’s share of the $3 million purse. But if early odds are any indication, it appears that this may come down to just a 5-horse race. Thus, if we were you - and if we were the gambling type - these are the horses we would consider to win this year's 148th Kentucky Derby in the 12th. Post time 6:57 PM:

HORSE: #3 Epicenter

TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won Louisiana Derby

EARLY ODDS: 7-2

HORSE: #6 Messier

TRAINER: Tim Yakteen

JOCKEY: John Velazquez

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won Robert B Lewis

EARLY ODDS: 8-1

HORSE: #12 Taiba

TRAINER: Zedan Racing

JOCKEY Mike Smith

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won San Anita Derby

EARLY ODDS: 12-1

HORSE: #10 Zandon

TRAINER: Chad Brown

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won Blue Grass

EARLY ODDS: 3-1

HORSE: #1 Mo Donegal

TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Won Wood Memorial

EARLY ODDS: 10-1