Here are handicapper Charlie Cooper’s picks for the 139th Kentucky Derby, Saturday, May 4, at Churchill Downs.
Race 1: 1-3-2-6
Race 2: 1-8-4-2
Race 3: 5-3-1-6
Race 4: 3-6-12-4
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Race 5: 8-10-3-6
Race 12: 8-6-2-3
Race 13: 6-11-2-5
Best Bet: Race 9 Delaunay
Best Longshot: Race 11 Normandy Invasion
No. Horse; Jockey; Comments; Odds
Race 6: 5 Furlongs Turf; TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT; Purse $125,000; 4 YO and Up
8 Icon Ike; Napravnik; Sharp at this distance; 3-1
3 Regally Ready; Nakatani; Breeders’ Cup Turf winner this distance; 4-1
4 Ghost Is Clear; Rosario; Could run them all down late; 9-2
6 Chamberlain Bridge; Mena; Loves track and distance; 4-1
2 Havelock; Gomez; 7-2
1 Southern Dude; Leparoux; 10-1
7 Berlino Di Tiger; Goncalves; 15-1
5 Cactus Son; Albarado; 30-1
Race 7: 7 Furlongs; THE HUMANA DISTAFF; Purse $300,000; Fillies and Mares; 4 YO and Up
4 Emma’s Encore; Rocco; Will love pace scenario; 8-1
8 Byrama; Rosario; Just missed winning Grade I; 5-1
6 Aubby K; Prado; Has trained sharply since easy stakes win; 7-2
9 Holiday Soiree; Castellano; Live longshot needed last; 12-1
2 Rumor; Smith; 5-2
7 Burban; Lezcano; 10-1
1 Jamaican Smoke; Leparoux; 5-1
3 Same Cross; Napravnik; 8-1
5 There Is No Limit; Krigger; 15-1
Race 8: 1 Mi; CHURCHILL DISTAFF TURF MI; Purse $250,000; Fillies and Mares; 4 YO and Up
8 Marketing Mix; Gomez; Runs big fresh; 5-2
3 Daisy Devine; Graham; Wins at 70% clip on turf; 3-1
5 Hungry Island; Castellano; Has never missed a check on the turf; 4-1
6 Stephanie’s Kitten; Leparoux; Back to best distance, undefeated at CD; 4-1
7 Karlovy Vary; Lanerie; 12-1
10 Stopshoppingmaria; Velazquez; 10-1
2 Channel Lady; Bejarano; 12-1
1 Drama Drama; Torres; 30-1
4 Frontside; Goncalves; 30-1
9 Class Included; Albarado; 30-1
Race 9: 7 Furlongs; THE CHURCHILL DOWNS STAKES; Purse $400,000; 4 YO and Up
9 Delaunay; Napravnik; Undefeated at Churchill, in top form; 2-1
5 Unbridled’s Note; Nakatani; Should be rolling late; 5-1
6 Pass the Dice; Leparoux; Loves Churchill, sharp training since last; 12-1
4 Handsome Mike; Gutierrez; Loved the cutback in last; 12-1
8 Trinniberg; Martinez; 8-5
2 Hierro; Velazquez; 20-1
3 Laurie’s Rocket; Lebron; 10-1
7 Politicallycorrect; Rosario; 15-1
1 Night Party; Sellers; 50-1
Race 10: 1 1/8 Mi Turf; WOODFORD RESERVE TURF CLASSIC; Purse $500,000; 4 YO and Up
8 Wise Dan; Lezcano; Goes for 6th win in a row; 6-5
9 Point of Entry; Velazquez; Goes for 7th win in last 8 starts; 7-5
6 Jeranimo; Bejarano; Could beat the favorites late; 8-1
3 Optimizer; Rosario; Back to best surface; 20-1
2 Slim Shadey; Stevens; 12-1
4 Silver Max; Albarado; 8-1
5 Swift Warrior; Castellano; 20-1
1 Midie; Torres; 30-1
7 Bim Bam; Santana; 50-1
Race 11: 1¼ Mi; KENTUCKY DERBY; Purse $2,000,000; 3 YO
5 Normandy Invasion; Castellano; Impressive finish in Wood, likes CD; 12-1
16 Orb; Rosario; Sharp 3 YO campaign; 7-2
17 Will Take Charge; Court; Has trained sharply since Rebel win; 20-1
2 Oxbow; Stevens; Much better than last, broke maiden here; 30-1
14 Verrazano; Velazquez; Has done nothing wrong this season; 4-1
3 Revolutionary; Borel; Has never finished off the board; 10-1
9 Overanalyze; Bejarano; Much the best in Arkansas Derby; 15-1
20 Vyjack; Gomez; Undefeated until Wood Memorial; 15-1
15 Charming Kitten; Prado; May be sleeper of the barn; 20-1
6 Mylute; Napravnik; Just missed winning the Louisiana Derby; 15-1
8 Goldencents; Krigger; Probable pace setter; 5-1
10 Palace Malice; Smith; Adds blinkers for one of the best jocks; 20-1
11 Lines of Battle; Moore; Highest breeding number for distance; 30-1
19 Java’s War; Leparoux; Game 2nd in last dirt start; 15-1
12 Itsmyluckyday; Trujillo; Was favorite over today’s race favorite; 15-1
4 Golden Soul; Albarado; Has closed well every start; 50-1
18 Frac Daddy; Lebron; Much improvement in Arkansas Derby; 50-1
7 Giant Finish; Espinoza; Has never missed a check; 50-1
13 Falling Sky; Saez; Speedster will keep them all honest; 50-1